Modern age is the age of science, and much of human happiness
depends on the way in which man makes use of the vast power that
science has placed in his hands. In fact it is impossible to imagine how the
modern man can survive in the absence of the various discoveries and
inventions which the scientists have made from time to time and in which
have rendered his life comfortable and worth living. Think of electricity.
the aeroplane; the railway, the motor car, wonderful drugs, and thousand
and one other achievements of science, which have become indispensable
for our day-to-day existence. But apart from these discoveries and
inventions, science has given man something which is much more useful-
the scientific outlook which is essential for his further development and
progress.
Scientific outlook helps a man ascertain facts, grasp them
accurately, and find explanation for them. It gives him a training in
observation, in precision, in objectivity, and in a rational habit of mind. It
introduces him to the material world and thereby widens immensely the
horizon of the mind, extends its range, gives it a sense of infinite
possibilities, and makes life more interesting and alive. It is rare to find a
scientists who is pessimist or defeatist, for he lives in an atmosphere of
progress, of creation, with the promise of a heaven-at least of earth. The
scientist is an explorer of an unknown world with infinite possibilities of
discovery and not only is the act of discovery exciting, but it leads on to
actions, to practical results. It seeks to know, but also to transform the
world, and this is a further excitement and stimulus to those who follow it.
Scientific outlook engenders a tendency to analyse every object.
Modern age being the age of science, can be rightly termed as the age of
analysis. Chemistry resolves matters into elements, physics resolves it into
atoms, biology resolves organic life into cells. Now this analytic spirit
which is born of scientific outlook has become characteristic of any kind
of scientific inquiry in any field. When we say that the temper of modern
civilisation is scientific we mean not only that natural science engages a
large part of its thoughts and determines much of its life but that our civilisation is scientific in the sense in which the Greeks used philosophy,
that it ‘loves wisdom’, that in all fields it desires to seek knowledge and
make knowledge its servants and its master. So literary studies employ the
scientific method so far their subject matter allows,
a writer is
‘explained’ in terms of his ancestry, his early life, his education, the
character of his age, the influence and intellect, his subconscious mind etc.
The modern historian influenced by scientific outlook analysis events into
their cause into economic, geographic facts, into the impact of
contemporary thought or the impact of individuals.
But the various scientific discoveries and inventions and the
scientific outlook which the study of science has engendered have not
proved to be unmixed blessings for mankind. Science has, no doubt, made
man’s life more comfortable, healthy and bright, and it has been also
given him the forward look, and the spirit of inquiry, but it has also
brought about certain complication and created some new problems which
stand in the way of human happiness.
For example: science has upset international relations by
annihilating space. It has abolished distance, made the five Continents
adjacent countries, and unified the world. At the beginning of the
nineteenth century a letter from England took weeks, in favourable
circumstances to reach American and its arrival was uncertain. Today one
can speak from London to a friend in New York within fifteen minutes
and be with him in twelve hours. All kinds of materials can be now
brought from distant countries at a much cheaper price than could be
imagined a hundred years ago, Under such circumstances the international
relations of the past are an anachronism, and fit the body politic as ill as
the clothes of a child fit a grown up man. But the people of different
nations have not yet developed the outlook demanded by modern
condition, and they still think in an isolated and provincial manner of an
earlier age to which steam and electricity were unknown. This fact has
created a serious problem which is responsible for much of modern
conflicts in the international field, and which has led to much human
misery in the form of wars.
power to abolish poverty, but this power has brought fortune in the hands
Another problem created by science is that it has given man the
of a few nations, who are too uneducated to spend it intelligently. Instead
of using huge amounts of wealth placed in the hands of the scientifically
advanced nations of the world, for the good of mankind as a whole, these nations are trying to exploite the poorer nations and dominate them
politically and economically. Every capacity is a capacity for evil as well
as for good, and each addition to human power is a chance to misuse it.
For example, the printing press has distributed more falsehood, and
beauty. Thus the very wealth of objects and enjoyments, good and bad,
useful and useless, which applied science has put at the disposal of a world
that has not yet learnt to choose good and refuse evil, is a menace to true
civilisation.
