Science in so far as it consists of knowledge, must be regarded as having value, but in so far as it consists of technique the question whether it is to be praised or blamed depends upon the use that is made of the technique. In itself it is neutral neither good nor bad, any ultimate view that we may have about what, gives value to this or that must come from some other source than science. Both good and evil, almost everything that distinguishes our age from its predecessors is due to science. In daily life we have electricity, the radio and the cinema. Because of the increased productivity of labor, we are able to devote a far greater proportion of our energies to wars and preparation for wars than was formerly possible and we are able to keep the young in school very much longer than we formerly could. Owing to science we are able to disseminate information through the press and the radio to practically everybody. Owing to science, we can make it more enormously difficult than it used to be for people whom the government dislikes to escape. The opposition to science in past was by no means surprising. Men of science affirmed things that were contrary to what everybody had believed, they upset preconceived ideas and were thought to be destitute for reverence. It would not be surprising if in the present day, a powerful anti-scientific movement were to arise as a result of the dangers to human life that are resulting from atoms bombs and may result from bacteriogical warfare. But whatever people may feel about these harrows, they dare not turn against the men of science so long as war is at all probable, because if one side is equipped with scientists and the other not, scientific side would almost certainly win. |
