Science helps us to lead a fuller life
This is an era of science. There is hardly any domain where science and technology do not play a significant role. Science is the manifestation of man’s attempt to explore new frontiers, to reach out to new environment, and understand and gain mastery over nature. In many ways, it is an expression of man’s rationality.
Science has undeniably benefited mankind in many ways and it encompasses every area of man’s life. Life has become more comfortable with modern household gadgets like refrigerators, cooking ranges and microwaves; communication is no longer a distant dream. With telephone and’ new cellular technology one can communicate with anyone at any time. The fax machine has facilitated the receiving and sending of messages to such an extent that it now appears a Child’s play.
The computer, which is perhaps the outcome of successive efforts of various scientists over a period of time, has finally come of age. It has made the collection and storage of data easier and calculations and figure work very simple. Now with time Internet, the computer has made the world a global village, leading to a knowledge explosion. It is used for every conceivable purpose, which includes forecasting weather, controlling traffic, and booking railway tickets and a variety of other jobs. In fact, it appears that it is making even human company dispensable, with ‘chat rooms’ on the Internet, where one may communicate easily with like-minded people.
The satellite systems with multipurpose technology are being used effectively for domestic telecommunication, meteorological-observations, data-relay, and radio and television programme distribution.
Besides this, harnessing of nuclear energy has proved another milestone in generation of-electric thermal power. Science has enabled man to substitute the conventional sources of energy like fuel and natural gas, which are nonrenewable, with non-conventional sources like solar and hydel power, bio-gas, wind energy and tidal energy.
Space exploration is no longer a figment of man’s imagination.
Advancement in the field of medicine, which includes organ transplant, microsurgery, etc., has made medical treatment specialized. This too may be regarded as the offshoot of scientific innovations like the loudspeakers, the radio, the television, etc. which have become handy to the modern litterateur, the artist, the worker, the actor, etc. Science has opened the heavenly-gates of art to the common man. Culture and refinement are no longer the monopoly of a privileged few. Culture has now become the prerogative of the masses with the advancement of mass media.
However, one cannot overlook the fact that the scientific progress has adversely affected the world in than one ways more. In the words of a modern scientist. Charity sympathy fellow feeling and the like do riot count much now. The power placed at man’s disposal by science is being used indiscriminately without regard for moral principles. Neglect of spiritual and moral aspects of life has brought us to the threshold of the nuclear war.
More recently, human society has come to regard the advance of science and technology with a certain element of fear and trepidation. A number of ills that society is beset with—population explosion, the rapid depletion of natural resources including energy, and degradation of environment and ecosystem—are attributed to the growth of science. Suddenly, society is beginning to ask whether the advance in science and technology is indeed a desirable and right way to proceed.
There are many that demand a halt to the growth of science and technology, but they fail to realize that the solutions to the problems we face can only come through further development of science and technology’. There is no question of retreating into the past of halting social progress.
Science in itself is morally neutral and ideally speaking, it must be applied by humanities who are dedicated to the welfare of man or, like Frankenstein’s monster, it may cause the ruin of man. “Science is but a mere heap of facts, not a golden chain of truth if we refuse to link it to the throne of God.”
