Does scientific advancement alienate us from ourselves and from nature?

Answer 1

In some ways it may, if you define a life close to nature as living in a log cabin in the woods.

In my opinion the scientific research undertaken into the natural world and the workings of that natural world brings us closer to nature and closer to humanity through greater understanding.

The products that may result from that research may isolate, however, the research and scientific advancement does not.

Answer 2

On the contrary, the more we know about ourselves and the world around us, the better equipped we are to fully explore the nature of things. Removing myth, superstition, and ignorance is usually a step in the right direction. Is the glory of a sunny day any less so because you know the sun is actually a big ball of gas? Does knowing the cellular structure of a rose petal make it any less beautiful or aromatic? The more we know, the more we can appreciate just how intricate and amazing life and nature really are. If anything, we can better appreciate not only how something feels or looks or tastes but all the complexities involved in bringing those things to the point at which you experienced them.
Maybe a better question is what we do with scientific advancements. Knowledge is power and power can certainly be dangerous.

Answer 3

Yes. Science originally used to be a way of trying to understand the nature of the world and universe around us. Now, it's become an entity in its own right, and seeks to re-invent "better" versions of everything so that the human race doesn't "have to" or rather get to live in the real world anymore. Nature balances itself, and just is. Humans are more and more obsessed with changing it, and destroying what's there already. Science has become the driving force which seeks to destroy and synthesize everything it comes into contact with, a little like a small inquisitive child taking a mechanical toy apart, putting it back together again, wrongly, because they don't understand how it works. If science destroys nature, and can re-create its own version, then the companies who employ the scientists can patent these versions, and make lots of money out of them.

Give me real life any day! The mindset of most people nowadays is completely wrong, because the advertisers and governments want them to be mindless little consumers, not able to think for themselves, and be able to deal with the unpleasant aspects of life. In the grand scale of things, humans are a virus on the planet.

Answer 4

I think you got your perfect answer first time. I agree with Vanguard.

Scientific advancement has ALLOWED us to disconnect from nature, but science and a close connection to nature are not mutually exclusive.

We could end up with hover cars, fusion power, medical immortality and mobile phones implanted up each nostril. But if our food is organic and we know its source, if we frequently visit nature’s wilderness and spend time reflecting on the world we live in, then science can draw us nearer to nature through a greater understanding.

Right now this is not the case, and science, like you suggest, is being used to create a rather ugly society. Another question might be; is our society responsible enough to continue advancing science?

Answer 5

NO

This apparent dichotomy comes from our narrow understanding of the "whole". The ultimate quest is for complete knowledge; comprehensive understanding of the universe. Knowledge of the "whole" can be divided into the knowledge of phenomenon and the knowledge of nuomena. Science is an exceptional tool to give an understanding of the physical world. It is doing a commendable job in this regard. However, we tend to forget that science is value-neutral. It can give facts but never wisdom. As rational beings it is our job to take the findings of science as input and make meaningful judgements. The problem arises when we relinquish this responsibility and tend to blame science for all the ills. It is not science that is responsible for the environmental, psychological, and spiritual disquiet. It is our inability to derive values and wisdom out of science that is responsible for it. For example, it is said that industrialization is responsible for a lot of social problems. Industrialization is engendered by science, therefore it is science that is causing alienation in the society. But the flaw with this thinking is that we are putting the blame on the wrong thing. The culprit is not science but our inability to derive and sustain meaningful values in the light of the physical changes brought by scientific inventions.

The success of society and human civilization in the light of scientific advancements would depend upon our ability to make appropriate value judgements in the changed circumstances.

Answer 6

It is our confidence and false sense of security that tends to alienate us from nature. Scientific advancement is just about learning to cope with nature better, having explored and experimented with the materials that nature has placed at our disposal.

Answer 7

Our nature is nature, our self is others. No differences. All are the same, all are one. We are in a blade of grass, the planet, space, all dimensions astral and physical. Science searches vigorously for answers, mirroring the search we all undertake each moment in life. The mind craves answers, but answers are words, the true reality lies beyond words and even science. Let the universe breath you and you will feel and know nothing and everything. :)

Answer 8

Scientific advancement has doubled our life span in the last 500 years. Do you want to go back to witch doctors, faith healers and medicine men? It will be scientific advancement that nudges that Planet Killing asteroid bearing down on us, not the hand of god.

Answer 9

Scientific advancement drives people away from elementary truth. You must have heard about sir Issac New ton wanting to make one bigger and one smaller hole for his bigger and smaller cat to come in. It was the carpenter who pointed out that one big hole is enough for both to come in.
So also Our space scientists dont keep the fact in mind that man requires Air, water, and food to sustain He also requires atmospheric pressure to regulate his metabolism.
These cannot be arranged in space on a permanent basis.
So imagination of future space cities with permanent resident population is out of question.
The money spent in space explorations can be better utilized to eradicate poverty on this earth. So also the money spent on development and testing of atomic weapons.

Answer 10

It can if not used properly and spiritually. I think many times it is not used properly and therefore people are alienating themselves from nature.

"Materialism does not reduce spirituality but lack of spirituality gives rise to materialism".