The present time is remarkable
for advances in science and technology. Science has given modern life a unique
shape. The life and living are almost wholly dependent on it. Science has never
been so overwhelmingly dominant, never the supremacy of reason has been
asserted and prevailing as it is now. Its contribution and our prosperity which
is essentially materialistic is immense. Its offerings spiritual, artistic and
intellectual are little. “Some of the problems we face require laws, ethic,
morality and ways of thinking that are beyond the reach of science” The Royal
Museum, Regina , Saskatchewan ,
Canada
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Science has increased
significantly the horizon of knowledge especially in the fields of natural,
physical and applied sciences, etc. It has insisted unreservedly and
unprecedented the paramouncy of reason and intellect. Science has enriched them
and raised to greater consciousness of their powers and privileges. It has also
made rich our capacity for observation and analysis. Science has emphatically
declared the value of exactitude, discipline, rules and regularity. We are
enabled by science to control the forces of nature and employ them to our
service. It has turned some barren lands into fertile fields, changed the
courses of some rivers. It has made modern life easier and less troublesome,
though much more complicated. It has endowed us with extraordinary appliances,
comforts and pleasures.
It is impossible to deny the
blessings of science which are widely and inextricably blended with every
aspect of our life and living. No invention of science is put to so numerous
uses as electricity. The services of none but radio, is so widespread as that
of electricity. The connected objects are gifts of science even electricity is
used for the radio which allows people sitting at home to hear the news, talks,
songs and so on. from home and abroad. In contrast to the west electricity in
our country reached only 35.672 village since the inception of electric
programmed in 1978. it lighted the houses and streets replacing the candle, oil
lamps and hurricane and providing better social security especially in the
villages. There is electrification of pumps, agro-based industries and business
in villages. Science has increased considerably agricultural productivity by
its agricultural instruments like tractors, thrashing tools, etc. by improved
seeds and chemical fertilizers and lessened the hard labour of farmers,
factories and industries which are one of the chief factors for world’s
economic well-being. Unpleasant and heavy works are done by electric powered
machinery. Electric cooker, washing machine, cleaner, iron and stove are very
useful for making housework easier and quicker. Almost all western households
are furnished with them. In our country it is doubtful if they are used by 1%
and these users will mostly be dwellers of urban areas. Electricity regulates
heat by A.C. and cools rooms by fans. It gives us cool water, ice from electric
driven freezer which also protects perishable items, vegetables, fishes, meat,
from being rotten.
Electricity connects projects and
instruments of entertainment cinema, television, VCR, VCP, computer and changer
which replaces the old gramophone. The first two project men and women in
action. Films are projected by VCR, VCP and cassettes. Much information and
more than one pictures are presented by a considerably small CD (compact disc)
on the screen of the computer. Electricity also operates medical instruments
and equipments which are used for diagnosing disease and proper treatment.
Regarding medicine and surgery science’s contribution is unique in mitigating the
sufferings and saving the lives of millions of peoples. Ultra sonogram and T
scanning machines are for current determination of the nature of troubles and
complications in the most complicated and delicate parts of human body abdomen,
tummy and brain respectively. Science has also analyzed the nutritive value of
food and vitamins and recommended balanced diet to keep men healthy and active.
As to communication by roads, waterways and airways science has made the whole
world a village, shortened strikingly the span of time and distance of place,
and reduced in a similar way the troubles and boredom of long journeys.
The wonder of many past and not
very late wonderful inventions of science has waned; or on the wane for
instance penicillin, telephone, telescope, etc. were earlier inventions than
the brilliant feats of test tube babies, transplantation of hearts and
open-heart surgery. Of contemporary marvels are the clonal of sheep or human
cloning. The second of the two is forbidden as it was harshly criticized on
ethical grounds. However, in August 2004, Britain
for the first time permitted human cloning & to clone embroyos medical
research. A USA
team of researchers developed (May 2010) the “first self-replicating bacteria
cell controlled by synthetic genome also called first synthetic life”. The
launching of space ship, manned space ship, communication satellites for
relaying back to earth its telephone message, radio and T.V. signals and the
landing of man on the surface of the moon are reigning surprises. The space
travel of a civilian of a civilian (2003) is an adventure of great wonder. The
fastest plane concord and fastest train “the bullet” have amazed the world.
Computer and information technology have worked miracles. The mobile phone by
“which one can communicate with any person at any time at any corner of the
globe is an epoch-making triumph of science. Science has been endeavoring
ceaselessly for more inventions and innovations. It is hoped that in near
future the flight to the Mars and other planets would take place and mankind
has started dreaming of establishing colonies there. The Moon walker American
Astronaut Mr. Buzz has said (2008) “what appears to be vast reserves of frozen
water” the Mars is nearer to terrestrial conditions much better than the Moon.
NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) are planning tentatively a manned mission
to the Mars around 2030 or 2040 even though the Red Star is 250 million miles
away whereas the Moon, 2,38000 miles away from the earth NASA crashed two
unmanned space craft on the lunar crater for probing water in the moon.
Enthusiasts of triumphant science
cannot but face the frightfully dark side of it. Science has made the eternal
conflict between it and religion, between the physical and spiritual world most
acute and disturbing. Religion deals with the divine order, science, the
physical reality. The truths of science are demonstrable whereas those of the
inner world, anything’s supernatural can never be verifiable. The triumph of
reason and experiment are so overpowering that it has become very difficult to
have faith in religion or anything beyond the external world. Believers and
theists are badly shaken, many have become doubtful of God and spiritual
reality and some have been turned into atheists. Dilemma and restlessness are
now most of our companions. Cognitive powers or intellectual abilities are
man’s knowing faculty and controlling power, not his essence. Spiritual part is
his core. It comprises the center of feelings especially of love, affection, and
sympathy, will, instincts and impulses. It is the dynamic existing in the
deepest part of human nature that drives human being under the guidance of the
mind. It feels and realized which the intellect cannot get at. This spiritual
aspect of human nature, moreover, generates splendid virtues; nobility,
kindness, benevolence, spiritual elevation and illumination, the urge to
service, sacrifice, patriotism and other morals. The present almost single
emphasis on the former aspect makes man a machine, almost a monster. The
unfeeling machine cannot possess and foster those excellences. In this regard
the contribution of civilization culture as well is almost nil while regarding
intellectual or mental faculties their outcome manifested in the contemporary
age of rocket and technology is something to be rightly proud of. But
conscience, morals, and good sense are utterly helpless and ineffective
restrainers without feelings, strong feelings to fire them up.
It has bred only his unabashed
and unchecked selfishness, greed and meanness. And the personal aggrandizement,
the greed for grading others’ lands of the politicians and their rivalries have
compelled science to produce various weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
It is, virtually, liable for the existence of big arsenals and arms race among
nations of the globe, the weak powers in particular. Science has initiated the
horror and havoc of modern ware fare as it has fathered multifarious weapons of
mass destruction atomic and hydrogen bombs, chemical and biological weaponry
and so on. just before the end of the World War American use of atomic bombs
destroyed two cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki
killing millions of people and causing untold human sufferings. The horrible
miseries and death tolls, the most dreadful to mention, continued for a long
time as aftermaths of the explosion of atomic bombs. The greatest threat of the
horrifying war is lurking in the shadows of stockpiling of dreadful mass
destructive weapons by many countries, especially of the big powers. The human
race, hence, lives in great anxiety about the possible destruction of the globe
within minutes if the war happens. Increasing environmental pollution and
global warming are still other threats to the existence of humanity. These
hideous and fatal things are the worst curses of science, the producer of
materialism and prosperity.
