SCIENCE and SOCIETY

Cue (NZERS), Issue 10, 31 October 1944, Page 14

SCIENCE and SOCIETY

’’Science is the great instrument of social change, and its silent appropriation of this dominant function is the most vital of all the revolutions which have marked the development of modem civilisation.”-— BALFOUR.

r striking statement implies that 1 the history of the human race might well be written in terms of scientific progress. It would not be difficult to relate the long story of social change to such simple innovations as the discovery of the wheel, of the use of metals, of printing and of the steam engine. Indeed there is evidence now of an awareness that such a relationship is essential if social progress is to be maintained in the post-war years, when "the discoveries of -man’s genius, now directed toward the destruction of his kind, will be diverted to alleviating human suffering in the era of reconstruction to follow. Before the Industrial Revolution important scientific discoveries happened at fairly long intervals and time was •available for man to adjust himself to changes which he himself was bringing about in his environment. In the 19th and 20th Centuries progress has not been leisurely, and this time-lag has not been occurring. A stage has now been reached in which man is bewildered, and has not had time in which to acclimatise his thought and his social morality to the present, or to the prospect’ opening

up before him. Furthermore he has not realised the magnitude or the significance of the changes in his environment and consequently has failed to see the vast problems he has himself created. So great are the changes of the past 150 years that most people accept them as part of their lives without realising their origin and significance. Perhaps the greatest contribution that science has made to society is that it has put potential plenty in reach of all. Our present resources in agriculture, chemistry and transport are such that it is not impossible to abolish the fear of want from human thought. This fact must influence academic and social thinking but still much of our behaviour is based on'the assumption that goods are limited in quantity. Why do we have crises of over-production during which people starve? This central and obvious weakness of society is connected with the results of scientific advance which include the conquest of substances, of distance, of energy and of irrational fear. We .have passed in recent times from a.world in which work was measured in

terms of what a man could accomplish with his muscles, to one in which we think in terms of units many millions of times as great. In its train has arisen the technique of mass-production and the creation of a large working class. A greater knowledge ; of substances has placed .at our . disposal drugs, explosives, anaesthetics and synthetics which at one and the same time alleviate human suffering and create new problems. The silk industry has been replaced by synthetics and it is not too much to suppose that the wool industry might suffer a similar severe setback within a few years. The war has given a great impetus to scientific research and while the results are impressive, measured in terms of destruction, there is little indication that human beings have appreciated the value and influences that these great discoveries will have in the post-war years. When the world is geared for war there is little time for this. But even in the pre-war period much time was wasted. For instance, it is estimated that only o.i per cent, of the national income of Britain was- devoted to scientific research, and yet it has been demonstrated again and again that it is the most paying investment that can be made. Furthermore, it is still possible for our economic organisation to frustrate free progress by "freezing” patents which if developed might well have results of great social value. A further retarding influence lies in the fear of scientific discovery which is undesirable during a time such as the present. But from whatever source it arises it can only be sterile and uncreative, -for scientific knowledge will go on increasing. Our efficiency as a race is handicapped in every sphere of contemporary life by an extraordinary deficiency of scientific, knowledge and approach. Prejudice, vested interests, wishful thinking and procrastination are all permitted to settle questions which are capable of passing by experiment from the realm of opinion to that of ascertained fact. Without wishing to indicate the form of a second "Utopia” it will not be out of place to mention some of the problems of the future which are the inevitable

results of scientific progress. We are now within measurable; distance of the time .when working hours will be fewer, than the hours of free time. This will be a profound and inevitable change which must be reckoned with in social reconstruction. The ; ill-fed v; and i ill-paid t labourer of the East is a challenge to our humanity: he may bring unemployment to the homes of our own people whose trade he destroys. Medical science has made possible the utilisation of the tropics, has opened the door to the alleviation of almost all human suffering and will play a part in the fundamental problems of an ageing population and perhaps assist in increasing the birthrate. The continued successful development of psychological aptitude tests gives hope that suitable occupations may be found for all, wherein their powers may be used to the best advantage. Plastics, plywoods and synthetic products have given the clue to the essential materials of the future. Television will bring profound social changes in which it is quite conceivable that the home might replace the picture theatre and -take its rightful place in society again. Rocket and jet propulsion may further reduce distances and in so doing replace the petrol engine Possibly J the day is not far distant when the results of Lord Rutherford's research in atomic energy . will bear fruit. The lessons of intensive agriculture practised during the war years will also bring vast changes. , . These are random and in some cases, perhaps, minor examples of the coming, changes in the world’s social and economic structure. We are left still bewildered and faced with these pertinent questions.. What is the obstacle which impedes our social and economic evolution? What is the solution to the problems of adjustment and utilisation of new knowledge with which we have shown ourselves so conspicuously unable to deal? What sort of education are we to provide for our children so that they may be able to profit by our mistakes? And how are we going to tackle the integration of proven scientific advances with international and national economy to enable the benefit of science to be released to the world?