What is the definition of “good” and how does one ensure that one is doing something that is ethically “good?” This is one of the more difficult questions for ancient Greek philosophers and modern geniuses alike. One does not need to be a gifted thinker or have an exceptionally high intelligence quotient to know that, in the grand scheme of existence, humans have a short life. Therefore one should want to achieve success, pursue knowledge diligently, and live a “good” life, though it may be brief. In the past century the last thought has become more complex when one considers how modern science may affect the future of mankind.
Modern science has been, and will continue to be, capable of producing remarkable achievements such as launching a space shuttle into the atmosphere or developing robotic prosthetic limbs. Many great men have dedicated their lives to making scientific dreams a reality, and their aims, in many cases, were likely with the betterment of mankind in mind. However, at the TED Conference in 2014, Martin Rees raised an important and necessary discussion in his speech entitled Can We Prevent the End of the World? The purpose of Martin Rees’ TED talk was to discuss how mankind will develop a framework of ethics when it to further developing science and technology in our future—or as he said, the process of “seeing science fiction nightmare become a reality.” In one lifetime he has seen the growth and possibilities of science and technology simultaneously create awe-inspiring dreams as well as catastrophic fear.
Rees believes that as science becomes more powerful, progressive, and promising for mankind, the risks that are associated with such fantastic discoveries and inventions increase simultaneously. Men and women will be capable of creating significant destruction by using the technology intended for good against mankind. A rogue biologist, for example, could release a strain of virus that is fatal for humans. And in a globally interconnected world, populated with ships and trains, people could spread disease rapidly. But in his opinion people are too routinely concerned smaller disasters such as plane accidents or eating contaminated food, while neglecting larger catastrophic possibilities. Not only does mankind have to concern itself with natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and floods, that could threaten large portions of our human population, but we also have to worry about mankind turning against itself to create an even greater calamitous event.
However catastrophic disasters are not the only thing to consider when trying to understand why scientists would want to develop an ethical framework for the future of science and technology. Paul Roote Wolpe, in his lecture It’s Time To Begin Questioning Bio-Engineering, adeptly outlines, with a number of visual aids, the evolution of science through the lens of genetically modified animals. He points out that scientists have already modified and mutated genes of a great number of species on this planet. For example, scientists mutated a camel with a llama in order to combine the heartiness of camel with the intelligence of a llama. He illustrates a number of examples, each of which leads us back to the important original question: how will we be guided when we use this technology in the future? It is an ethical question that he raises because we must be concerned with the future of species on our planet. He notes that if we can mutate a goat with a sheep, or grow a human ear onto a rat’s body—mutations that we currently perform on non-human species—that we are more than capable of modifying the human species. His point is that we are actively genetically modifying and producing the future species which will inhabit our planet. In order for the human species to continue to develop technologically we must develop a framework for how acceptable and unacceptable use of our discoveries. With that in mind, one can begin to prevent future dangers and disasters by spreading the ideas of scientists, especially those who make us aware of the potential pitfalls science and technology have to offer, so that our species can create safeguards against them.
References:
Rees, Martin. Can We Prevent The End Of The World?. 2014. Web. 20 June 2015.
Wolpe, Paul Root. It’s Time to Start Questioning Bio-Engineering. 2010. Web. 20 June 2015
