Attempt to formulate your ‘moral’ views on the practice of science. Imagine yourself stumbling upon a discovery,
Question
Attempt to formulate your ‘moral’ views on the practice of science. Imagine yourself stumbling upon a discovery, which has great academic interest but is certain to have nothing but dangerous consequences for the human society. How, if at all, will you resolve your dilemma?
Attempt to formulate your ‘moral’ views on the practice of science. Imagine yourself stumbling upon a discovery, which has great academic interest but is certain to have nothing but dangerous consequences for the human society. How, if at all, will you resolve your dilemma?
Solution
A scientist works for the truth. Every scientific discovery reveals a certain truth of nature. Any discovery, bad or good for humanity, must, therefore, be made public. But we can't afford to be blind to the consequences. We need to determine the degree of good or bad consequences it will have before disclosing it. If we know that a certain discovery has nothing but dangerous consequences to offer to the mass, it is best to keep the discovery limited only to the scientist's knowledge and researcher's working on it. In the long run, the discovery can benefit societies without destroying it completely now.
A scientist works for the truth. Every scientific discovery reveals a certain truth of nature. Any discovery, bad or good for humanity, must, therefore, be made public. But we can't afford to be blind to the consequences. We need to determine the degree of good or bad consequences it will have before disclosing it. If we know that a certain discovery has nothing but dangerous consequences to offer to the mass, it is best to keep the discovery limited only to the scientist's knowledge and researcher's working on it. In the long run, the discovery can benefit societies without destroying it completely now.