science essay example

science essay example

The Importance of Science in Modern Society

1. Introduction to the Role of Science in Society

Science has had an accelerating impact on a commonly shared universe for a relatively brief, if intense, time in the history of the world. There are doubts now about the short and space limits – indeed about the equity and the wisdom of this acceleration. A re-examination of the role of science in contemporary society and the conceptual frameworks for political choices and public decision making is thus been called upon. The analysis is designed to help clarify the issues and problems.

In contemporary Western society, science has tremendous symbolic importance. The belief in science, in technology, and in progress was at the origin of industrial societies and it had a major revolutionary impact. These beliefs have continued to guide, legitimize, and inspire the world. These symbolic roles are not inevitable points of any history, nor necessarily the permanent ones. There have been alternate prophets and alternative core values which, though they did not have the same powerful inspirational effects of technology and scientific progress, did indeed have some influence on the evolution of Western society.

The study unfolds as follows. In the next section, we examine the concept of the social control of science. We then develop the argument that social publicity rests on a foundation of pluralistic decentralization, which in turn depends on the use of the internal incentives of the scientific community as the primary mechanism by which the research direction is chosen.

The major purpose of this study is to re-examine the role of science in modern society. The primary function of science is to advance knowledge. Science provides powerful classification systems that can be used to structure and order the observed world. It often provides the technology required by high-technology businesses. It continues to play a central role in the development of the military might of many states, and it can provide social control and the technological tools which allow the government to maintain social publicity. However, these applications of science are only secondary.

2. Advancements in Technology and Innovation

Certainly, the advances in the physical and biological sciences have led in recent times to extraordinary and unprecedented benefits to society, and the future holds out the promise of yet more power to relieve suffering and disease. This promise derives from continued investment in discovery and from ongoing associated applied research and development. Advancements in technology and innovation drastically increase the quantum and benefits to society and give a competitive edge to industry in a rapidly changing global economy. Companies benefit from the advanced technology offered by industry or by government, which uses service-specific advanced technology to evolve advanced technological capacity for use in future products and services.

As science is the search for truth, it is essential that its practice is based on truthfulness and honesty. The aforementioned principles of thoughtful inquiry must be allied to high scientific standards, for instance, authenticity of data and reproducibility of experimental and observational deductions. There may be some danger that the exploitation of the science base will override the requirement to instill these virtues, for they are essential in shaping the individual’s recognition of the role of the scientist and his goods. This may result in an educative shortcut to producing a more skilled but a jaded worker of creative imagination and productivity, not at the realization that sound science, properly used, is the most effective instrument that society has at its disposal for meeting the challenges that arise in the accelerating rate of change that presupposes our modern life.

3. Scientific Discoveries and Their Impact on Society

Few developments in the field of science have had the social impact that the appropriation of atomic energy has had. The application of molecular biology has raised questions concerning food safety, ecological ramifications, socio-economic effects, and international responsibilities. The use of fossil fuels has resulted in creating a high level of pollution in many of the world’s metropolitan areas and has been associated with climatic changes. At the same time, it will be more than a century before other sources of energy will satisfactorily replace oil and natural gas, not to mention the fact that wars will have to be fought if we are to preserve use of these supplies for as long as possible. The conventional production of food and several of its agricultural derivatives has similarly created ecological problems as well as changed the economic balance between developed and underdeveloped countries.

New challenges evolve as science and technology evolve. Each new scientific discovery may have a different impact upon society and thus may require changes in the legal system. Through technological applications, science is involved in numerous activities of society, some of which may affect certain members of the society in detrimental ways. Whenever circumstances are created such that there is a heightened likelihood that a particular scientific/technical activity may seriously affect an individual, group, or institution in ways which such individuals, groups, or institutions could not have foreseen, such ramifications acquire an ethical content.

4. Ethical Considerations in Scientific Research

Scientists who are employed generally must abide by the enforced policies of the companies or institutions involved. These policies usually include an agreement not to disclose confidential data to the public and an agreement to allow the institution to censor published work if it potentially will have an adverse effect on the economic status of the institution. All ethical responsibilities cannot be on the shoulders of the individual scientist; undoubtedly, some responsibility lies with private and other government sectors.

Ethical Duties of Scientists. The traditional view of scientific ethics holds that a researcher conducts research to increase their body of knowledge and not necessarily to provide a practical application of this knowledge. The more modern approach also asserts that the scientist has a moral obligation to serve society through their research. Indeed, it is generally recognized in many countries that much of pure science is carried out with public funds and that the view of the public should be taken into consideration in shaping the program of research. The net result of this ethical issue is that scientists must have access to all relevant data, must seek a healthy environment either by active participation or by providing relevant data to policy makers and the public, and must withdraw from any research effort they deem not to be in the public interest.

5. Conclusion: The Future of Science and Society

The past need not be prologue. We have discerned enough to point out where we may well be headed if trends continue and to offer opportunities to translate predicament into pretense. Knowledge can be used as a shield, but it also has competitive and contradictory interests. Policymakers, corporate executives, educators, scientists, and engineers must ask: How should science be utilized and managed to meet the needs, aspirations, and pleasures of human beings? In that interactive spirit, the twelve prescriptive responses of the previous sections are challenging objectives rather than definitive roadmaps. It is only with the support and ideas of the impacted public that we can reach those objectives. Hopefully, the thoughts we have been fortunate to articulate for this audience will find resonance in the broader community.

We hope that the vigilance of the scientific and technical community will minimize the impetus to obstruct science. If institutions which manage research are wise, they will embrace conclusions that the evidence and good sense suggest, act on them by favoring the commonweal, and enhance public confidence. In this way, science and society will be mutual beneficiaries. We acknowledge that progress can result from individual efforts which lack institutional underpinning. Scientists who conduct research often express a basic humanism and a desire to lessen human suffering. Non-scientists too often exert themselves in creative and selfless ways and consequently win battles which enhance justice and liberation. But as the technological imperative makes clear, human suffering and hunger persist. An essential facet of political wisdom is the production and equitable distribution of wealth. The fruits of science need to be harvested because well-being extends far beyond the basics of life.

Science has advised that much of recent environmental and social history contains much that is grim. The consequences of neglect are plain, namely threats to our lives and livelihood. Science also offers guidance in confronting those threats. But science has not and cannot triumph on its own, despite its incalculable contribution to force and intelligence. Because power can be used for good as well as ill, because knowledge is incomplete and interpretation contentious, science’s full application requires judicious judgment. If science is harnessed to politics which mistreat the earth and its inhabitants, then dissent, skepticism and nonviolent resistance are in the tradition of Albert Einstein, Andrei Sakharov, and Linus Pauling.