Everything around us is affected by science, from the digital alarm clock that wakes us up to the asphalt we drive on, and the baked potato we eat for dinner. Undeniably, our world depends on science and technology to make everything and anything work.
Nevertheless, among a large measure of the world’s population, there is fear and distrust of science. For example, with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, many questioned the validity of vaccines. With conspiracy theories ever increasing, many social media platforms had to implement a vaccine policy to address the rampage of misinformation.
With all the advancements in science, scientific facts are still relevant and unchangeable, whereas scientific theories have repeatedly changed. This makes us question whether we should completely put our trust in a science-based society.
What are the Dangers of Science?
Throughout the ages, scientists have achieved remarkable feats. Isaac Newton discovered the effect of the force of gravity and how it binds the planets, stars, and galaxies. Greek astronomer Ptolemy came up with the geocentric theory, which proved that the earth was the centre of the universe and all the other planets, stars, and the sun revolved around it.
Nevertheless, these scientists did not develop these scientific theories and hypotheses without valid tests. Today, scientists face a similar challenge in their pursuit of scientific advancement; they cannot find all the answers to their scientific experiments. While it is important to note the progress science has made, it is also essential to bear in mind its limitations and consequences.
Scientific advancement has consequences. Even though science facilitated the development of tech products and medicines, it also had a harmful impact on our health and environment. For example, the exploitation of nature to produce and manufacture medicines led to an increase in deforestation globally. This caused climate change, which lead to soil erosion, flooding, greenhouse gas emissions, and a host of other problems.
Science has also fostered technological advancement, allowing people to connect easily and efficiently. Nevertheless, the overuse of technology had a significant impact on teenagers and children, leading to psychological and physical health problems. For example, the increase in mobile devices like iPads, tablets, and mobile phones increased the use of social media among teenagers, making them more isolated. It also gave rise to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
The increased use of technology gave rise to several physical health issues. With the rampant use of smartphones and mobile devices, which hold a person’s attention for a long time, there was an increase in health problems like eyestrain, poor posture, insomnia, and reduced physical activity.
To produce medication and vaccines, scientists usually conduct painful tests and experiments on animals first. According to the Humane Society, more than 50 million dogs, cats, monkeys, rabbits, rats, and other animals are subjected to painful experiments each year. Some animals were injected with chemicals or infected with diseases to allow scientists to conduct their tests.
The Humane Society estimates that over 280 chimpanzees are still waiting to be moved out of labs into the wild. Oftentimes, these animals are confined to live in barren cages without adequate space for them to move. Small animals like mice, rats, and birds, on the other hand, are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act or counted in the annual statistics.
Should we Put all our Trust in Science Only?
Scientific discoveries have impacted the lives of millions and lowered the effects of diseases, reducing the mortality rate. Many scientists have dedicated their entire lives to the cause of science; their scientific studies and endeavours should be praised.
Nevertheless, as in all other areas of life, balance is imperative in assessing the true worth of knowledge and information. Undeniably, even though science has achieved remarkable feats in medicine and technology, it cannot be seen as the only answer to all our questions.
Many people argue that they cannot always trust scientists because they always change their minds. The beauty of this is that it allows scientists to question their theories and produce new observations and explanations that might otherwise seem paradoxical. Scientists do change their minds in light of new scientific evidence and discoveries, that’s because science allows people to learn and be open to new ways of thinking.
Just as we can learn new things from scientists, our modern society also relies on trusting other experts. Whether they are dentists, plumbers, car mechanics, or professors, they all have a valid role in society, to contribute their knowledge and skills and make them useful to us. Just as we wouldn’t go to a plumber to have a root canal, we wouldn’t have a dentist fix our car either.
If we need to utilize the right tools for our society, we must address the right individuals. We have to rely on many institutions in our society for knowledge and information. At a time when there is so much misinformation and conspiracy theories, relying on the right think tank is imperative.
If we need scientific information, we should go to the people who have dedicated their lives to such a cause. On scientific matters, we trust scientists just as we would trust historians or anthropologists!
David Messiha | Contributing Writer
