Science - Destructive?

Analysis of historical information suggests that science, on many occasions has proved to be a curse for humanity rather than a blessing. Man, on many accounts has failed to employ his full potential for good and used a more destructive approach by misusing knowledge and skills that should have been employed for purposes of serving the humanity rather than making it suffer. For as long as one can remember science has been used to the disadvantage of the common man and has continued to be exploited by those with power, this obviously has resulted in tremendous atrocities and destruction that the world is still paying for. In a broader sense, all the negative effects of science can be subcategorized into its impact on nature, the socio economic environment and the political scenarios.

It is man's natural instinct to be competitive and at times selfish to achieve his own good. It is because of this need for the glory of the throne, the respect of the power and the lust for authority that wars have broken out in almost every region of the world. The only difference between the wars of today and wars of yesteryears is how science has been incorporated in the former to take more lives and cause even greater damage than caused previously. Through the development of hi-tech equipment, unarmed drones now easily attack the enemy while also killing innocent people around. The global image of much of the western world is now under attack because of their operations in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, as the population of these countries has been suffering for years now due to the political instability which has been created because of the unethical and immoral application of scientific knowledge.

While countries collapse, economies fail and the social environment of regions takes drastic turns for the worse - nature weeps. A lack of government restrictions on environmental laws and availability of weapons in general, either lawfully or unlawfully has vastly impacted the natural environment. Not only this as science makes our lives more comfortable through inventions such as air conditioners, heaters and, cars, we do not realize that our comfort as human beings has come at the expense of nature. Widespread deforestation in the Amazon forest and the melting of the ice cap in Antarctica is an example of this, since, all raw materials that aid scientific progress and research come from the flora and fauna that our planet sustains. Once, the greed of humans and the misuse of science reaches its epitome, all will be lost.

As humans the duty lies on our shoulders to turn our fate around, by mending our ways, rectifying previous errors and utilizing the gift of science as a blessing. The world can still be made into a better place for future generations if we begin to think, conserve and protect. Even though, the reversal of our mistakes is not possible, the underlying causes that make science destructive should be addressed so that a better future can be promised for generations to come.