Science

            Cat’s Cradle was my favorite book we read this semester.  The satire Vonnegut uses is funny while it invokes many questions about humanity.  His satire of science is interesting as it deals with atomic bomb.  We had a long a discussion about science and whether or not it was good or bad.  Scientists have strived to learn more and create better technology to further societal development.

            Since the first humans were on Earth, mankind has always strived to learn more and create better inventions.  War has been one thing that humans have always tried to be better in.  Humans continued to develop weapons that were more lethal and caused more destruction.  The American government pushed for the best weapons available.  Eventually the Atomic Bomb was created and one was able to wipe out an entire city.  Humans reached a new level of destruction.

            I do not think science is inherently good or bad, but it is what you use science to learn and create.  Mankind has a desire that cannot be stopped.  Bigger and better things are always being looked for.  It only makes sense that people were able to create a weapon that has the potential to destroy the world after better weapons were being developed all the time.  This is a bad part of science.  Knowledge and development were used and are still used to create better ways of killing people.  The United States continues to spend an incredibly large amount on defense.  This has created better weapons and robots, namely drones, that can kill for humans.  Imagine if all this money and effort were used to create good things for the world.

            If humans can create things to destroy the world, why can we not develop things to save the world?  We have a thirst for knowledge and innovation.  If humans have a goal, we will eventually achieve it.  The goal can be achieved faster the more effort and money goes into achieving the goal.  Science has been used for many years to kill people and create luxuries that the developed world gets to see.  If we used science only to benefit the world, solve environmental issues, solve actual problems like starvation and disease, and anything that might hinder human life we could start a new world where everyone worked together to save the world rather than work independently to destroy it.