Science and power

de Federico Mayor · Publicada por primera vez en 1995

"Science is the most powerful tool of the twentieth century, the 'ping' force of modern society. But is its influence properly harnessed? As physicists explore the fundamental nature of matter and molecular biologists uncover the very nature of life, many people feel threatened. Can human beings retain their dignity and freedom in the face of such great powers for good and evil? The issues, though new in content, are no different in nature from those that have surrounded science since its birth in Ancient Greece. For centuries it struggled to free itself from the constraints of religious dogmas. Success led to an age of enlightenment, when nature for the first time began to yield its secrets, but the Industrial Revolution created new threats. Science had won its freedom of inquiry only to discover that it risked becoming an instrument of the state. 'Science and Power' examines the often-difficult relationship between scientists and those who govern them. A distinguished group of contributors looks at the history of this relationship, where it stands today, and what needs to be done to ensure that science is used in future for the greatest good of the greatest number. This book should interest all those concerned about science and society: scientists, policy-makers and citizens with an interest in the future of the world in which they live"--Publisher's descriptionx, p. [4] of cover.