Modern technology, whereas it has greatly accelerated the
industrial progress of the world has impaired one of the purest enjoyments
and major virtues of humanity craftsmanship replacing it by mass
manufacture, turning the skilled worker into an automation on the
production line, making men richer in their possessions and poorer in
themselves. Ruskin, who saw as the gravest danger to true civilization
the struggle between man and the machinery for mastery, whether it
appears in the degradation of the operative or the unthinking exultation in
mechanical achievement’ rightly remarked: “No changing of place at a
hundred miles an hour, nor making of stuffs a thousand yards a minute,
will make us one whit stronger happier, or wiser. There was always more
in the world than men could see, walked they every so slowly, they will
see it no better for going fast. As for being able to talk from place to
place, that is indeed, well and convenient, but suppose you have,
originally, nothing to say; we shall be obliged at last to confess, what we
should long ago have known that the really precious things are thought and
sight, not pace. It does a bullet no good to go fast, and if a man be truly a
man no harm to go slow, for his glory is not at all in going, but in being”:
Apart form the problems created by scientific discoveries and
inventions, scientific outlook is also not free from certain glaring
disadvantages. A purely scientific education uncorrected by other
influences, has a narrowing effect. Natural science seems so all-
embracing, that we do not notice that vast regions of life-and these the
most important – do not come within its view, and a mind dominated by it
would naturally be inclined to ignore or underestimate them. It has little to
say about those creations of the human spirit which also are immortal,
great literature or great art. Moreover, the spirit of analysis engendered by
scientific outlook, has got its own serious limitations. By subjecting
everything to minute analysis we, in the words of Wordsworth, ‘murder
to dissect’. The parts, even if they are complete, are not the same as the no mone
whole. Dissolved into atoms the solid world is no longer itself. Reduced
cells or to an amalgam of psychological impulses, human beings
take that whole which commands our devotion, that some shredd
dissections of human tatters is that warm and breathing beauty of fle
which our hearts find delightful’. Analyse a thing and the life leaves it, bu
life is the most important thing in the world, and analysis not only do
not help us to see it, but it encourages
us – so potent and interesting and
engrossing is it – to forget the existence of what it cannot reveal,
Thus whereas science has, to a great extent, contributed to huma
happiness, it has also created some crucial problems which, if
adequately solved, will jeopardise human existence, and bring untold
misery to mankind. But we cannot blame science for this, it is man who is
to blame. Under the new conditions created by science, man must change
his primitive outlook. Science is guiltless, it is our hands that are unclean
Science goes steadily about her work, revealing the greatness of man, and
if he misuses it, he is to be blamed for it. The gifts of science do not
corrupt man. If new problems are created by the discoveries and
inventions of science, and man is exposed to new temptations, and thrown
into confusion, it does not mean that he should go back on science. We
must go forward, and extend the empire of science, following the
argument where it leads. A great new force that comes into the world is
revolutionary, and for the moment upsets and confuses the minds of men.
That was true of all great movements as of science. In course of time man
will prove himself equal to the task of solving these problems and meet the
new challenge successfully, and will certainly survive the crisis
precipitated by science as he has survived many in the past.
The most astounding modern inventions which has brough
mankind almost to the verge of annihilation is the invention of the atomic
and hydrogen bomb. But we do hope that man will be able to survive this
destruction, as he has done in the past with various other inventions,
circis, and use these tremendous energies for his benefit rather than for his
which were fraught with dangerous consequences for mankind. Already
the Atomic Energy Commission of the United nations is devoting
radian energy-both those that may prove to be beneficent and those that
extensive and unflagging attention to the biological and medical effects of
apprenticeship to caution in dealing with what is both useful and dangerous
may maim or kill. When man first discovered fire he began a large
– and the end is not yet. The story of the Garden of Eden and the myth of the Promethean fire find uncanny parallels in the huge responsibilities of
Atomic Energy commission to control the unprecedented forces of atomic
energy for the welfare of men. To control the use of this power, explore
its nature, its implications and potential applications and at the same time
against all dangers these possibilities set a series of tasks
to protect us
that also are without precedent and all but immeasurable. ultimately man
is the measure of all things’, and we do hope that he will in course of time
learn to control the power that science has placed in his hand, and also
adjust himself to the changed conditions in such a manner that it will
contribute to his happiness.
Albert Einstein, the great scientist of modern times, gave the key
to the problem of science and human happiness, when he remarked, in his
speech to the students of California University: “Why does this
magnificent applied science, which saves work and makes life easier,
bring us so little happiness?”
The simple answer runs – because we have not yet learned to
make a sensible use of it.
