IS SCIENCE A CURSE?

What is Science?

Science is a systematic classification of experience. The aim of science is to search for truth and also to know about things that are unknown. The knowledge of science is based on facts that are demonstrated by experiments.

Is Science a Boon or Bane?

It is a boon as well as a bane. On one hand, it provides us the curiosity to learn, but too much curiosity can be harmful.

  Scientific developments have increased which reduces our time and at the same time, it is also causing harm to the environment. One such example is an air conditioner. It is very helpful during summers but is one of the main causes of ozone layer depletion.

  Science helps us in unveiling many mysteries and understanding fundamental concepts related to daily life. That is why we can explain the formation of rainbows, stars, galaxies, and other natural phenomena. It is also due to the people who devoted their lives to scientific discoveries such as Sir Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Thomas Alva Edison, Robert Hooke, Antony Von Leeuwenhoek, and many others which we cannot name.

  All these great personalities have contributed greatly to the field of physics, chemistry, and biology. Though these scientists helped study science vitally, a few of them discovered a few things such as rockets and missiles, and these things have affected the environment a lot.

  For example, whenever a rocket is launched, it pierces the ozone layer and gets through it causing the rocket’s condensed fuel to react with ozone and form toxic components. Also, many of the extraction processes of coal, iron, copper, and a few metals include releasing toxic substances into the ground which further pollutes the groundwater.

Are Scientific Inventions Really Helpful?

Science has given us comforts that were unimaginable for our forefathers. We have everything we need to lead a comfortable life. Every scientific invention has made the life of a man modern and comfortable.

  Science has funded efficiently to the accomplishment of the Green Revolution, and now we have food for all. We have better clothing and proper shelter, all thanks to science. Electricity, which was also a scientific invention, has completely revolutionized the world.

Why is Science a Curse?

It might be in your mind that if science has done so much for us, why will it be a curse? The fact is that it is a curse in many ways.

Due to science, the world has become smaller for us. We have forgotten the manual labour that helps us remain fit. People cannot walk for even a kilometer on foot as we continue to depend more and more on vehicles.

  In the villages, the machines do all the work. While this may be a good thing as work is done faster, it is a bad thing in the same place. Unemployment is gradually increasing, as a single machine can do the work that needs a labour of hundred people.

  The situation in the cities is different though. City people no longer have any leisure. Their lives are so busy that there is no time to stand and stare. Science has indirectly reduced the amount of delight and fun time in their lives.

Has Science Destructed Anything?

On the destructive side, science has invented weapons that destruct than help. Here are some real-life examples to prove that:

  Nuclear power plants are very hazardous. In Russia, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant spread radiation all around and the neighbouring countries also felt the shock. Thirty-one people died just due to a scientific failure.

  In Bhopal, a gas tragedy took place way back in 1984 which lasted for only two days. Yet, this tragedy went on to kill thousands of people, for the gas turned out to be poisonous.

  It’s not only humans who have faced issues with the failures of science. Animals have, too—in fact, more than us. In Switzerland, a private company let out pollutants into the river, and ultimately, after a few days, the entire marine life was destroyed. It’s only to tell that when these pollutants reach the oceans, the destruction only increases.

Does This Curse Have an Effect on Humans Also?

These days, we have better medical facilities and better surgical tools. However, at the same time, we are weaker both physically and mentally than our forefathers. Every part of our body is frail, despite the science that was meant to make our life comfortable. What an irony this is!

Conclusion:

Science has progressed well in both domains, constructive and destructive. The most recent victories and triumphs of science should be appropriately used. If not, they could bring demise and obliteration for mankind. Thus, science fulfills humankind by its most recent accomplishments, yet it additionally makes us miserable when it shows its unseen destructive power. Man himself needs to fix this harm—before it’s past the point of no return.

Special thanks to my friend, Dishit Agarwal, for contributing information to this blog post.