Horrors of Science Essay | Exploring the Dark Side of Scientific Advancements
Horrors of Science Essay
“When I ponder from the present through the past,
I scream and scream what technology gave
to the men , Nothing , but a loss, what we lost.”
( H. G Bohn)
Present age is the age of Science and Technology. It is generally believed that science is a mixed blessing. It has various uses (its own barbs and bouquets) and abuses. Though the advantages are far greater than its (outnumber its) disadvantages, it has caused a fatal threat to human and animal life, “ the atomic war”. We cannot forget the dark and dismal aspects of science. Sometimes, it appears “ red in tooth and claw”, destroying the human life and civilization. Man’s urge for authority and his desire to gain control over his fellow-men have compelled him to turn this boon into a bane. He has invented the disastrous war weapons that can annihilate the whole world in no time. (within a blinking of an eye) Though the world is trying to solve the disputed issues through peaceful talks, we are standing at a position where the gongs of total destruction are constantly clamouring. The most deadly weapons of science are the tanks ( invented by Swinton), Torpedo atomic submarines, bomber aircrafts like F-16 fighting falcon, tornado GR-1 B-52,etc.Above all, atomic bombs and Hydrogen bombs are the threats to the human existence in this world.
“Fissuring the atom,
You have learnt to weep and wail
In a loud tone,”
( Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi )
The world has already witnessed the destruction caused by the atom bombs in Heroshima and Nagasaki, where 70000 people were killed in Heroshima and 1,36,900 people were perished in Nagasaki. This “ large scale mess “ is really frightening.
“ No eye could look
The explosion that took
The lives of two glories
In the moments of furies.”
(John Peter)
As all the countries are linked socially, economically or religiously, any war may be a world war. In the world “Might is Right” has become a “ world order “. The invention of Chemical and Biological weapons is a heartrending fact. The use of Chlorine gas and Mustard gas in First and Second World War and later in America-Vietnam War devastated the nations . Similarly, in fourteenth century, the use of Plague germs was a common practice to wipe out the enemy nations. In the twentieth century, Japan used the same method against Chinese to topple them. It is science which is to be blamed for the creation of germ warfare and chemical bombs. missiles and bombers.
“Our scientific progress has outrun
Our spiritual power. We have
Guided missiles, but misguided men.”
(Martin Luther)
Science has invented many tools and machines for man. Though these machines are helpful in making human life comfortable ,they also have some disadvantages. (as there is no rose without thorns) These machines have replaced man in many fields of life. The plus point for these machines is that they are more accurate and quick in performance than man. (they are more quicker and more accurate than man in performance) But they have made the services of man slow and therefore unnecessary. Man has become unemployed. Unemployment is the sure cause of many social and economical evils. Thus, the process of fall of human society starts.
The next negative effect of the use of machines is that man has become lazy and idle. He needs not to travel on foot. He can cover long distances in a short time by fast moving cars, buses, trains and aeroplanes. At home , there is no need of broom, the vacuum cleaners are there to suck the least dust from every (nook and) corner. Washing machines wash the soiled clothes in (a matter of) minutes. There are computers for his service. There are T.V., D.V.D. and digital receivers for his entertainment. All kinds of facilities have made man idle and lazy.
“ One machine can do the work
of fifty ordinary men.
No machine can do the work
of one extraordinary man.”
(Elbert Hubbard)
Science has made man spiritually dead. He has become “A Hollow Man “. Man has forgotten the moral and spiritual values of the past. Science is also responsible for the race of money. Everyone is busy in earning for spending. We have “no time to stand and stare.” We have no time to meditate on nature. We are leading an artificial life. We are no more interested in the sights of nature, “the Lap of Mother” as William Words Worth said.
“No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:”
(William Henry Davies “
Science has made man selfish and insincere. He needs money to enjoy the new inventions of science. To earn money, he ignores the moral values. Even, sometimes, he commits hateful crimes for the fulfillment of his evil desires. When morality dies, the crimes of various kinds take birth and social evils prevail in society. Thus science is indirectly causing the spread of these evils in society.
Using scientific methods of Cloning, artificial selection, new diverse varieties of plants and animals have been introduced. But these “alien” plants and animals introduced by human agency is causing extinction of native species and also diverse economic, aesthetic and human health problems.
In this age of pollution, we are suffocating to death. It is one of the grave problems. Air, water, land and eatables, all are polluted. Science is somewhat responsible for this problem also. Big factories, heavy vehicles, trains and tanneries are adding smoke, poisonous wastage, dust and other harmful particles to air, water and soil. These polluted things have caused many untreatable (incurable) diseases.
There are more than 200 tanneries operating in Kasur city. The industry discharges 9000 cubic metres of waste water daily into the nearby water bodies. In 2003, a survey showed that two-third (shows that two thirds) of residents and 72 percent of tannery workers suffered cancer infections of the kidney, loss of eyesight. Tests showed that the drinking water was contaminated with lead, mercury and cadmium. This is one of the horrors of science. A number of scientific inventions that can be used to ameliorate the lot of lots of naked, hungry and homeless people are being used to multiply their miseries and misfortunes.
“Ashamed is humanity of the wounds it gave.”
(P.B. Shelley)
Infact, it is the “evil genius “who converts the benefits of science into destructive products. Science is a blessing; the need is that we should use it positively .Science has not forced us to produce lethal weapons nor has it compelled us to be selfish. If we have used it for evil purposes, it is our fault not of science.
