Science had been define as a systematize body of knowledge. It is neither good nor bad in itself. It the use, to which it is put, which makes it good or bad. Man may use it for his welfare as well as for warfare. It is a blessing in peace and a curse in war. The various uses of science given below will make the point clear.
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Science is a blessing. It has given man control over nature. Now he is no longer the slave of his surroundings. He has conquered time and space. Fast moving trains, buses, aero planes and steamships enable him to travel long distance without any difficulty. Today, he flies like birds in aeroplanes. Aeroplanes are the speediest means of traveling. Even on the widest oceans he undertakes voyages without any worry with the help of steamships.
Besides this telephone, telegraph, fax and electronic mail enable him to keep contact with his friends and relatives living at distance places. So it appears that the world has contracted, moreover, formerly man had to bear the severity of the weather silently. He had no control over scorching summer and shivering winter, but now he has electric fans, coolers and air-conditioning plants with make him forget completely about summer and its hardships. In winter, he uses the heaters to keep his rooms and offices warm. Thus, through the blessing of science, he has become the master of his environment.
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The enemies of man are numerous; formerly, man had no knowledge of bacteria and virus which take a heavy toll of life every year. But the microscope and electronic microscope have shown him these mighty enemies clearly. With the help of science, man has prepared wonderful medicines which reliever him of his pain and suffering within no times. Diseases like cancer and leprosy have been conquered. There are no longer epidemics like plague, cholera and malaria. Besides this, science has given him very useful machines, like x-ray machine, ultrasound and cat scanning machine, which helps him to detect the trouble spots in the body. In short, today man can live a longer and healthier life. It is all due to science.
Man, today, enjoys more comforts and luxuries than ever before. He has a much higher standard of living than his forefathers. It is all due to the increased production of goods made possible by science. Deserts have been converted into greeneries.
We can today grow two blades of grass where formerly only one used to grow. It is all due to the scientific methods of cultivation.
Better irrigation facilities, improved seeds, chemical fertilizers, have increased agricultural production manifold. Similarly, in the field of industry, large scale production has become possible by the use of machines invented by science.
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After hard work, man needs healthy recreation to relax himself, science has provided us with the radio, the cinema, the television, computer etc. these modern means not only entertain but also educate the people. Besides this, the great enemy of man, ignorance, has been completely defeated. Books magazines and newspapers are being published on a mass scale. Every man is now in a position to receive education, owing to the invention of the electric printing press.
Computer is a scientific device which has proved its importance in every branch of knowledge. It is greatly becoming a substitute of man on all fronts, office or industry, study or research, home or field, entertainment or war, every where the machine and systems are being computerized. One cannot say to what extent the computers will go.
So the blessings of science are numerous. But this is only one side of the picture. Man has misused the scientific knowledge in various ways. He has used it for inventing large machines. These machines are now used to increase productions. Countries after countries are being industrialized. But industrialization has given rise to completion, unemployment pollution and capitalism. Machines, being labor saving devices, have thrown thousands out of employment. Capitalism has created class struggle. Big capitalists exploit the laborers. This is a curse for the whole society. Misuse of science is responsible for this.
Man, today, has the most destructive weapons ever produced so far. In his mad race to conquer the world, he has used science for producing fatal weapons, like atom and hydrogen bombs. If there is any war any future, it is certain that the whole civilization will come to an end. Science cannot but be the greatest curse for mankind in the event of a third world war.
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Science has made man forgetful of god and religion. He believes only in those things which he can explain and understand by his reason. Thus, he has become a moral pigmy.
If we look at the problem impartially, we shall find that it is not easy to label science as a blessing or curse. In itself, science is neither a curse nor a blessing. If it is used for peaceful purposes and for promoting the welfare of mankind, it is a great blessing. If it is used otherwise, then it is a curse. So, it is its use which makes it a blessing or a curse.