Nowadays technical advancements are both rapid and
unpredictable. New discoveries lead to a better understanding of the universe,
but often are used for questionable inventions. To be fair, it has been
happening for some time already. We all know about some discoveries that became
dangerous “in the wrong hands” or researchers that were outcasts of the
society, because of their scientific breakthroughs.
Problems with the general public
New scientific findings sometimes challenge our
worldview. The problems arise especially when they contradict with people’s
belief system. Throughout history many
discoveries got their authors or their proclaimers in real trouble.
Copernicus faced resistance in the scientific
community of 16th century when he proposed his heliocentric theory
in “De revolutionibus orbium coelestium” (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly
Spheres). Galileo provided evidence for Copernican theory and was found guilty
of heresy by The Holy Office of the Inquisition and spent the rest of his life
in a house arrest.
Source: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/140602_evolution.jpg
Darwinian contributions to the science of evolution
are questioned and negated as a whole even today by some people, despite the
astronomic amounts of evidence supporting them.
Fortunately, science seems to prevail over
preconceived notions of the society, even if it takes some time. Many institutions
that were once enemies of many discoveries, accepted them already and changed
their position accordingly.
Dangerous knowledge
Some scientific breakthroughs can easily be used in
ethically questionable ways. I’m sure you all heard some stories about
researchers that didn’t publish their discovery, because they thought it would
lead to destruction.
Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2
was instrumental in discovery of nuclear fission, which lead directly to the
creation of atomic bombs. He then quite famously critised the use of nuclear
weapons alongside a British philosopher Bertrand Russell in The
Russell–Einstein Manifesto.
Chemical structure of sarin
Source: http://f.tqn.com/y/chemistry/1/W/4/P/1/sarin.jpg
Dr. Gerhard Schrader was a German chemist with a mission
– trying to find a scientific solution to hunger in the world. Trying to come
up with new insecticides, he accidentally discovered sarin and tabun, nerve
agents which taken the chemical warfare to a whole new level.
Looking into the future
Obviously it’s hard to blame a researcher that his
work was used in an unethical way. Especially that often scientists don’t quite
comprehend the possible use of their work themselves. Discoveries, while sometimes controversial in
particular societies, give us a better understanding of the world we live in.
The more we know about a particular subject, the better use we can find for
this knowledge.
There are many things yet to be discovered. We still
have a very small understanding of dark energy and dark matter. Who knows to
what kind of inventions will lead more knowledge on this subject?
What do you think about the topic? Do you think there
were some discoveries that shouldn’t be published? Do you imagine any type of
knowledge that, when discovered, should be kept secret as long as possible? And
what do you think about scientists that were punished for their discoveries? Do
you admire their bravery or think that they should wait for a more favorable
time to publish their work?
Comments
I could add another example to your list. Quantum mechanics are still less known part of physics knowledge despite being supported by countless experiments. They make a huge part in modern technology, even everyday use objects like TVs. But they are so highly unintuitive. Simplyfing a lot it's possible for one object to be in multiple places and states at the same time. It's very hard to accept not yet understand by many people.
I also believe that it'd be better if some things never got discovered, but at the same time I'm glad we're doing a progress, as more knowledge is always better, it's only a matter of the way how you use that knowledge, as nearly everything can be used both in a good and bad way.
A discovery too dire in consequences to publish probably does not exist. If it could be used as a weapon, it still wouldn't change the fact that people are aggressive by nature, and without a better weapon they would just continue killing themselves with worse weapons, making the process slower. Halting important discoveries in fear of what they could do is always a bad idea. Even the most dangerous piece of knowledge can just as well be used to prevent wars, or help people in general.
It's really sad, that actually even today, when technique, medicine, science and many other areas are so much developed, there are still people, who are trying to ban knowledge and progress. I admire scientists, who today and many years back, believed so much into development, that they risked. It was brave and needed, because thanks for those people our knowledge for today looks like it looks.
I found an interesting video about the future of genetic engineering - it can be a cure for every disease, but it also can lead to using genetically modified soldiers and there're a lot of ethical disputes about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY
I think that not scientist should be punished for theirs discovers. Only the person who makes immoral thing with this discover should be judged. The fact that sth is using not in the correct way not allow to harm scientists.
I admire how creative they are and how wonderful things they discover (especially in Poland where there is lack of money for science).
We can only speculate about scientific secrets that governments of global superpowers or some companies might have, but it's surely sth to think about.
Obviously my question about a discovery that is too dangerous to be published was completely hipothethical at this point. It probably should be sth that could be quite easily used by nearly anyone (like a terrorist group) to destroy the whole planet or a good chunk of it. I'm not claiming that anything like that is even possible, but there are some theories that don't bode well.
This scientists were punished because they have scared people that were controlling everything. As we know it is easier to control people less educated and some things that were normal then could be ruined by this discoveries.
What's more, inventions would be improved and sold not only by inventor but also by other hustlers. So what is the sense of inventing if somebody would use it?
Of course, the whole idea is very altruistic, but unfortunatelly a human was created in a way, which disables such situations.
Let’s imagine that AI will become dangerous in the future. So do we have to stop developing it now and putting it to the public? Tesla cars already show some results in saving people’s lives.
But should we really publish all the inventions? Let’s take for example techniques on manipulation the humans consciousness. Let’s imagine that this field of studies would develope in next 50 years on such a level that we would be able to make semi-zombies of people. I believe that militarians already do that. So, on my opinion, such kind of inventions should not be published and should be kept in a total secret.
Thanks for the link. Genetic engineering is a huge topic in itself, which raises a lot of basic existential questions. What does it mean to be human? How far into gene manipulation can we go until it will become raising 'ideal' humans? Of course there are some ethically clear aspects of genetic engineering like getting rid of diseases or disabilities, but there are many questionable ones. It is evident even between neighbouring countries. Germany restricts use of stem cells heavily and mostly to research, which Poland for example does not.
Also when it comes to those hypothetically fatal to mankind discoveries, any judgment or pointing fingers at people, scientists or not, won't matter much.
A lot of people don’t like changes, but they will come. Most of scientists were laughed at or punished because of them discoveres, and today those discoveries are totally normal. But they have courage to told about it and also they were highly praised - unfortunately posthumously.
There are still societies that are highly unfavorable of science even in the 21st Century. Nowadays most research is conducted in 1st world countries because of financial and technological reasons, so any kind of punishment for discovering sth may seem to be a thing of the past, but there are some countries for example in the Middle East, where doing any work that contradicts the holy scripture does result in severe punishments.
Good things make less and so less interest. It could only be funded in case of benefit. One can only imagine what a wonderful it would be, where scientists are working for the good of the planet and humanity. So, it is an utopia.
People who are obsessed with their ideas in spite of everything, who invent something useful and work in good faith make me delight.