IS SCIENCE A CURSE OR A BLESSING? (OR) MARVELS OF SCIENCE (SCIÉCNE IN SERVICE OF MAN)

Today life is dominated by science. By applying the method of observation and experiment, scientists have been able to understand many important secrets of nature and they are used to make life comfortable. The achievements of scientists are far greater than those of philosophers, political thinkers and economic theorists. In fact, the ideas of science have been the most creative.

Science has greatly succeeded in getting rid of superstitious beliefs and myths. It is against obscurantism, dogmatism and bigotry. It has helped to put an end to several kinds of group murders such as witch-hunting and the taboos of the early nineteenth century.

Science has brought revolutionary changes in the field of agriculture and industry, scientific methods of cultivation have stepped up agricultural production. The days of hand-made goods are gone, large-scale industries produce various goods and they relieve men of all irksome and difficult work.

The field of medicine and surgery has undergone a sea-change. Diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, polio, yellow fever, malaria, etc. which were considered incurable, can now be cured. The use of anaesthetics has made surgery painless. By 'twilight sleep' women are delivered of babies. They do not experience any pain. This kind of parturition is rare in Pakistan. Hearts, kidneys and eyes are transplanted. The laser beam is used to cure some diseases that occur to the heart, kidneys and eye. A team of Američan doctors has lately succeeded in transplanting the pancreas. As a result, a diabetic patient need not take any insulin which is required for the metabolism of carbohydrate, Scientists have synthesized the first wholly artificial gene. This achievement helps doctors to understand the real nature of hereditary diseases like diabetes, hemophilia (the royal disease). Further research in eugenics may help to produce the superman. The invention of the printing press has increased the number of newspapers, books, periodicals, and other publications. In the old days people read few books. There was no way to acquire knowledge.

Rapid means of transport and communication have shrunk the world. The telegraph. telephone, television, etc. have revolutionized the communications between various countries of the world. Now we can reach London or Paris in a few hours. No country is now an island. When Armstrong landed on the moon on July 21, 1969 he had a telephonic conversation with President Nixo-the lengthiest telephone call that has ever been made. Science helps in detecting criminals. Forensic laboratories use a number of tests. Dactylography, polygraph and computers are also very useful for finding out criminals. The number of crimes has also been reduced.

In some countries where there is scarcity of rain, artificial rains are produced to cultivate lands. Silver iodide is now used for seeding the clouds. Nuclear and other weapons created by science have become a great threat to the very existence of man or this thes by tursing a switch have made modern aferentintockery of and devastation of thelues and an insult to the throbbing human heartof mankind is not the highest humanity to mankind. He must think that the existen must as hatter hid that the prestige of his nation is of little importance. He must be ready, as Russell matter and that the prestityrdoth. He must take a firm decision not to discover or inven mything that will wipe out man from the face of the earth. In the opinion of Lord Adrian, the human race will come to an end, if the scientist does not give up his old loyalties. He should think like Socrates who declared, "I am a citizen not of Athens or Greece, but of the world" We are also reminded of what Thomas Paine said, "My country is the world and my religion is to do good."

Dr. Joad says science has given us powers fit for the Gods, but we use them like small children. A Russian peasant expressed the idea much better when he told Maxim Gorki, "You can fly walk upon the in the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but you don't know how to earth like man."

Science is thus a blessing and also a curse. Science, as long as it tries to promote human welfare and comforts, is a blessing. When it is used for destructive purposes, it is a curse.