Science - A Menace To Civilisation?

In today's society of technology and advance, many have identified the rising problem of Science being the downfall of society as we know it today. Such ideas and beliefs have further been embodied in books, works of art etc, spreading this radical notion to the neutral, innocent rest of the populace, indoctrinating in them this belief that the technological advances of today, and of the future, will decimate civilisation.

What is civilisation, then? Some argue it to be the orderly, predetermined fashion in which governments and societies adhere to. Others believe it to be the basic grounding that humans should fall back upon, the basic laws of nature that homo sapiens should abide by to survive, and not relying on technological advances to spearhead their lives. Definitely, it is the basic will to survive the way we are right now. However, what most do not realize is that change is inevitabe. Sure, talk is rife about adaptation to change, adaptation to new challenges. However, what is innocuously shunned is the impact of such change, the extent of it on a scale of 1 to 10. Such an issue is blatantly overlooked by citizens and netizens alike. When the wave of change, incessantly fueled by high demand for ever-rising standards of societal living via the means of technological advacnes, eventually hits the masses without ever tiring, complaints and disgruntled comments surface, widespread over all forms of the media, that this technological wave is set to crumble society in the future, where values lax and machinery takes complete, unchallenged control, further supported by subtle opinion of the people firmly assured by induced happiness caused by such technology. Convenience and assertment of enjoyment predominate ideals revolving round the ideas of technology of the future, with yearn for slack obviously evident in supporters of the creation of this technology.

What is essential along this timeline of developments in technology is to bear in mind the conscious realization that such rapid advances were requested, more indirectly than not, by the people themselves. This exemplifies the unjust accusations heaped upon the very idea of Science's advancement as time goes by. However, it further delineates the subconcsious frame of thought dominant in the common man's perception of issues presented unexpectedly in broad daylight. More often than not, links between the destructive power of Science and advances in technology are strongly established swiftly without thought spared for the promiscuous benefits underlying critical, essential succeses in various fields indirectly related to the masses themselves. Let us take medicine as a case in point, and view the issue across the entire spectrum. Science created the nuclear bomb, and formulated vaccines that cure the population of diseases that would otherwise be lethal. Inevitable it is for the masses to voice out insinuations over prickly, controversial issues in peaceful times. However, what exactly has assured these times of peace? With disease spreading like wildfire, such groundless accusations would have definitely been razed to the ground with ease, along with numerous human lives.

The notion of Science violating nature's basic laws have been rampant over the past few decades, clearly sparked by the rising use of animals in inhumane laboratory testing. Stout supporters of this notion have presented the seemingly glorious argument of animal testing being essential in the advancement and progress of Science, indirectly the progress of society, in this modern, advanced world where Science settles the present, dictates the future and recalls the past. It is inevitable that in peaceful times, the ignorant masses of overly-controlling, albeit directly or not, would itch to oppose current trends in an effortless bid to re-create and restructure society to another level.

Is there another 'level', however? Visions and fantasies of human life becoming even more relaxed with technological advances and machinery are fed incessantly by the propaganda machines of societies in an effort to create a falsified vision of the future, to indirectly spur on industries and the working man in fields related to the abovementioned issue via discreet exploitation of subconscious desires. Who knows what the future might hold? One thing is for sure, if current trends hold - Science and technology will be the masters of the future. But one thing must be made clear, that is although technology will define standards of futuristic living, it may not neccesarily delineate the purpose of living.

Is there another way to bring society to another level besides the widespread use of Science and its development, as asserted by the many rebellious individuals to Science? Many point to religious methods, such as the development of Jerusalem into a prosperous city with the divine intervention of God. Such possibilities form the basic roots of ideologies firmly rooted in today's society, such as Communism. Why communism? The tragic desire to unite the people under one common cause and to establish unchallenged dictatorship can be interpreted to be somewhat like the intention of cities developing based on religious beliefs - with one common ideal, they work towards the future along a predermined line, the former being one dictated by the Communist head, while the latter being the divine word of religion. Hence, it is obvious that such ideologies spark due to subconscious opposition to Science, rather than being due to the development of Science within civilization itself. My stand is clear - Science is, and should never be, asserted as a detriment to the development of civilisation.