Fear In Scientific Research

1050 Words5 Pages

Fearing technology is foolish and should not be taken seriously.

Nowadays, scientific and technological discoveries happen too quickly, and it is often the case that people who do not belong to the science field can feel threatened by the results that Research produces. Biotechnology, cloning, and artificial intelligence are just a few terms that arouse fear in people’s mind and that divide the public opinion in two different positions: on one side, the one in favor of scientific research without any restriction, and, on the other side, the one that want to imposes severe controls to it in order to limit the possible and dangerous consequences. Despite the concern about Science can be understood, if we look closely to the history of human …show more content…

In fact, not all the scientific discoveries have had an epochal impact on our evolution, but certainly they have changed our habits and lifestyle. One clear example is the development of the communication technology. Through the twentieth century it has moved from the first phone model to the smartphone and internet. A significant change, which made communication instantaneous and accessible to the whole world. Internet, since its birth, is the primary means of mass communication, which gives to the user the largest variety and amount of information available ever had in the history of man. Therefore, technology has made communication easier, but it also has made transport faster. In fact, if for centuries, to move from one part of the world to another it took months, even years, now with the inventions of cars, high-speed trains, and airplanes journey times have decreased exponentially. At the same time, it has also developed the Defense Technology. Crucial was the period of the two world wars, in which the war technology production and evolution rocket to unimaginable levels. However, with the current military equipment, countries can ensure their citizens protection against threats such as terrorism, public violence, or in extreme cases, …show more content…

In fact, on one hand, if used in the right way, an advanced war technology can protect from almost all the threats, but, on the other hand, if used incorrectly could endanger the entire human society. One clearly example is the atomic bomb. An eventual atomic war could wipe out the human race. In effect, analyzing the data on the only two cases when the atomic bomb was used on civilians (Hiroshima, 166.000 deaths, 06/08/1945; Nagasaki, 80.000 deaths 09/08/1945), they suggest that on a global scale the results could be horrific. Another question that worried the world's population is, how far can technology go? More specifically, talking about biotechnology, cloning, bioethics, and genetic engineering, or AI people ask when it is right to stop technological progress. In fact, we hear of genetic interventions in plants, and men, or robots more and more frequently. These news can scare because of the uncertain consequences. What scientists claim to do is undoubtedly positive and proactive but, unfortunately, the reality in which we find ourselves is often quite different. The common man often does not understand the importance that may have genetic studies and artificial intelligence on our society, as for example, treatment of diseases currently incurable and often lethal or the enormous advantages that robotics can lead to human society. Trust that has been implicitly requested in 2015 by Steven

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