Science

I attended a lecture by Sam Harris, noted atheist free-thinker and neuroscientist, last evening at Harvard University. He was promoting his new book, The Moral Landscape, as well as supporting the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard.

Wikimedia Photo:
Sam Harris

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Harris's premise that there is a scientific basis for doing good which is more relevant and potentially beneficial to modern society than religion. I differ with Mr. Harris in my vision of social progress, as effected by science. I do not share his hopeful view of a scientific future.

It would be more honest of me to say I don't share his focus on the future as guidance for the present. I do not believe we can look to an optimistic future for motivation in the present to address social and economic inequality. This futuristic optimism has been shown over and over again to be unfounded in history.

While appreciating his sense of the evolution of humanity with the increasing body of applicable science in health care and social sciences, I am perhaps more concerned about the misapplication of science to weaponry, control of information and burgeoning overpopulation. These counterweights to the "good" of science are considerable. I don't see them being naturally diminished by some inherent human desire to do away with them. As long as money makes the world go 'round, science will most likely be its slave.