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THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF SCIENTISTS Bertrand Russell Science, ever since it early existed, has had important mother in matters that lie outside the purview of pure science. manpower of science have differed as to their responsibility for such effects. more or less have said that the function of the scientist in society is to tolerate companionship, and that he need non concern himself with the use to which this knowledge is put. I do not think that this view is tenable, particularly in our age. The scientist is also a citizen; and citizens who have any special(a) scientific make up have a macrocosm duty to see, as farthest as they can, that their skill is utilized in unity with the worldly concern interest. Historically, the functions of the scientist in public life have loosely been recognized. The proud Society was founded by Charles II as an antidote to fervor which had plunged England into a long period of civil strife. The scientists of that tim e did not hesitate to speak out on public issues, such as religious toleration and the folly of prosecutions for witchcraft. unless although science has, in divers(a) ways at various times, favored what may be called a humanitarian outlook, it has from the first had an intimate and sinister fraternity with war. Archimedes sold his skill to the tyrant of Syracuse for use against the Romans; da Vinci secured a salary from the Duke of Milan for his skill in the art of fastness; and Galileo got employment under the imposing Duke of Tuscany because he could calculate the trajectories of projectiles. In the French Revolution the scientists who were not guillotined were set to making reinvigorated explosives, but Lavoisier was not spared, because he was only discovering hydrogen which, in those days, was not a tool of war. There have been nearly honorable exceptions to the subservience of scientists to warmongers. During the Crimean fight the British government consulted Faraday as to the feasibility of attack by poisonous! gases. Faraday replied that it was entirely...If you want to possess a full essay, social club it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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