Knowledge Versus Consequences: The Modern Prometheus By Mary Shelley
Knowledge Versus Consequences
As Stephen Hawking, a physicist at the University of Cambridge, once said, “Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge” (Stephen Hawking Quotes). Scientist have been pushing technology and the world forward in terms of what we can do and what we know about. However, the information that they discover may have some harmful consequences in addition to their beneficial contributions to society. Through Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley warns scientists to only experiment once they know all of the possible repercussions of their findings as scientific discoveries, such as the idea of designer babies, can have an enormous impact on society.
First, Shelley …show more content…
Designer babies are children who have their DNA programmed by their parents before birth. It is a new concept to be able to select the genetic blueprint of a child, and “[t]he speed at which these technologies are being developed and applied has led many policymakers and stakeholders to express concern about whether appropriate systems are in place to govern these technologies” (Designer). By discussing how technology is developing faster than society can learn to cope with it, this statement alludes to the fact that this scientific discovery can easily lose regulation. The loss of control over biotechnology can cause extensive issues for society to deal with. Furthermore, all members of society must work together to stay on top of it to ensure that science continues to provide more benefits than repercussions. This supports Shelley’s message because people are stepping in to evaluate the ethics and consequences of designer babies. Calling for more regulation, people work to ensure that scientists do not impose the harmful effects of their experimentation on society without prior investigation. While the benefits include the abilities to reduce the chance of inheriting diseases, increase mental capabilities, and increase the lifespan of the child, the reverberations include the segregation of
As Stephen Hawking, a physicist at the University of Cambridge, once said, “Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge” (Stephen Hawking Quotes). Scientist have been pushing technology and the world forward in terms of what we can do and what we know about. However, the information that they discover may have some harmful consequences in addition to their beneficial contributions to society. Through Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley warns scientists to only experiment once they know all of the possible repercussions of their findings as scientific discoveries, such as the idea of designer babies, can have an enormous impact on society.
First, Shelley …show more content…
Designer babies are children who have their DNA programmed by their parents before birth. It is a new concept to be able to select the genetic blueprint of a child, and “[t]he speed at which these technologies are being developed and applied has led many policymakers and stakeholders to express concern about whether appropriate systems are in place to govern these technologies” (Designer). By discussing how technology is developing faster than society can learn to cope with it, this statement alludes to the fact that this scientific discovery can easily lose regulation. The loss of control over biotechnology can cause extensive issues for society to deal with. Furthermore, all members of society must work together to stay on top of it to ensure that science continues to provide more benefits than repercussions. This supports Shelley’s message because people are stepping in to evaluate the ethics and consequences of designer babies. Calling for more regulation, people work to ensure that scientists do not impose the harmful effects of their experimentation on society without prior investigation. While the benefits include the abilities to reduce the chance of inheriting diseases, increase mental capabilities, and increase the lifespan of the child, the reverberations include the segregation of