Value of Science
3/14/2013
Values
Science is undoubtedly a very important part of growing as the human race. It has improved our lives drastically from the first stone tools, to iPods and cars we drive. But what is it really that matters when it comes to science? Material things are not the only things that science gives humanity. Richard Feynman explains his point of view of the values of science, and on how science is used to create things beneficial and afflicting, how the values behind science are affected by society, and how science affects people. The very first point brought up is morality. Science is not morally oriented to do good or bad and can easily do either. Feynman referenced a Buddhist proverb he heard while visiting Honolulu, “To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven; the same key opens the gates of hell.” The proverb, in reference of science, basically means that “the key”, which in this case is science, can be used for evil as easily as it can be used for good. For example the technology for Binary Fission Power Plants can create energy to power whole cities or military submarines to benefit people; on the contrary, binary fission can also be used to create an Atomic Bomb which causes death, destruction, and despair. Even though science can become something that produces “enormous horror in the world”, it is still valuable because of the beneficial uses.
Social problems are another subject Feynman identifies as a gradient. He believes that scientists are as ignorant as anyone else would be in social matters and that there is no real scientific solution to those kinds of problems. Therefore, since science itself is a social matter of morality, it’s defined on its own within our own senses of right and wrong. On the other hand, because there is a great personnel enjoyment of science in material things most is seen as growth or development, which could elude our attention from what is natural. The world view of everything we have found out with
Values
Science is undoubtedly a very important part of growing as the human race. It has improved our lives drastically from the first stone tools, to iPods and cars we drive. But what is it really that matters when it comes to science? Material things are not the only things that science gives humanity. Richard Feynman explains his point of view of the values of science, and on how science is used to create things beneficial and afflicting, how the values behind science are affected by society, and how science affects people. The very first point brought up is morality. Science is not morally oriented to do good or bad and can easily do either. Feynman referenced a Buddhist proverb he heard while visiting Honolulu, “To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven; the same key opens the gates of hell.” The proverb, in reference of science, basically means that “the key”, which in this case is science, can be used for evil as easily as it can be used for good. For example the technology for Binary Fission Power Plants can create energy to power whole cities or military submarines to benefit people; on the contrary, binary fission can also be used to create an Atomic Bomb which causes death, destruction, and despair. Even though science can become something that produces “enormous horror in the world”, it is still valuable because of the beneficial uses.
Social problems are another subject Feynman identifies as a gradient. He believes that scientists are as ignorant as anyone else would be in social matters and that there is no real scientific solution to those kinds of problems. Therefore, since science itself is a social matter of morality, it’s defined on its own within our own senses of right and wrong. On the other hand, because there is a great personnel enjoyment of science in material things most is seen as growth or development, which could elude our attention from what is natural. The world view of everything we have found out with