“In war, it serves that we may poisoned mutilate each other. In
it has made our lives hurried and uncertain. Instead of freeing us in
great measure from spiritually exhausting labour, it has made men into
slaves of machinery, who for the most part complete their monotonous
long day’s work with disgust and must continually tremble for their poor
space, rations.
“You will be thinking that the old man sings an ugly song. I do it,
however, with a good purpose, in order to point out a consequence.
“It is not enough that you should understand about applied science
in order that your work may increase man’s blessings. Concern for man
himself and his fate must always form the chiefly interest of all technical
endeavours, concern for the great unsolved problems of the organization
of labour and the distribution of goods-in order that the creations of our
mind shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind. Never forget this is
the midst of your diagrams and equations”.
“Science is rather distorted when its is sought to serve particular
ends, particular beliefs and particularly ideology. There is no such thing as
‘Capitalist science’ or ‘Communist science’. Science is science just like truth is truth. If truth is called capitalist truth or Communist truth you are
excluding something from it.
“It has been an interesting experience to see the reaction to the
Sputnik of various people and various countries. Every scientist, of
course acclaimed it and other hailed it as a great event, something very
commendable and praiseworthy. Nevertheless it is fortunate that it was
considered from the point of view of politics and world conflicts and
power conflicts with the result the essential nature of scientific part of it
was covered up by political and other aspects. This has led to some
reaction of fear among some people that this terrible thing can be turned
into a weapon and can be used against them. How can you look upon it as
“Certainly we want science to be used for the betterment of
beings and humanity. Pure science is important because it is a
earch for truth. Nevertheless we want to apply it for betterment of human
beings. It is not only justified but it is right. On the other hand, if in the
pursuit of that objective you make science and the pursuit of truth a kind
of handmaid to set policies which you have in mind-political or other –
then, perhaps the temper of science is affected and the approach to science
is not exactly what it should be. I have been putting some ideas- for your
consideration because science has become intimately tied up with various
world conflicts. Today it has become part of what is called cold war.
Apart from cold war not being desirable it is a bad thing for science to be
tied up with it.
“One sees on the one hand people some praising science and
other times becoming very apprehensive because science has led to
discoveries and use of the tremendous powers of nature which can be used
for good or evil and which has produced terrible weapons of mass
slaughter. Surely that is not the fault of science. It is the fault of huma
begins which misuse science. Science is neutral as truth is neutral. The
is no question of its being positive or negative. It is no good blaming
science or scientists. If you blame science you can as well blame
knowledge. Knowledge misused is dangerous, yet we want and week
knowledge. We must know how to use it properly.
night by planes carrying hydrogen bombs. It is an extraordinary thought
“We do live in extraordinary age when skies are filled up day and
that a loss of near by the commander of the aircraft or a slight mistakes of organisation might lead to terrific consequences. All these are being done
as a measure of precaution. It does appear strange that we have been
reduced to such straits as to take such enormous risks as a measure of
precaution. It is not good blaming science for it. Science must go on. The
moment science ceases to develop, the nations become static and decay,
We have to establish ourselves to the approach and ways of science so as
to benefit by it and not to use it for evil purposes.
“Scientists, therefore, should gradually develop something of the
wisdom of the sages and something of the compassion of saints. Science
thus far had not been conditional by saintly things. Sometimes those who
dealt with them in that way deluded themselves and went astray. It was
rather dangerous, yet, the fact remainded that a good deal of wisdom was
necessary as also a good deal of compassion and not merely scientific
discoveries and achievements, good and essential as the latter were”,
“The scientist is to be an objective seeker after truth. Science has
grown because in a large measure the great scientists have sought truth in
that way. But I suppose no man today, even a scientist can live in a world
of his own, in some kind of ivory tower, cut off from what is happening.
Therefore, science today has perhaps begun to cross the borders of morals
and ethics. If it gets divorced completely from the realm of morality and
ethics than the peer it possesses may be used for evil purposes. But above
all, if it ties to the gospel of hatred and violence, then undoubtedly it will
have taken a wrong direction which will bring much peril to the world. I
plead with the scientists here and elsewhere to remember that the scientific
sprit is essentially one of tolerance, one of humility, one of the realisation
that somebody else may also have a bit truth. Scientist should note that
they do not have a monopoly of the truth; that nobody has monopoly, no
country, no people, no book. Truth is to vast too be contained in the minds
of human beings or in books, however sacred.”