When progress might harm humanity

Science is one of humanity’s greatest achievements. It has improved our health, extended our life expectancy, taken us to space, connected the world digitally, and given us countless tools to make life easier. Every day, it grows broader, touching every corner of our existence. But while science has been a blessing in many ways, I believe there are certain areas where scientific advancement has crossed necessary boundaries, bringing more harm than good to humanity.

I remember in the 2000s-2022 when handsets were not rampant, to get a sim card you must be very rich, but now every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a phone even if it's not Android, but at least it's something one can carry around, make calls, and still send text messages. Before, to communicate with someone in Lagos or even Abia State, you had to write a letter, then if your letter didn't reach the person late or got misplaced.

In our health sector, there has been a lot of improvement in health. Before, individuals with sickle cell trait couldn't marry because they might end up having a child with sickle cell disease. Now, science has evolved to the point where you can check if a child will have sickle cell disease even before birth. Initially, cesarean sections always left a noticeable scar on women's stomachs, but now, due to advancements in science, there is little to no scarring anymore.

Before, during surgery, you will be given an injection and most patients from there meet their creator, but with advanced technology. You don't need to fall asleep again for you to be operated; you will be awake but won't feel any pain, and the surgery will be carried out smoothly.

What about agriculture? From advanced equipment for clearing bushes to tilling the ground, we have the chisel plough, rippers, and more. Advanced technology has made it possible for crops to grow without much pest disturbance.

But in all this, there is still some part of science I do not fully agree with, which is genetic manipulation, especially when it comes to editing human DNA not for curing disease but for enhancing humans. While gene therapy for conditions like sickle cell anaemia or cancer is groundbreaking and saves lives, the push toward 'designer babies' is giving me a headache.

Rich people are going to use it to create physically or intellectually superior children. So what now happens to the naturally born? It will no longer be celebrated. In this case, I think science is trying to play God, and the outcome won't be funny; it's going to be very chaotic.

Another example is the development of advanced weapons. Science has given us nuclear bombs, biological weapons, and chemical warfare. These are not tools of progress but of destruction. The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki may have ended a war, but at the cost of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives and long-term suffering. Modern science has only pushed the boundaries of destruction further. Look at the current Israel and Iran war. What of Ukraine and Russia war for how many years now.Innocent lives are being killed.

What about the killings in benue State where almost 200 innocent people were killed just like that, little babies who didn't offend anybody died, and nobody was punished for that?

In conclusion, while I believe in the power of science to solve human problems, I also believe that not all scientific progress is necessary. There must be limits, guided by ethics, compassion, and wisdom. Science should uplift humanity, not divide or destroy it.

Posted Using INLEO