Science in so far as it consists of
knowledge, must be regarded as having value, but in so far as it consists of
technique the question whether it is to be praised or blamed depends upon the
use that is made of the technique. In itself it is neutral neither good nor
bad, any ultimate view that we may have about what, gives value to this or that
must come from some other source than science.
Both good and evil, almost
everything that distinguishes our age from its predecessors is due to science.
In daily life we have electricity, the radio and the cinema. Because of the
increased productivity of labor, we are able to devote a far greater proportion
of our energies to wars and preparation for wars than was formerly possible and
we are able to keep the young in school very much longer than we formerly
could. Owing to science we are able to disseminate information through the
press and the radio to practically everybody. Owing to science, we can make it
more enormously difficult than it used to be for people whom the government
dislikes to escape.
The opposition to science in past
was by no means surprising. Men of science affirmed things that were contrary
to what everybody had believed, they upset preconceived ideas and were thought
to be destitute for reverence.
It would not be surprising if in
the present day, a powerful anti-scientific movement were to arise as a result
of the dangers to human life that are resulting from atoms bombs and may result
from bacteriogical warfare. But whatever people may feel about these harrows,
they dare not turn against the men of science so long as war is at all
probable, because if one side is equipped with scientists and the other not,
scientific side would almost certainly win.