E33: How far should scientists be held responsible for the effects of their discoveries?

As far as we know, man is unique in the created universe. One of the attributes separating mankind from the animal world is the urge to find things out, to add to the common store of knowledge. Historically, any attempt to thwart investigation, or to conceal or ban its results, has been doomed to failure. There is no case for restricting scientific investigation. However, the effects of scientific discovery are sometimes bad, so new technology based on such discovery should be, and usually is, scrutinized and carefully tested before it is let loose on the public.

The scientist is not the right person to carry out the scrutiny of the new technology. Indeed, though expert in the particular field, he or she is often woefully naive in other matters. The right people are government ministers who, in a democracy, are responsible to the people. The minister will seek reports from independent experts. This may mean lengthy scrutiny, as in the case of new drugs. The first reason for this is the humane consideration for human life and health. This means eliminating any possibility of harmful side effects. The second is more material; in the event of such harmful side effects, very considerable damages are being awarded by the courts to the sufferers nowadays. Many very large drug companies have their reports own research departments, and their findings, together with independent reports are passed to the Department of Health so that the minister can take the final decision. New technologies based on new discoveries are also controlled in this way.

When scientists bypass the correct channels from whatever motives, and the effects of their discoveries prove harmful, then they must be held responsible.

When they do, the motivation may be personal prestige, money or political bias. Isaac Newton's feuds with Flamsteed, the Astronomer Royal, and the German Leibniz resulted in unscrupulous behavior. While the promulgation of calculus can hardly be said to have public side effects, Newton's self-esteem, had it gone unchecked, would have had disastrous consequences in other fields, such as atomic research.Read the whole essay
Source: www.englishdaily626.com