by Jane Wong
Science and technology have often been glorified as the main driver for humanity’s progress. Indeed, through medical advancements to smart technologies, science and technology have managed to increase our lifespan and even bring individuals from all over the world closer together, allowing mankind to thrive for thousands of years. Yet is science and technology the panacea to all our problems? I strongly believe not. Perhaps the notion that science and technology alone can solve challenges, resolve crises immediately, and foster long-lasting peace globally reflect some naivety, or even delusion, on our part; Scientific advancement alone cannot solve all our problems and is can even be the cause of our problems when used as a vicious tool without proper moral guidance.
First and foremost, it must be conceded that science and technology have improved our lives in ways beyond our imagination. In pre-historic days when we faced hunger and starvation, our study of science has enabled us to efficiently produce crops for food and domesticate animals conveniently and safely. Ventures into medical technology have also helped us to extend our life expectancy to a point where we were able to eradicate diseases such as the smallpox virus. Relating to the present, scientific advancements and the use of technology have further enhanced the efficiency of measures to tackle the novel coronavirus. For instance, the use of ultra-violet (UV) light lamps and robots in hotels to penetrate the genetic material of viruses and bacteria so that they cannot replicate anymore. Besides, the development of vaccines against COVID-19 like the Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines, have generated a glimmer of hope for humanity in eradicating the virus worldwide. The ability of science to facilitate problem-solving has been undeniably one of the biggest forces for change.
However, while vaccines seem capable of ending the dreadful pandemic, for some countries, the end to the pandemic remains out of sight. This is so as attaining a dose, or a shot of the vaccine is dependent on the wealth of the country one resides in. Take for example the grimmest situation, in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, it could take more than five years to finish vaccinating its population. On the other hand, advanced economies would be able to vaccinate a majority of their adult populations by mid-2022. Hence, while science and technology research led by companies often have noble goals of benefitting humankind, the reality remains that the effectiveness of such efforts is limited in countries that have no means to adopt such developments easily. Restricted access to such technology and products especially for people in poorer socio-economic backgrounds, stands a major obstacle in making them an effective solution to such problems. Hence, the perception that science and technology can solve our problems is nothing more than a naïve dream for some.
Furthermore, it is imperative to recognize that this is but the tip of the iceberg. In a bid to solve many of today’s challenges, science churns out even more problems in the process. This is largely due to the fast pace of scientific and technological developments that humankind is struggling to keep up with. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), for instance, have posed considerable threats to people’s livelihoods. Already, robots have replaced food and beverage staff in Japan and South Korea. Evidently, despite being able to relieve the manpower crunch, it has further destroyed most traditional livelihoods and jobs of ordinary citizens. The rise in social media usage has also sparked never-ending controversies over its implications on mental health among adolescents, leaks in personal data to power-hungry firms, and even the polarization of society – just to name a few.
While science and technology have provided some solutions, it remains more often than not regrettably limited. Where social problems are so deeply intertwined with human nature, science and technology may seem able to solve all problems, but in fact, cannot resolve complex issues exacerbated by the use of technology today. This is not to discount the immense value of science and technology, but perhaps a timely wake-up call that it will not be the solution to everything, as much as we hope for it to be.
References:
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/hotels-uv-light-robots-lamps-protect-coronavirus/story?id=71205829
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