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The Attack on Science and Technology in Democracies
| Article
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10446 |
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Section : |
MODERN THOUGHT
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| Issue
Date : |
2 / 1993 |
3,272 Words |
| Author
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S. Fred Singer
S. Fred Singer, Visiting Eminent Scholar at George Mason
University and former director of the U.S. Weather Satellite
Program, is a pioneer in unmanned space science. His early
work included study of primary cosmic radiation and the
discovery of the equatorial "elctrojet" current in the Earth's
ionosphere. He also proposed to NASA the manned mission to
Phobos and Deimos now referred to as the Ph-D Project. |
The liberal democracies have reached a quite high level of development in science and technology. Indeed, one could argue that the high level of technology, by raising the standard of life, has contributed to the development and the maintenance of liberal democracies. Why do the liberal democracies also show quite an active opposition to science and technology, one that manifests itself in a number of ways?
The answer, or answers, lies in the realm of sociology, with perhaps input from psychology, political science, and public-choice theory. Consider the following arguments, listed in arbitrary order.
1. Wealth. The argument has been advanced, for example by Peter Metzger, that we are now so well off materially that we can afford to criticize, attack, and even destroy the basis of our wealth. Support for this view comes from the fact that in poor societies technological improvements are revered rather than maligned. Smokestacks are considered a symbol of progress rather than a source of pollution.
2. Antigrowth. People are often blind to the improvements in the standard of life, or not willing to credit science and technology with the improvement. Even the obvious fact of increased longevity is often denied by such people. Others are opposed to economic growth for a variety of reasons, usually framed in ecological concerns. For example, British economist Ezra Mishan correctly identifies science and technology as the wellspring of economic growth and therefore opposes scientific research (which he would control and limit to very few and specific areas).
3. New religion. The antigrowth attitude is carried to extremes by those who depreciate the value of human life and even of human existence. These are the people who worship nature without humans. They manifest themselves as ecoactivists in various forms: Oppositions to the use of animals in medical research is just one of the manifestations. There are also "ecofreaks" who practice "ecotage," enforcing animal rights by violent means, sabotaging tree-felling operations, and generally inducing ecohysteria. Perceptive observers have pointed out that denying the preeminence of humans and of human life goes counter to the Judeo-Christian tradition and may border on a rebirth of nature worship.
4. Estrangement. The rapid advance of science, and its increasing specialization, have led to an estrangement, particularly for those who have no scientific training. On the one hand, there is great
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