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Two faces of science

Two faces of science

By Nimesh Ghimire, Class IX, Budhanilkantha School

Modern Science is a strange paradox. On one side, it has opened up a vista of celestial blessings and comforts on earth, while on the other, it has degraded man to the basest degree, having made him a brute of the most formidable type.

Man has worked his way up in the world and has gained superiority by virtue of his success in the struggle for existence. He has crossed different stages of hardship to stand where he is right now. Man, by character, is also very inquisitive. It is because of his inquisitiveness and thoughts that science has materialised.

The dawn of science has completely transformed man’s stance on life. It has been the greatest donor to the development of society and its people. Science explores the unknown world and leads to discoveries, which ultimately make this world a much more appealing place to live in. All the forces of nature, which were worshiped as unkind masters in the pre-scientific world has been controlled and trained as useful servants. Science has brought people of different nations closer than ever before by the use of technology. Similarly, human prosperity has gone beyond measurement and it has opened up innumerable opportunities for the growth of knowledge.

Science has helped to make life happier for people. Science has also helped man to chart uncharted things. Even the deadliest diseases have been controlled by science by developing medicines to either cure or restrain them. While science has proved to be very useful to humankind, its threatening features cannot be ignored. Science is greatly responsible for creating terror by its invention of the most ferocious weapons for mass destruction. We can take the example of World War II when an atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima thereby resulting in the loss of half a million lives.

Science has done both good and damage. It can neither be praised for the good done, nor can we denounce it for the damage. Knowledge can never be bad in itself. Shakespeare has said, “There is nothing good or bad in itself, only thinking makes it so.”

I do not think science is to be blamed for the devastation. It is man, and man alone, who should be held responsible. Bu misusing science, he has brought miseries on himself. So, science should always be used for constructive purposes to change the face of earth.