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In its broadest sense, science encompasses the knowledge and
experience that distinguishes humans from animals. This includes the ability to
discern safe from poisonous foods, build shelters, and create tools for
survival. However, for many people, science is often associated with abstract
subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology, which are learned as part of
formal education but seemingly have little relevance to daily living. This
misconception could not be further from the truth, as our way of life is deeply
dependent on the fruits of scientific progress.
The Renaissance first emphasized the value of scientific progress, but it was
not until the 18th century Industrial Revolution in the West that the impact of
science on everyday living became apparent. Advancements in land-tillage,
commercial production, transportation, and mass-produced consumer goods were the
hallmarks of this period. Since then, the application of science to meet the
needs of everyday living has accelerated, in step with the rate of scientific
discovery.
Today, we have access to an enormous range of consumer goods, from frying pans
to jet planes and from alarm clocks to computers. These products make life
easier and more comfortable but are merely the adjuncts of civilization.
Progress in real living is achieved through education, the arts, and the pursuit
of beauty. Science provides us with aids and shortcuts but has nothing to say in
these areas.
Science has given us safe and nutritious food, free from harmful bacteria and
toxins, packaged in clean containers or hygienic tins. Proper nutrition, with a
balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins, is essential for good
health and longevity. In pre-scientific times, food was often monotonous and
dangerous, but today it is varied, thanks to improved sea, land, and air
transport.
Clothing has also been improved by science, with man-made fibers and versatile
spinning machines that make clothes comfortable, smart, and affordable for
different working and climatic conditions. In homes, schools, and offices, the
progress of science is evident in electric lighting and cooking, washing
machines, vacuum cleaners, and kitchen appliances, which increase comfort and
cleanliness and reduce drudgery.
Science has also transformed education, from the chalkboard to closed-circuit
television of instruction, and office work has been made faster and more
efficient by the typewriter and other machines. In the factories, hundreds of
different machines relieve manual workers of slow and monotonous toil.
Science has also made travel and leisure accessible to everyone, not just the
privileged few. The steamer, the aircraft, and the motor-car have opened new
horizons, and the increase in wealth brought about by science has given us the
means to enjoy new leisure opportunities. The greatest advances in medicine have
been made through the use of antibiotics and isotopes, which speedily cure many
diseases and alleviate pain and illness.
However, science can also be misused, with harmful consequences for the
environment, workers, and human health. Chemicals can poison the land,
industrial disease can harm workers, and science can be mobilized for warfare
and destruction. Science is a powerful tool, but it is important to use it
wisely.
In conclusion, science has completely transformed our everyday lives when
properly applied. From safe and nutritious food to comfortable and affordable
clothing, from efficient office work to accessible travel and leisure, science
has made it possible for us to enjoy a comfortable and healthy existence.
However, it is important to use science judiciously, as it can have harmful
consequences if misused. |
