Do we really pursue...?

Question

true science? Science is 'knowledge'. "If it can be done, then just do it"

However, I believe that if we pursued true science nothing would be off limits. I believe the existence of human subjects review boards, moral/ethical concerns makes us uncomfortable practicing true science. Agree or Disagree? Explain answer.

i believe some of you are proving my point, eh? by taking moral or even practical utility into consideration we actually dilute 'science'.

whether it's nuclear power, cloning, or stem cells. we are uncomfortable practicing Science as Science. Pursuing knowledge for the sake of knowledge.

Answer 1

"If it could be done, then just do it" ?

Science is not a Nike advert.

Science, as with everything in our lives, absolutely must be controlled by the moral and ethical social conscience that makes our society work. Why should scientists be allowed to be outside this framework? I don't think these constraints make us uncomfortable practising "true" science (whatever that is.

Uncontrolled science leads us down the path of mass annihilation (germ warfare etc); the use of baby's organs for experimentation (as we've witnessed in the UK) and so on.

This was exactly the dilemna faced by Dr. Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's novel - and how pertinent this still is today.

***EDIT***
Quite the opposite I think. Any scientist who has a conscience will feel uncomfortable pursuing science which he knows is morally or socially reprehensible. Any human (scientist or other) who does not have a moral conscience, does not belong in our society.

Answer 2

Yes, "science" is "to know". However, I think it strange that you (and so many others) want "to know" things that probably will not help humanity in the long run. Why not try to learn how to control human population, without war and disease?
Are we practicing "true" science? NO!!! Look at Darwinism: there is not one single event that Darwinists can point to and say, this used to be a Monkey, now it is a Human (or whatever). Before the liberal press controlled things, almost every year a new animal species was discovered. Where did they come from? They just "popped up"; there was no bridge connecting them to another animal species.
Do we practice "true" science? NO!!!! Look at houses; for the past 70 years, they have known how to build houses that are so well insulated that heating/cooling would be unnecessary. Look around you: how many of these houses do you see? Me, I have never seen even one; I've read about them, from science class in the 8th grade (back in the '50's) and magazine articles ever since: In graduate school, I even did a project utilyzing them, but the Government (all levels) and People (!) will NOT permit them.
Do we use "true" science? No way! Back in the '40's EVERY farm house had its own wind charger, generating all of their electrical needs. Yes, we have higher demands for electricity now, but now we also have solar panels. If every single house/business was built with solar panels and wind chargers incorporated into the design, if every house/building was built properly to insulate to the max. we would NOT need to import oil from any other country.
Do we use "true" science? Unfortunately, NO. Back in the early '70's when the Arabs had that big oil embargo, suddenly U.S. cars would get 50 - 60 mpg. Pickups similar to the F-150 got 20 - 25 mpg. Now cars average less than 30 mpg; pickups about 10 - 15 mpg.
Employing "true" science does not mean "nothing is off limits". If you want that, read "The Island of Dr. Moreau" and "1984", for starters.
"True" science has to take human beings wants and needs into consideration and it must seek the maximum advancement with the minimum of destruction.
What are YOU going to do when "true" science blows up this world, or makes it radioactive or so poluted that nothing can grow?

Answer 3

What is the definition of true science? every scientist needs morality in its pursuit.I disagree we must forget moral and ethical concerns in order to pursue true science.If a science is based on human greed rather then human need it is not science at all but a means to deceive the world.Not every science is good for all of mankind and therefore should not be pursued.

Every truth is subject to variation and change,truth itself is not a set path but rather a trust,or a blind faith.Science has always changed,there are no conclusions that cannot be re-concluded.We should pursue knowledge and the sciences with an open end.That what we reason now may change,and what may seem is not always so.

Answer 4

There's always good and bad about science. For example, if we use nuclear power correctly, nuclear power can give us a lot of energy usage. But unfortunately, nuclear power turns out into nuclear weapon, which is a complete disaster. So, if we can manage and control the knowledge that we are going to pursue, then why not.