Question

Science, like any knowledge, can be put to good or bad use, depending on the user. Given below are some of the applications of science. Formulate your views on whether the particular application is good, bad or something that cannot be so clearly categorised:
a) Mass vaccination against smallpox to curb and finally eradicate this disease from the population. (This has already been successfully done in India).
b) Television for eradication of illiteracy and for mass communication of news and ideas.
c) Prenatal sex determination
d) Computers for increase in work efficiency
e) Putting artificial satellites into orbits around the Earth
f) Development of nuclear weapons’
g) Development of new and powerful techniques of chemical and biological warfare.
h) Purification of water for drinking
i) Plastic surgery
j) Cloning

Answer 1

Here we have to examine each of the given statements one by one and see whether they are good or bad for human society. Then we have to provide an explanation in brief why they are good or bad.

Complete answer:
a) Mass vaccination of smallpox to curb this epidemic and eventually eliminate it from the population. (In India, this has already been achieved successfully).- Good because although some people are left with injuries, the infection destroys more people.
b) Tv to eliminate illiteracy and to transmit news and ideas on a mass scale. –Good. Great for illiteracy reduction and mass networking.
c) Determination of Prenatal Sex – Bad. Skewness and differences in the gender ratio in society will be created.
d) Computers for work efficiency enhancement – Good. Improving job effectiveness and globalisation.
e) Artificial satellites placed in orbits around the Planet- Good. No. of uses not achievable by traditional means, such as transmission etc.
f) Nuclear weapons production – Bad. Mass devastation of people, houses and factories will occur.
g) The development of modern and effective chemical and biological warfare techniques- Bad. All of them are means to ruin lives and can be misused.
h) Purification of drinking water - Good as many harmful illnesses may be avoided and protection is assured.
i) Cosmetic procedure - Good t o strengthen the disfigured elements of the body.
j) Cloning- Good with respect to surgical application for the treatment of ailments.

Note: Here we may be confused whether nuclear weapons production and development of biological warfare are good or bad but we should remember that although these are advancements in science yet they are never being used for the welfare of the people. So, they are bad uses of science.