issue69 科研和政府

qisaimanUID: 2703629

ISSUE69 qisaiman- "Government should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development"
WORDS: 480
TIME: xxx
DATE: 2010-3-4 18:46:27

Should government place restrictions on scientific research and development? Although sometimes scientific achievements may be potentially harmful, I maintain that scientific research should receive little restrictions from the government, unless the public resource is involved.

To begin with, we have witnessed that scientific developments have brought tremendous changes towards the society, most of which are helpful for government to perform its obligations and thus benefit the public. This, to a large extent, depends on the primary goal of science and technology -- to improve the efficiency of people and promote social progress. For example, medical advancement has increased the lifespan and cures many diseases which once tortured the patients. Agricultural advancement, such as hybrid rice, has to a considerable degree address one of the most persistent problems confronting us, the grain supply. Hence, scientific advancement, if properly used, can lend great help to government in realizing its duty more efficiently.

In addition, one who advocates restricting to research will find it difficult to use appropriate measures to evaluate the possible consequences of most scientific studies. This is due to the scientific gains cannot be readily predicted by most of us, even the scientists themselves. For instance, the research of the mutual impacts between culture and gene on the evolution of human beings tends to last for decades before reaching any definite achievements. Since one cannot guarantee the restrict will not eliminate some changes science may bring to do public good and enrich the knowledge of mankind, governor should not confine those researches at will.

Furthermore, scientific study, by its nature, cannot enhance the public good directly, especially in modern society where the division of labour is of highly divergence. Most times it is the market where the society and science meet. Many scientific achievements, particularly the lucrative ones, will find the way from the market force. For instance, drug study, which usually promises huge profit, can be applied under the invisible hand in most time, thus needing little concern from the government. Yet, worthy of notice is that the market is not all round. Actually, there are some researches bringing few profit yet meaningful to the society. Hence, government should encourage and support those researches, such as the devices to help the disadvantaged.

Admittedly, I am not denying that the government could permit whatever the scientific research do. Attention should be paid to those which can bring devastating damage to the society, even the danger is loom. Meanwhile, when it comes to the distribution of public resource to scientific research, government should develop a comprehensive consideration among all the possible benefit, especially the underprivileged group.

In conclusion, as the history has indicated, scientific research and advancement have contributed so much to the social progress. Considering the potential harmful consequences brought by the control on scientific research and the unpredictable standards on restriction, government should concentrate on more immediate or predictable issues rather than contain the development of science and technology.