PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 249, 21 October 1936, Page 10

PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

Science and Its Influence

gIR Richard Gregory is the editor of “Nature,” one of the chief scientific; journals in the world. H. G. Wells once I called it the world’s most important j newspaper. Now. old and honoured) among his scientific colleagues, Sir Richard Gregory has lectured at the! Royal Institution. London, on “Science; in a. Changing World,” writes Tellurion I in the “Leader.” There arc many fascinating romint ' sconces and recollect ions in the lecture, but the portion that I should like to' bring under notice is the concluding part, in which Sir Richard tries to find some harmony, sonic explanation, concerning the puzzling question of tin* J powers of scientific knowledge for good' or evil in this changing world. “The pursuit nf knowledge must go i forward, whatever the consequences.” he affirms, “but the man of science . cannot disregard the social effects of his discoveries. If he creates a Frankenstein monster that becomes the terror of the human race, he may himself end in being shunned by civilised society on his passion for truth be put under con | trol because of the dangers to which I it may lead.

“It is an ironical comment upol j modern civilisation that the social rnaction to the gifts of plenty mad< ; possible by the progress of scientific knowledge is not a corresponding in* ; crease of human welfare, but distress and unemployment and the prostitution lof scientific effort to purposes <»f dost ruct ion. “Science can provide the world with everything required for the maintenance of a growing population in a ris« ing standard of comfort; but there are . no accepted principles for the right use :of the new powers, and international , agreements are mainly ad justments of national interests conceived in confine! : physical atmospheres and determined by j [expediency. "While this spirit ■ the prospect of finding a formula which will unite civilised people for the gen« oral well being of hunmnity seems al< most hopeless. A regenerative influence is required to save civilisation from dis* j aster, and the mission of science in thd 1 • changing world of to-day should bd jlr introduce it into the field of social biology, and thus enable us still to !•«• licve in the highest destinv of man.”