Issue 69

TOPIC: ISSUE69 - "Government should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development"

WORDS: 540 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-4-7 16:25:26

The speaker asserts that research on various scientific domains should not be restricted by any form of action from government. I concede that a few studies conducted by scientists ought to be managed by our political leaders. With few exceptions, I strongly agree with speaker. Scientific researches, including physics, biology, chemistry, etc, are people's exploration of natural, politics, society, and thus should be encouraged instead of limited by not only government but also the masses.

Admittedly, some sorts of studies in sciences violate certain kind of morality, ethics or mores to which each mentally-normal member of society is hold. The potential outcomes of such researches would endanger our daily life, provided that governors place no restriction on scientists who are actively engaged in research activities. For instance, the subject of cloning human beings is quite attractive for certain biologists who are eager to pursue the law of nature. However, any action that attempts to produce a copy of a person, in any laboratory of the world, must be banned, with a view to its various deleterious effects that would have on ourselves. On the other hand, research on atomic energy ought to be carefully designed and planned by government. For the peace of all the nations on the earth, atomic bomb, one achievement of studying atoms, can not be put into practical use.

However, with a few exceptions in which scientists may bring harmful accomplishments that would conduce towards catastrophes to populace, government is supposed not to shape what scientists can cogitate but rather to encourage our elites to cultivate new knowledge and technologies by supporting manpower, material resources and financial resources. In the realm of astronomy, perhaps the paradigmatic negative archetype was Bruno who advanced the cosmic theory of an infinite universe. Unfortunately, Bruno was burned to death at the stake by the Inquisition of his time. Suppose that Bruno did not die at an early age, Armstrong would have visited the moon much earlier. Another example involves the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s of China. During that period, any sort of scientific experiment was forbidden by political leaders. As a result, the level of sciences and technologies of China had far fallen behind the stream of other countries.

Furthermore, our society is replete with examples of scientific researches, supported by government, that have brought positive attainments that make our life much more convenient, easy, and comfortable. Consider the disease of pneumonia which had killed many people's life in the 19th-century. The most recent half-century, medical researches have been conducted increasing by consortiums and governments, and also solved many life-threatening diseases. For instance, pneumonia is no longer an incurable disease for humans; patients who develop high blood pressure have better quality of life; and genetic engineering makes AIDS a less suffering disease. All of these accomplishments can not be fulfilled under a variety of confines from political figures.

In summary, though in certain cases studies on sciences and technologies should be guided by our government, under most circumstances public officials are supposed to provide every possible and helpful situation for scientists' research. In turn, with substantial materials and funds scientists will advance further knowledge and newer technologies that will no doubt make our society more civilized, tolerant, and respectful.