Q12 of 16 Page 13

India has had a long and unbroken tradition of great scholarship — in mathematics, astronomy, linguistics, logic, and ethics. Yet, in parallel with this, several superstitious and obscurantist attitudes and practices flourished in our society and unfortunately continue even today — among many educated people too. How will you use your knowledge of science to develop strategies to counter these attitudes?

First and foremost, step would be to educate the people and spread the literacy. The people must be taught about the science behind the natural phenomenon occurring in nature day-to-day life and superstitious beliefs, these phenomena which people attribute to evil spirits and gods should be explained scientifically through mass media such as television, newspapers, cinema, etc. we also should not take these superstitions for granted and follow them. Instead, we should do otherwise. We should also tell and try to convince other people to not to believe or follow the superstitions unless they are scientifically proven. We should investigate these superstitions to its roots, if possible.


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10

Attempt to formulate your ‘moral’ views on the practice of science. Imagine yourself stumbling upon a discovery, which has great academic interest but is certain to have nothing but dangerous consequences for the human society. How, if at all, will you resolve your dilemma?

 11

Science, like any knowledge, can be put to good or bad use, depending on the user.

Given below are some of the applications of science. Formulate your views on whether the particular application is good, bad or something that cannot be so clearly categorized:


A. Mass vaccination against small pox to curb and finally eradicate this disease from the population. (This has already been successfully done in India).


B. Television for the eradication of illiteracy and for mass communication of news and ideas.


C. Prenatal sex determination


D. Computers for increase in work efficiency


E. Putting artificial satellites into orbits around the Earth


F. Development of nuclear weapons


G. Development of new and powerful techniques of chemical and biological warfare.


H. Purification of water for drinking


I. Plastic surgery


J. Cloning

 13

Though the law gives women equal status in India, many people hold unscientific views on a woman’s innate nature, capacity and intelligence, and in practice give them a secondary status and role. Demolish this view using scientific arguments, and by quoting examples of great women in science and other spheres; and persuade yourself and others that, given equal opportunity, women are on par with men.

 14

“It is more important to have beauty in the equations of physics than to have them agree with experiments”. The great British physicist P. A. M. Dirac held this view. Criticize this statement. Look out for some equations and results in this book which strike you as beautiful.