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We are victims of our own creation
By Melson Chun
We all hear it too often today: the proliferation of nuclear technology, the heated debate and controversies of cloning and other scientific practices, or even the rising fear of destruction of the world. Coincidentally enough, all these scares have, in one form or another, engendered the involvement of science and technology. It is to no surprise that such a question arises: are we really victims our own creation? True enough, there are some technologies that we ought to be wary of, and some that may even seem to pervade Man’s very existence. But it is, by and large, untrue that we are victims of our very own creations as I fervently believe that Mankind still possesses equal, if not, more control over our own masterpieces. It is also crucial to examine the underlying assumption of the question itself. It seems to assume the negative connotation of science and technology, which I feel is unfounded as Science, from time immemorial, has brought Man unprecedented benefits in the form of greater convenience such as improved accessibility to other parts of the world, better standard of living and even reduced mortality. It certainly seems that we are not wholly victims of our creation, because if we are, then benefits as such would not appear on the face of the earth. Despite these benefits however, Mankind acknowledges that the power of science and technology is not one to be trifled with. Admittedly, there are times when we overlook that acknowledgement, especially in times of scientific hubris. This is apparent in the case of discovering a new and powerful, albeit dangerous, source of energy—nuclear energy— which is one of Man’s pinnacle achievement. What Man failed, or overlooked, is the repercussion it can potentially bring. As such, fervent experimentations to tap this source of power has led to an oversight of safety in Chernobyl nuclear power station that its lingering effects of nuclear radiation from the failed experimentation then continues to be felt today. Clearly, the power of science has pervaded Man’s very existence such that it may seem we are victim of our own creation. It is also because of this insidious power of science and technology that has perpetuated fear among Mankind. It is this fear then that we are victims of, not science and technology. It is also this fear that has led to paranoia among the scientific community as they experiment on new technologies. The heated debate about the controversy of genetic engineering is one prominent example to illustrate the paranoia confronting the scientific community. Undoubtedly, genetic engineering has untapped potential to overcome our purported food shortage with the creation of hardier, more resistant seeds to withstand weather extremities. Coupled with this is the rising fear of the creation of “superweeds”, which may also be more resistant. Clearly, controversies as such engenders the perpetuation of fear which paralyses us and it is this fear that we have created that has ironically victimized us. Having said that however, such fear may not be a bad thing after all, as it imbues in us the constant reminder to constantly approach science with the greatest conscientiousness so that we may reap the greatest benefits that science and technology may provide us with. Furthermore, it may seem that we are victims of our own creation, but really, there is always a degree of control that is retained in use such that we can use it to our advantage instead. This is exemplified in the rising application of robotics to help Mankind perform tasks that may endanger us or risk our lives such as the usage and control of machines to construct building and heighten our infrastructure. Additionally, applied biomorphic robots can also be of great convenience to the elderly as these robots are able to guide and assist movements via laser and sensory systems. Perhaps, it is fair to say that a degree of control is still retained in Mankind such that we can use it to our advantage instead. This degree of control can also extend beyond using it to our advantage, to its usage in overcoming limitations! Should Mankind wield this double-edged sword of science and technology judiciously, not only can we use it to defend us, but also attack our limitations. This can be seen in the usage of reverse osmosis and its application to purify water in the sewage, almost magically transforming it into safe drinkable water. This is hence applied to curb Singapore’s water shortage and overcome their purported inherent limitation. It can clearly be evinced that science and technology, if wielded properly, can not only be used to our advantage, but also curb our limitation such that we are no longer victims of our own creation. Ultimately, we are master of our own creation. With our ability to anticipate dangers and pre-empt them, as well as learn from our mistakes, these are certainly invaluable assets to be proud of. However, it is this very pride that is our Achilles’ heels as we may tend to overlook minute details of our creations, and hence be victimized by them. Be it an asset or a liability, Man must always holistically use his abilities to his fullest advantage to, at least, mitigate any destruction caused by Science, or at most, retain full control over it. Unless we are masters of our own abilities, we are, and will always be, a subject of our own creation. Author is a person who have successfully combated acne. For more information, visit http://www.homeacneskincare.com on tips how you can banish acne forever too!
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Contributor's Note
Author is a person who have successfully combated acne. For more information, visit http://www.homeacneskincare.com on tips how you can banish acne forever too!
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