What are the merits and demerits of science? how science is useful to us? what are it’s diaadvantages.? that’s my question. 3 years ago Report Abuse by Proto Member since: September 10, 2006 Total points: 40043 (Level 7) Badge Image: Add to My Contacts Block User Best Answer – Chosen by Voters Since is the systematic collection of information about the universe through the observation of natural phenomena. So it’s really Just a disciplined accumulation of knowledge. The advantages of having more knowledge?
We have greater understanding and can make more accurate predictions about how things in the natural universe work. Through advances in science we can build machines that fly, that allow us to see objects too small or far away to be detected by the naked eye. We can transport water great distances to fertilize crops and make certain areas liveable that weren’t before. We can cure diseases that once we couldn’t. We can explore under the sea nd upon the surface of the moon.
The disadvantages- certainly we develop technologies faster than we develop socially. So we wind up with the ability to do things, but not necessarily the wisdom required to make a good decision about whether or not we should. Also as our knowledge increases, we are forced to re-evaluate our existing beliefs- very often those beliefs are long-standing and held by many within society. Not so long ago, people thought the earth was flat and the sun revolved around us. We hought the flu was caused by evil spirits and thunderstorms meant the gods were angry.
Now we’ve discovered that the world is round, that we are but one of many planets orbiting our sun, and that diseases and weather shifts are natural phenomena, whose causes we didn’t understand before. knowing, being free to speculate and use our imaginations. Certainly a world with Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and monsters living under the bed is a more exciting place for a child. Shining a flashlight under the bed which allows us to explore and iscover nothing but dust and shoes- that’s what science does.
It replaces belief with evidence. In many cases individuals and organizations owe their livelihood and status within society to the continuation of those beliefs, so they must fight any findings that contradict those beliefs for their own economic survival. Individuals often place such great personal significance upon those beliefs that scientific advancement is unwelcome, like the person who was having a pleasant dream being awakened by a splash of cold water.
