Wander of Science essay
Answers
Introduction
In early age, man lived like a savage. He did not know how to light fire, how to cook food and how to wear clothes. He did not even know how to make a house or a hut, how to speak, read or write. But progressively by the use of science, he developed a great civilization. We know that science has given us far too many things and had made our life worth living from making a pin to a rocket are all the gifts of science. But like it is said – every coin has two sides.
Disadvantages of Science
Science has made some inventions that have proved to be destructive for the humankind. These were invented for the betterment of the human beings but are rather proving to be a curse in following ways:
Pollution
Pollution started with industrialization. Industries and vehicles contribute to major pollution. Inventions in the field of technology have led to an increase in pollution. Water, air & noise pollution – all are a threat to mankind. It is due to this pollution that we are facing major problems like global warming and it has become a challenge for humanity. Many harmful and toxic gases are released into the environment by the industries. These pollute the atmosphere. The air we take in is extremely polluted and causes various diseases. The waste these industries produce is often thrown in the rivers and other water resources leading to water pollution. The decline in aquatic species is the result of this pollution.
Destructive Weapons
Deadly and destructive weapons are again an invention of science. Science has given high-tech weapons and warheads to the mankind. These weapons can cause mass killing and destruction at a distant place just by triggering a button. The destructive applications of science like the nuclear bomb, Hydrogen Bomb, Poisonous gases, Missiles, Chemical warfare can finish the existence of any big city or country within seconds. The Nuclear power plant is a serious threat to the humankind and the environment, The Bhopal gas tragedy that took place in 1984 took lives of thousands and many were permanently disabled due to the poisonous gas leakage.
Unemployment
With the invention of high-tech machinery, the work which used to be too time-consuming earlier hardly takes any time now. The invention might have eased our life but has also created unemployment. Due to industrialization, less human force is required as all the major work is now being done by the machines.
Conclusion
Science that was very beneficial in the early age of scientific inventions and discoveries has now turned out to be equally terrible for the mankind. It seems that the time is not too far when the whole human race will have to experience suffering due to the evils of science. Man must use scientific inventions wisely.
Science is all-inclusive and very comprehensive and touches the life of everyone in more ways than we can imagine. It has taken huge strides during the last 4-5 decades. Its achievements, discoveries and inventions have been really fantastic and wonderful. It has been pushing forward with a terrific speed in every walk of our lives. Life without science and its various boons is unthinkable.
In the field of energy, agriculture, entertainment, medicine, armament, space, computer application, communication, transportation, to name just a few areas, science has revolutionised our life. It has helped man conquer diseases, distance, space and the forces of nature.
Nations have come much closer now to one another and the interdependence, cooperation and interaction among them have tremendously increased. The whole world has now turned into a global village.
Man’s thirst for knowledge, discovery, inventions and self- expansion are limitless. He is an ambitious and highly intelligent being always engaged in pushing farther and farther the limits of his knowledge and enlightenment. Science is the name of the process by which man satisfies these urges and aspirations. Science has helped in understanding and solving the mysteries of nature.
And it is just a beginning because the knowledge is very vast, deep, limitless and wonderful. The beginning has been marvellous and augurs well for the humanity. Man is now on board in excellent ship of science in the vast and uncharted oceans of knowledge. So, he is ready to face any challenge, brave any storm, however violent and strong. The search, the quest for the truth goes on, on and on.
Science has made life easy, convenient, comfortable, better and more meaningful. Science has made many dreams come true. It has helped him to reach the moon and other planets and soon he may go beyond the solar system in a- very big way.
Satellite communication has ushered in an unprecedented revolution in information technology. Fax, E-mail, videoconferencing, roaming mobile phones, etc., is now very common things. Information technology has entered into the era of internet, worldwide web, highway and super highway.
The discovery of atomic energy and its increasing use has been one of the greatest achievements of modern science. It has been as significant as the discovery of the wheel and fire in the primitive stage of human progress and evolution.
It has opened new floodgates of progress, development and achievements, despite the tragedies like Chernobyl where a nuclear reactor exploded on April 28, 1986, which sent a huge cloud of radiation over Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark besides Russia itself.
Science is knowledge, and knowledge is power. Now, we must know how to use this power to our advantage and not to our destruction and ruin. Science in itself is neither good nor evil and neither, blessing nor a curse. It is its use which makes it good or bad.
That is why it is rightly said that science is a good servant but a bad master. Science is a means and not an end in itself and should be used as a servant, as a means, an implement to improve the quality of life. The misuse and abuse of science and its inventions are bound to make life horrible, a nightmare and trauma. That is certain and man must set his priorities, programmes and policies in the light of this bare fact.
In the fields of medicine, hygiene, .nutrition and surgery, the achievements of science have been equally excellent. Heart-transplantations and that of other organs are now very common. Many fatal diseases have been eradicated or are on the way of eradication.
And yet diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, cancer, etc. are to be conquered and eradicated. Necessity is the mother of invention. It is these challenges which inspire scientists to move on forward to new and better discoveries, achievements and inventions.
Today, man feels more safe, secure and healthy in comparison to his forefathers. Man’s longevity and life expectancy have now considerably increased and child and infant mortality decreased.
Science has completely changed our outlook on life and things and many superstitions and blind beliefs are now things of the past. Remote satellite sensing helps us in forewarning of floods, earthquakes, droughts and other such natural calamities. Epidemics, famines, etc. are now no more there on such scales and frequencies as they used to be a half century ago.
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