Reflection Task 1. The Medawar Lecture ‘Is Science Dangerous?

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Module 1 Section 1. Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society

Name: _
Instructions: After reading Lewis Wolpert’s The Medawar Lecture 1998 ‘Is Science Dangerous?’, reflect
and answer the following questions.
1. Obligatory Question – What did Lewis Wolpert mean when he stated that ‘reliable scientific
knowledge is value-free and has no moral or ethical value’ (p. 1254)?
Lewi Wolpert insists that scientific knowledge is value-free and has no moral or ethical value because
he believed that facts are facts and nothing can change that like for example our heart pumps blood, it
is a fact and it is impossible that in other religion or others will say that their lungs pumps it.

2. Free-Choice Question (Choose one only. Encircle the letter of your choice before answering.)
a. Why is the conflation of science and technology a serious problem according to Wolpert?
b. How is the social responsibility of scientists distinct from those of ordinary citizens? Cite
two specific situations where this distinction become apparent.
c. How is Eugenics a classic example of the perversion of scientific knowledge?

Scientists have that “social responsibility” because they are the ones who have the knowledge of
how the world works. Since they know more about us, they are responsible to inform us when
something is/ will happen to us. We rely to them because we think that they are more right and
reliable. One example of this situation is when PAG-ASA announced that there will be a typhoon
that will enter to our country, we citizens will bring umbrella or mayors will start to suspend class
because PAG-ASA informed us. Another example of this is when DOH announced that we should
wear masks because the air have a virus, of course we citizens will follow because we think that
they right.

3. Obligatory Question - Why is there a need to encourage ordinary citizens to learn more about
science?

Ordinary citizens should learn more about science for them not to be so dependent to the people who
knows science. It is important because without learning or knowing like the basics of science people
will rely to the scientists every time, it is fun to relate when you heard two people talking science and
you can relate. Isn’t it?