Science And Technology: Double – Edged Sword
Man has never engaged with more fervor in the pursuit of advancement in science and technology than he is currently engaged in. man is making extraordinary leaps in science and technology and each and every contribution to the development of the same is serving to redefine the way in which man perceives his life and the future to follow. However, time has shown that there is a need to evaluate the pace and direction at which man has chosen to progress in science and technology over time. Developments that were intended for the singular purpose of progress came forth in mutated forms that served to bring about catastrophic damages. This paper shall argue upon the nature in which science and technology comes in the form of a double edged sword to humanity and shall attempt to bring the discussion to a conclusion with a definitive stance on the authenticity of the consideration of science and technology as a double edged sword.
At the same time, man has managed to acquire control on numerous areas of science and technology that were once of a disastrous nature and are now being used to sustain life. The clearest example is that of nuclear technology which was once used to bring about devastation and destruction of cataclysmic magnitudes and is now being actively redirected in its use towards progress and development through research and experimentation in nuclear energy (Miller, Brewer and Spoolman). Also active measures to eliminate the use of nuclear technology around the world for the building of nuclear weaponry are being taken.
It is essential to note that progress in the areas of science and technology has brought countless comforts to the way that the modern day man goes through his day to day life but there seems to be a certain lingering side-effect of by-product of almost every development in science and technology that threatens to bring down man’s empire in the world as if it was a castle of cards. Developments in medical practice are considered to be doubtlessly contributory to the development of the human race but even this area comes with the dark side of human organ smuggling and similar threats (Shanty and Mishra).
In this regard, we can observe the role of science and technology to be one of a double edged sword that can prove to be just as disastrous as it can be beneficial if it is mishandled or exploited at any point. It therefore becomes essential for developments in science and technology to be carried out under the strictest of regulations and monitoring environments to ensure that there are no negative derivations exuded from the developments.
However, if one was to take a definitive stance on the role of science and technology upon humanity in general, it would not be unjustified to consider science and technology to be nothing less than a blessing for mankind.