Physical World

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Question : 10
Total: 16
Attempt to formulate your ‘moral’ views on the practice of science. Imagine yourself stumbling upon a discovery, which has great academic interest but is certain to have nothing but dangerous consequences for the human society. How, if at all, will you resolve your dilemma?
Solution:  
A scientist aims at truth. A scientific discovery reveals truth ofnature. Thus, any discovery good or bad for human society must be madepublic, although moral and ethical values may have a conflict with thepractice of science. A discovery which appears dangerous today maybecome useful to mankind sometimes later. We must build up a strongpublic opinion in order to prevent the misuse of scientific technology. Thus scientists in fact should take up two roles:
(i) to discover truth and make it public.
(ii) to prevent its misuse. e.g. cloning of animals like sheep ‘Dolly’ isapplied to mankind then it will be against ethical values as it will require no man and woman for recreation. But as a scientific truth it is madepublic. If I stumble on such a thing as a scientist. I will least bother aboutmorality and keep on the truth to become public.
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