The ethics of science

Indian Science Congress is meeting for its 102nd session at Mumbai. It is the right time to reflect on the emerging relationship between science and the society. Such a reflection would help redefine this relationship. Albert Einstein said, “The 20th century is marked by perfection of means and confusion of ends.” Perhaps, this dichotomy has further widened in the present millennium. Science and technology has, of late, acquired in itself an unprecedented power to bring in either unbelievable prosperity and happiness to mankind or unforgettable disaster. The portentous threat of nuclear war still looms large over humanity. But, the nuclear power is meeting our energy requirements. The nuclear science is being used in medicine, industry, agriculture and other areas, too. The inventions in biology helped in understanding the human body. Genetic code has been unravelled. Medicine, agriculture and even industry made significant progress as a result of these inventions. But, certain genetic innovations have raised some serious ethical and social questions. The knowledge of transplantation of human organs has given a new lease of life to the millions . But, the same knowledge is being misused for illegal trafficking of human organs.

Similarly, advances in chemistry like the development of polymers, plastics and synthetic fibers have substantially benefited poor, even in the hinterland. But, weapons of mass destruction still threaten the peace and security in the world. The intellectual property rights regime makes scientists richer, but science becomes poorer. At the same time, any innovation in science should be properly rewarded to provide enough motivation to undertake further innovations. There should be a balance between the legitimate aspirations of innovators and the need to diffuse knowledge for the betterment of entire humanity.

The rich and the powerful are appropriating the fruits of science. As the World Bank in its report Knowledge-based Global societies said, “greater research is done on slow ripe beautiful looking tomato rather than nutritious wheat; more research is done on cosmetics rather than a cure for diarrhea.” The security eco system in the world is forcing nations to spend more on military science rather than people’s science. As Amartya Sen observed, the social costs of militarisation of science are enormous. Despite scientific progress, obscurantism still pervades.

“A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature,” says Albert Einstein. This philosophy should guide the destiny of science.