What are effects of modern science on mankind? Is science becoming a blessing or a curse for humanity?

Science is a central part of our culture, economic and political life. If we wish to understand science properly, we need to look at its historical and social context. Using a variety of resources, from scientists’ writing to literature and film, science introduces people to different ways of thinking.

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Scientists can be called the greatest supporters of mankind. When we are engrossed in our enjoyments and entertainments or we are sound asleep, scientists give up all their comforts and enjoyments of life, are fully involved in their experiments, and continuously doing their research work. They serve mankind selflessly by devoting their lives.

The aim of science is to lessen the human misery and predicaments. Science has not only dominated time and distance but has also got a command over forces of nature. Science has given us more spare time by saving our time and labour, and hence enabled us to pursuit knowledge in different ways and to serve the humanity.

Science has broadened the perspectives of human knowledge. As long as man hunted for knowledge randomly without testing, knowledge made little progress.

Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science.”

A systematic study of facts established through experiments is the true nature of science that asks for the facts.

“Science is facts; just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts; but a pile of stone is not a house and a collection of facts is not necessarily science.”
_{Henri Poincare}

Science is the source of both happiness and search for truth. Most of the professions require scientific knowledge. Scientific education trains a man’s power of observation. It broadens his mind.

“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure-science.”
_{Hubble, Edwin}

How science has become boon for us?

Man has done wonders with the use of scientific knowledge. He has gained command in so many fields of science that science has made us Gods even before we are worthy of being man.

TThe history of our civilization is the record of continuous human efforts to make human life more comfortable, luxurious and easier. Science has discriminated a line between the dark ages and today’s bright era, between human ignorance and enlightenment, between man’s false notions and scientific approach towards life. The first and the most important gift of science is machine, which in every size is all the time at service of humanity. It has saved our time and labour. We can use our saved energies and potentials in other productive fields. The advent of machine age has entirely changed our life style and has modernized it.

The greater change in our life style that science has brought, make us realize the predicaments and the pains faced by our forefathers due to lack of comforts which science has offered us. Still we take it for granted and do not save energies for the future use. The benefits electricity has provided to man are countless. We just have to switch on the button and everything is done for us. We have no more to bear the scorching heat or the biting cold.

Science has got controls on forces of nature to produce more and more energy. Electricity has become now a past wonder. New sources of energy are invented. Atomic and solar energy are replacing the earlier ones.

With the progress in the field of science, man has invented medicines and cure for many diseases has been made possible, resulting in decline of death rate and healthier nations. Astounding developments have been done in the fields of surgery. The delicate organs of human body like brain and heart are being operated now. The transplantation of different organs like lungs, kidneys and heart is possible.

With the power of scientific knowledge and techniques man has explored space as well. The space travel that was once a dream has now become a reality. Scientists have already reached moon surface and now they are planning to reach the Mars. The world has become a global village. All the countries are in touch now. Media resources like television, radio and telephone have broadened the way to share entertainments and information.

How science has become curse for us?

Science has subdued the earth, the sky and the sea; in other words, the whole universe. It has become a large empire in itself. Though science has provided man with a luxurious and comfortable still it has not provided happiness to him.

The comforts it has brought are proportional to the problems they create. The great drawback of the modern science is the extent to which men are depending on machines. They have become our supposed servants as well as cruel masters of humanity. A man hardly goes to his work place on foot if he has a vehicle. There are trains, cars, buses etc that had made walking an old mean of travelling, but they are also main cause of atmospheric pollution.

Now farmers are never seen digging up the fields to sow the seeds nor do they plough their fields with oxen but all these activities, once done manually, have been replaced by tractors and other machinery that sow the seeds and plough the fields. If we don’t use any part of the body, it weakens and stops working properly. So if the conditions of the modern man will remain so, he will no more be able to take a good use of his arms and legs.

Science has made our life so luxurious and easy that we are left with unnecessary spare time which results in boredom and frustration. Man does not know how to utilize his leisure time. He should keep on working to make him busy. It not only keeps him in motion but also keeps him fit and active. Sitting in resting position or lying down for hours without any purpose make him lethargic and exhausted.

Science is both boon and bane for mankind at the same time. As excess of everything is bad, overuse of scientific technologies and electronic appliances is becoming big cause of environmental pollution. All the waste of the machines is thrown out that creates soil, air and water pollution which is great damage to our planet earth.

Science in the very act of solving problems creates more of them.
As George Bernard Shaw says,

“science never solves a problem without creating ten more.”

The worst use of science is war. The bombs and the weapons used during the war have devastating effects on humanity and earth that remain till decades. It all depends on right and wrong use of knowledge.

Alan Valentine says on wrong use of science,

“Whenever science makes discovery, the devil grabs it while the angels are debating the best way to use it.”

Bertrand Russell has shown fear regarding the distressing effects of science on humanity. He says,

“I am compelled to fear that science will be used to promote the power of dominant groups rather than to make men happy.”

Scientists are already warning that our planet is running out of food supply. Due to the advancements in medical field and the discovery of medicines, people live longer and world’s population is increasing day and night. The average life duration has increased, but the amount of food produced is not proportional to rapid growth in population.

Unless we turn to scientific and serious expansion of food production, the people of the future have to starve, that is very grave problem.

Conclusion:

Still there is a silver lining in the dark clouds for the optimists. As Thomas Dekker says:

“This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle, wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it.

Moreover, being based on facts, “science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.” Bertrand Russell has also gave his optimistic views regarding advancements of science:

“Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own.”

What do you think about science? Please share your views.

References:

1- https://debatewise.org/debates/10118-science-boon-or-bane/
2- http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/science/short-essay-is-science-boon-or-bane/8571
3- http://latestgd.blogspot.com/2015/01/science-is-boon-or-bane.html