At what point does science go from being useful to being dangerous?

1. 82

   bethperryposted 12 years ago

   At what point does science go from being useful to being dangerous?
   
   Albert Einstein suggested that the US study the application of atomic power for warfare before the Nazis could unharness its potential. Because of the devastation of life in Japan caused by atomic bombs Einstein came to regret that earlier suggestion. Today the CERN center in Switzerland continues working to create longer-lived anti-matter in order to confirm and/or better understand the Big Bang theory. Considering these facts, are we and our planet in plausible, potential danger from experiments carried out in the name of finding scientific "holy grails"?
   
   

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2. 59

   Captain Charlesposted 12 years ago

   Well, the demarcation is invisible, and has been unconsciously-crossed severally. we've had plagues and other hazards that stemmed up from mere scientific experiments. sometimes science could be risky, but the risk is worth taking, otherwise we would still be leading primitive lifestyles.

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3. 72

   mrpopoposted 12 years ago

   "With great power, comes great responsibility".
   
   Science is a form of power, and it can be used for growth or for destruction.
   
   There's no point which science goes from "useful" to "dangerous" because of the inherent power it holds. Only the way science is used can determine that, in the same way that you can use fire to forge metal or to burn buildings.
   
   Using science more responsibly and ethically is a goal that we're progressing towards, at least in my optimistic view.
   
   I don't know what kind of experiments the CERN center is doing or what the consequences could be. There are potential dangers with any discovery though. Flight used to be dangerous and limited, but nowadays it's fairly common to travel around the world in airplanes.

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4. 88

   BizGenGirlposted 12 years ago

   I think all science has it's dangers. Though those dangers aren't really the problem. The problem, and truly dangerous part, is when science is corrupted. Just as einstein intended for atomic energy to be used for good, there are many others who intended for their discoveries and research to be used for good, and it has thus been used for warfare, money grubbing and power.

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