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40. "Scholars and researchers should not be concerned with whether their work makes a contribution to the larger society. It is more important that they pursue their individual interests, however unusual or idiosyncratic those interests may seem."
limiting words: (larger) more idiosyncratic/unusual seem
thesis: scholars and researchers should pursue their individual interests, however unusual or idiosyncratic those interests may seem, without concerning whether they would make contributions to society.
However, this do not mean they could harm the benefits of others and the well-being of the society.
1.scholar should concentrate on searching the truth, even they seem ridiculous. Whether the result will benefit is more the mission of governments and the engineers.
(Einstain's theory of relativity)
2.whether the research will benefit society is actually an ambigous question, which can not be take into consideration beforehand.
(Dawen; Clone; Einstain's discovery concerning nuclear fusion)
3.nevertheless, this pursuit should not be narrowed to serve the interest or a small society at the cost of the larger society.
(Einstain's discovery be used to make the atomic bomb)
The whole word has been startling changed and still in a roaring stage, largely due to the significant work of researchers and scientist, which at first may be just an unrealistic spark of thought. However, a great threat to the stability of society, such as the weapon of mass destruction, have also been post by some scientists' narrow-minded pursuit---only focusing on the interests of themselves or the benefits of their own groups.
The missions of scientists and scholars are uncovering the veil of truth to sharp people's understanding of the world we are living in, while whether these newly revealed truths will benefit people's life and the society is more the work of engineers, as well as our governments. Therefore, whether the interests will make a contribution to society is not only unnecessary to the scientists' concern, but may also hamper the further developing of these ideas into significant discovery. Einstein's theory of relativity is an example to the point. When this unusual idea first hit upon the great scientist, he hurried to explain this theory to his friends, which are all giants of physics. Rather than understanding, some even laugh at this seemly peculiar thought. If he had given up further thinking because it seems ridiculous to others, and, even matured, might be a huge blow on the foundation of the well-established physics. We may not have our physics developed so rapidly as to discover the black hole and the torture of time.
Moreover, since the role of scientific discoveries is sometimes quite ambiguous, it is impossible to expect the consequence beforehand. Just considering Darwin's theory of and the equivocal term clone, some may applause at them and speak highly of their significance in anthropology as well as physiology, while some others who firmly believe it is God who gave all creature their lives and we are the descendants of Adam and Eve may even develop a hatred to him, thinking him as desecrating their holy belief. So is Einstein's another discovery---the nuclear fusion, n the process of which, the tremendous energy released can be used as substitute of traditional energy source, yet also can be used to produce the atomic bomb, which have caused Japanese nation great pain. Under these circumstances, if pondering on the possibly advantages and disadvantages on society, they will never achieve anything.
Nevertheless, “not be concerned with whether their work makes a contribution to the larger society” does not mean they are allowed to harm the society when pursuing their dreams. Scientist who only cares about individual's interests or concerning about his own nation is quite departing from the high spirit of science. Such as the scientists mentioned above, who used the method of nuclear fusion into making atomic bombs. To say the least of it, they are first members of the society, and, therefore, have their individual responsibilities for the harmony of community. They cannot use their seeming holy notion---searching for knowledge---as an excuse to experience their narrow-sighted, even weird ideas as cost of harming society.
In conclusion, scientists should take their courage in the path seeking for truth in spite of other’s misunderstanding even ridicule. In the meanwhile, they shoul remain rational not to be addicted to some of their dreams which can result in hurting the society. |
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