Dual
role of science
Prepared by
SABARISH-P
M.Sc., M.Ed., JRF & NET
Assistant Professor in Physical Science, Arafa Institute for Teacher Education
Attur, Thrissur.
Science is often considered to have dual role in
society
1)
EMANCIPATORY and
2)
OPPRESSIVE ROLE
Emancipatory
role of science
Emancipation
refers to liberation or setting free of the society or people. The predominant
role of science is to free society from restriction and liberate them from
bondage of superstition, prejudices, and cult practices. In the modern world,
we have come a long way from the dark period of oppression to freedom. Science
now looks at relieving people from hardship of day-to-day activities, making
life as comfortable as possible. For example in the agricultural practices
science and technology, the invention of machines and gadgets have made man
more productive and efficient, enabling him to earn more and lead better lives.
A
car starting up simply with a turn of a key, a computer that does enormous work
with the press of a button, and an ATM giving the money any time anywhere are
good examples of science providing a man freedom from discomfort.
The
role of science is not restricted to bringing comfort to people, but is now
extended to offering justice to those needed. For instance, digital technology
has been used lately to blow whistles to reveal grave injustices, such as
videos of US soldiers torturing prisoners of war, that occurs thousands of
miles away are brought to light through social media. This helps in raising of
voice even by people of other end of the world for such discrimination.
Science
connects people from different corners of the world to share the feelings with
loved ones through cameras in the touch phones that captures the expression and
pass on them or with business partners by doing business through emails, social
media and so on without even seeing or hearing their clients.
Science
has worked wonders in people’s lives by liberating them from deadly and
contagious diseases through the invention of modern therapy, medicines and
equipments.
Science
in food industry helps people to adopt and use advanced methods of storing,
packaging and using them without contracting deadly diseases. Genetically
engineered crops are another boon accorded by the science to humankind, which
has offered better variety of crops and yield.
Thus, science plays a greater role in emancipating mankind.
Oppressive role of science
Oppression
is a state of being kept under the force or authority. Science and technology
developed can be used either for oppression or liberation. Most of the time the
inventions made cause more harm either directly or indirectly to the society.
Science and technology thus can perform an unexpected negative role in keeping
the man under its authority. The weapon based technology enables conditions of
oppression in the first place. The inventions of nuclear weapons, hydrogen
bombs, TNT hadled to mass destruction
has resulted in great loss and fear in human lives.
Chemicals
such as DDT and cyanaide have a strong adverse impact on the environment
resulting in diseases that were once not present. The ability to process
illegal drugs such as MDMA, heroin, cocaine, etc., has destroyed the lives of
the younger generations.
Mobile
phones and computers though some of the best inventions of the century, they
have had serious implications on the lives of the teens, in particular,
affecting their personal growth and development as a responsible citizen in the
society.
Synthesis
of xenobiotic compounds such as CFCs, polychlorinated biphenyls and synthetic
polymers has been a greater threat to the environment, which eventually has
brought about global warming and ozone layer depletion allowing penetration of
harmful rays into the earth, which not only threaten the living beings on the
earth but also very survival of the earth.
Science
is a two-edged sword that has to be handled responsibly. It is not one man’s
fight, but it should be a collective effort of the society as such, to educate
and enlighten the generation to use science cautiously with a concern towards
our fellow being.
Science in Dark Ages
Dark ages are a
historical period in the middle ages, i.e., the period between about 500 and
1000 AD. Middle ages were a time of ignorance and superstitious beliefs which
armed the people to suppress science. During this middle age period, certain
myths and believes that people followed suppressed the growth of Science.
Science is often used as a tool for oppression in dark ages.
Examples
for Science as a tool of suppression in Dark ages:
·
People
believed that the earth was flat and certain scholars proved that the earth is
round and the circumference of the earth was also measured as a proof of it.
Christopher Columbus, who floated this idea, was vehemently opposed by the
Church.
·
Controversies
regarding the age of the earth, people believed the earth was only 6000 years
old and it was made in a week but where many scholars opposed it and believed
that the earth must have come into existence over incredibly long periods of
time.
·
Copernicus’s
heliocentric theory was controversial and went against the catholic belief that
the earth is geocentric. The Church suggested that the sun is the one that
moves, and the earth stays stationary, whereas Copernicus theory proved that
the earth moved around the sun.
·
The
Church further opposed autopsies and dissections during the middle ages, which
ceased the growth of science.
The
work by John William Draper’s History of
Conflict between Religion and Science in 1874 and Andrew Dickson White’s History of Warfare of Science with Theology in
1896 discusses how the medieval Church actively suppressed science. During this
age, oppression by religious heads and feudal lords led to decline in the
scientific thoughts.
