Science is a threat to humanity. Do you agree?

Albert Einstein, a renowned scientist, once said, To raise new questions,

new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires
creative imagination and marks real advance in science. To mankind,
Science has brought about advancements and improvements in our
society. From saving and improving lives to easier communication, the
evidences of science benefitting our society is not hard to find. However,
one might start to ponder about the threats that science has brought to
us. With the conveniences that Science has brought about, our lives have
become better, but we also become spoilt. Our over-reliance and even
misuse of Science has led to Science becoming a threat to humanity.
Despite this, we need to realise the fact that science is the systematic
acquisition of knowledge based on the scientific method, and because
Science is but a piece of knowledge, it is up to humans on how we use this
knowledge. Hence, Science is not a threat to humanity if humans are able
to handle this piece of knowledge and use it to benefit mankind.
Talking about Science and its benefits to our society, the only thing that
has allowed mankind to progress from cave communities to civilisations
today are the countless scientific research and advancements. Saving and
improving lives is just one of the benefits that Science has brought about.
With the new medical researches and breakthroughs, many diseases and
medical problems are able to be tackled effectively. Recent scientific
advancements now allow us to glimpse into our genetic makeup and the
molecular structure of our DNA. This has given rise to genetic-based drug
discovery and can possibly bring about more effective drug discovery
which can in turn save lives. Science has also brought about in-vitro
fertilisation, which can help infertile couples get children despite their
physical constraints. Ever since the introduction of IVF, more than five
million babies were born through this method. Being able to have children
definitely improves the lives of parents tremendously. Other than these
two benefits, there are many more medical advances that all improve and
save human lives, all because of the existence of science.
Besides medical advancements, science has also brought about more
effective and easier communications. Gone were the days where people
would face problems communicating with people who are far away. Now
with a click of a button, people can communicate with each other even if
they are on opposite ends of the world. Communication technologies have
evolved very rapidly in the last decade and with the combination of the
improvements of the World Wide Web, communication has never been
easier. The appearance of WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook and many other
communication platforms can allow users to communicate without
meeting face to face, thus increasing efficiency. This can allow
corporations to have collaborations between each other with ease even if
they are not based in the same country. Outsourcing has also been made

more convenient for these companies. The easier and more effective
communication that science has brought about has made this world a
much smaller place.
Despite the overwhelming benefits that science has brought about over
the years, one cannot deny that science has also brought up some harms
and threats, no matter how insignificant they seem as compared to the
benefits. With the constant development of science, the misuse of science
and technology is inevitable. Although the original intentions or motive for
a particular scientific research might be for a good cause, there are always
people who abuse these knowledge. The misuse of science or of scientific
achievements to create biological weapons that poison and spread
disease is one good example of this. These weapons are highly dangerous
and has always provoked alarm and abhorrence in the public mind. Under
the wrong hands, these weapons of mass destruction can cause massive
harm to mankind, possibly killing millions of people if one was set off.
When compared to the cost of a nuclear weapons program, biological
weapons are extremely cheap. It is estimated that 1 gram of toxin could
kill 10 million people. It is highly possible that this technology will be
misused, if it is under the wrong hands. Although this chance might be
small, one cannot deny the possibility of its occurrence. If it does occur, it
will definitely threaten humanity.
Misusing science and technology might seem like a big problem, but there
is also a problem that science has brought that is often ignored. As
science bring about more conveniences for mankind, it is inevitable that
laziness would start to develop in people. This is caused by their
overreliance of technology. Communication and productivity tools such as
the computer and social media are used the most in our current world.
One cannot deny that they allow for easier and more effective
communication. However, the overreliance of these technological tools
have broken down traditional relationships. The face to face conversations
that were once the norm has evolved to become messages on social
media or on the phone. Other than that, many individuals are becoming
increasingly self-absorbed in videogames and live on the internet without
making lasting connections with people face to face. The social skills that
we once have are thus slowly devolving and degenerating. This would
certainly threaten humanity.
In conclusion, science is a double-edged sword, although it is very
beneficial to our society in many ways, it can also harm mankind.
However, one must realise that the towering enemy of mankind is not
science. Science is but a piece of knowledge and it merely reflects the
social forces by which it is surrounded. Humans are the ones who decide
what to do with that piece of knowledge or technology. Science can bring
more good than harm to mankind, and is definitely not a threat to
humanity if used properly. To prevent science from threatening humanity,

organisations could be set up to monitor and regulate the use of science.

International laws and a code of conduct for the use and development of
science could also be implemented to ensure that science ultimately
becomes our friend, not our enemy.