SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

SCIENCE, ETHICS AND SOCIETY

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From whence ethical values: personal values; cosmic purpose?

"In the 20th Century ..,. (mankind's ) ...historically unique

combination of loneliness and power is complex, thrilling and

potentially lethal. " (Sunday Times 7 Feb. '99)

The question of what is good and bad has taxed moral philosophers back to the times

of Plato (c. 427 - 347 BC) and beyond.  Now we now have to find answers to new

types of questions.  Man can for the first time intervene in his own evolution, but is it wise

to do so?  Is  human cloning intrinsically wrong and why?   Should we benefit from cheap

sources of  power and leave future generations a legacy of greenhouse gases?  Will they

have the knowledge and means  to control global warming?

European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies

As science progresses, we must acknowledge a relentless call to weigh risks against benefits.

Society needs to resist temptations of commercial or other pressures, to rush ahead too fast,

and must allocate ample time to appraise the risks.  The appraisals should be backed-up with

thorough practical investigations where appropriate.    In the main, applied science has an

impressive track record but we are living in unique times and mistakes have been made in the

past.  Science has led to the provision of outstanding benefits to civilisation in such fields as

transport, energy, communications, health, whilst in pure science, the recent advances

knowledge of  cosmology and sub-nuclear physics is truly inspirational.  Looking ahead,

an not very far ahead, the impact of electronic networking on society  is beyond.

the imagination.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a valuable organisation which examines problems arising

as a result of the explosive growth of electronic networking.   It also looks after the interests of

bona fide surfers, and is well worth a visit. It is surprising at times to discover how much is going

on behind the scenes.  Whilst surfing the Web, I came upon this site quite by chance!

IMAGE OF SCIENCE

In the past damage has been done to the image of science as a result of  careless or

poorly-motivated applications. It is important that science has a good public image for it relies

heavily on the public and the politicians for financial support.   Science will  be sorely

needed to alleviate future problems in an overpopulated world, and  it will doubtless  enhance

the quality if life.    Subject  to proper regulations, science deserves more support from those

holding society's purse strings.  Less weight should be  put on short-sighted  applications of

cost benefit analyses.  This game which mainly benefits accountants often does not work to

society’s best long-term advantage!  For an enlightened long term approach to science

visit the Starlab Project (involving international university collaboration).

Extracts From the Starlab mission statements:-

To provide a sanctuary for exploratory research that has been unable to find shelter for

reasons of its initiatory or speculative nature.

To unite people that speak for the future with the voice of science.

To bring together the immoderate minds and visionary trailblazers and to organise

the brainpower there where it will happen.

It is important also to acknowledge the aesthetic side science, a factor that can get overlooked.

Science can in a sense be regarded as one of the arts.  It uplifting  through its discoveries:  look

for example at the discoveries of the Hubble telescope.

Both my scientific and imaging interests were also aroused by  stunning pictures taken by the Hubble

telescope and the NASA space vehicles.  They are excellent  illustrations of the creative abilities of

man and of nature.

Creat.jpg (26460 bytes) CREATIVITY OF MAN AND NATURE

My abstract comment on creativity, based on the Grande Arche in Paris.

The advances in the medical sciences  are more worrying  than those in the physical sciences:

as they seem almost bound to have a major and immediate impact on society. The ethical

problems posed  seem dwarf  past worries such as  disposal of radioactive wastes.  Articles on

transgenics are already looming large in the  press.  Biotechnology, in particular potential

applications of knowledge gained from the Genome Project, raises new and profound

ethical issues.  They will  have important practical implications; on the life insurance organisations

for example.

Applications can  be for good or bad.  The pace of technological development in areas of

medical science is frighteningly rapid, and a close watch must be kept on these developments.

Careful thought has to be given to sort  of  society to which they are leading. Is it right for

foetal brain cells to be used to alleviate brain disorders in adults? Should we be taking chances

with genetic engineering?   We need to be quite clear where the responsibilities for maintenance

of ethical standards lie, and this is by no means self-evident. (See Bertrand Russell's comments)

Science & Ethics: Philosophy, Bertrand Russell

We need responsible bodies with trained experts and representatives of different  parts of society.

They should have the right of access to all relevant new  information (commercially sensitive or not).

They should  have  powers to impose ethical standards on any projects where they judge them

to be necessary.  Governments will have  move fast to ensure that legislation keeps pace with

scientific progress.  However there are growing numbers of university departments and legislators

specialising in ethics so I'm fairly optimistic the hazards will be adequately contained.  There are

many organisations being established throughout Europe, but there is little coherence.  Some are

advisory, some are backed by the force of law but there are major differences between the nations.

(See  Dame Margaret Turner-Warwick,

Science & Public Affairs,  British Association, April 1999,  pp 19 - 21)

" almost all countries in Europe, and indeed the world, recognise the need for some form of

multidisciplinary National Bioethics committee.  ....... What is important is that governments

should get the advice they need and the public should have confidence that issues are

discussed without any possible political or other bias.

The National Academy of Sciences, USA, has produced a valuable document for researchers:-

SCIENCE IS  A MODEL?

Metaphysicians  have suggested to me that science itself is but one of many models of reality,

and that's very true, but  that does not diminish its power.  Show me another model that achieves

such accuracy, regardless of time, place or social group and which has such predictive power!

Science offers us protection from blind belief systems ( pity Galileo!). It offers a better quality of

life when properly applied.

  
RECRUITMENT TO SECURE  OUR FUTURE

Being an intellectually challenging subject, science requires  lengthy training, and it requires  good

minds to reach and to extend the frontiers.  It also requires broad minds to perceive the correct

role  for science in society. When compared with other professions, we can see that scientists are

underpaid.  Students are  aware  this, with unfortunate and predictable consequences

in career selection.  This situation needs to be corrected if  science is to attract the brains that it

needs and deserves, and to serve society to best advantage.