Assignment #9

Thinking about technology and science had been very challenging for me. I didn’t have enough knowledge and interests in science. In deed, I didn’t like science fiction movie or novel in general. I prefer reading books about play and poet, or listening to music. Take this into account, I can say that I’m humanities person.

However, after I took this class, I grew my interest in science. I discovered that science and humanities are intertwined as both field have profound influence on each other.

I wrote about Oppenheimer for my research paper. His story is one of great examples to show the connection between science and humanities. He was a great humanities person, and he wanted to contribute to the world’s peace. He expressed his ambition through science and technology. I found that technology is the tool to achieve people’s greed and desire. The inventions tell what humans have pursued. It is power to control the world, nations and lives. So the idea of science, creating what humans desire is quite humanistic. People want to be their own God, a creator of the world. After I discovered this perspective, I came to enjoy learning about technology and science.

The assigned readings are very interesting. I’m glad that I was given an opportunity to learn them. I especially like Einstein’s Dream by Alan Lightman, and Frankeinstein by Mary Shelly. I was surprised to learn that science fictions were just as beautiful as other great books. Although the subject is science, language in both books is poetic and romantic. And the language conveys deep feelings and emotions. These two books really changed my perception about science. Through taking this course, I could build the bridge between humanities and science.   

Assignment #8

New technology awes us and impresses us. In this capitalism world, we can't stop creating and inventing things. Progress is always encouraged regardless of its goal. Today realm of science is expanding greatly, and it crossing the line of ethics. Our organs and body parts are now replaceable and we can kill hundreds and thousands of people in a second if we wish to. The power of science is now go beyond what humans can handle. I believe that scientists should limit the area to invent new technology. The invention of an atomic bomb by Robert Oppenheimer and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly can be good examples to show that people are not ready for the rapidly advanced technology. 

Although his motivation came from realizing a peaceful world, he invented an atomic bomb that is often referred as an weapon of genocide. Now, America had massive power to threat the world that humans had never had before. Were people ready for absorbing this invention? The history shows they were not. Technology was greatly advanced, but human morality didn't improve. American enjoyed their influence on the world, and other nations wished to have this influence. Soon, arms race began. 60 years since then, we humans don't seem to change. We even have a greater number and power of nuclear weapons despite the world's effort to reduce them. In addition, we have to worry if some nations secretly make nuclear weapons or if these weapons are used by terrorist to strike us. We allowed technology to advance to the point where we can't control. 

Not only killing, but science has advanced to extend life as well. In the science fiction novel Frankenstein,  a scientist, Victor, combined different parts of dead human body and created a zombi. His invention ignored ethics. The book implies that science might achieve to enter the realm of the God, death and live, in the future. In the story, people can't accept the monster, and the unnamed creation get deeply hurt by their reactions. He then determined to revenge Victor for the creation of miserable life. Throughout the story, Victor has to be scared when the monster appears, and who would be killed. Just like an atomic bomb, the creation becomes out of control, and it causes great tragedy. 

Scientists have to have responsibility for their inventions. They must have solutions and backups to control their inventions. Obviously, when it comes to the issue of killing and changing the law of life, solutions and backup plans are very debatable and controversial. So scientists shouldn't get into these inventions at first place. In Japan, it's been almost 3 months since excursion of nuclear plants occurred. Yet, scientists are still trying to restore control. When these nuclear power plants were built, it was said that nuclear plants were safely structured, and explosion would never occur. They further insured that even if it occurred, there would be sufficient backups, so nuclear plants would never harm the people's lives. There is no such a thing like "never." Unexpected events would happen, and they can't be excuse for losing control of technology. It is scientists' responsibility to assume worst scenarios, and explain to people. The worst scenarios should be manageable. If they are not, then scientist shouldn't go for inventing new technology.