Comprehension Check Activity (30 points). The Medawar Lecture ‘Is Science Dangerous?

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

Name: __________________________
Abuyo, Florence C.
Course/Section: __________________
AR/B17 Date Submitted: ______________________
Dec. 5, 2022
Instructions: After reading Lewis Wolpert’s The Medawar Lecture 1998 ‘Is Science Dangerous?’, reflect
and answer the following questions.
1. Obligatory Question – Why is there an idea that science is dangerous within the human culture?
(p. 1253)? Do you agree on this idea and what are your basis for agreeing or disagreeing?
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Because of how the media has portrayed science, there is a widespread belief that it is dangerous in human civilization,

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with many claiming that scientific breakthroughs can be destructive to society and lead to ethical quandaries. Personally, I

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disagree with this viewpoint since, as stated in the provided text, "science provides the best way of understanding the

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world," and I agree that we would not be as knowledgable and aware of the world we live in without the assistance of

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scientists and scientific discoveries. Though I recognize that science can be misused to harm society, this does not indicate

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that science is completely dangerous, especially when done effectively.

2. Free-Choice Question (Choose one only. Encircle the letter of your choice before answering.)
a. Are there instances within human history that science has no contribution to technology?
Cite examples and discuss whether the non-conflation between science and technology
can be successful?
b. Why do you think Wolpert believed that scientific innovation does not outstrip our social
and moral codes.
c. What does Wolpert meant when he mentioned that he is a eugenicist?

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I suppose Wolpert thought that scientific innovation does not outpace our social and

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moral rules because science is generally done for the advancement and betterment of society

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and humanity. The basic purpose of science is to help us understand natural phenomena that

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occur around us, which allow us to understand those that are unknown to us and make us not

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fearful of them.

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3. Obligatory Question - As a tertiary student, do you need to learn more about science? Why?

As a college student, dare i say i would like to learn more about science even though it could be
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dangerous. in science there are a ton of thing that are left unnoticed by most students. Sometimes
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my curiosity gets the best of me that i need a brief explanation on why and how things have
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happened this way.
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