Science Limitations

Science is a great way to learn and understand how our universe works. Once we learn science, we're opened many new doors and can even learn how to manipulate our very own universe. Throughout the course of human events, science has helped mankind overcome a wide range of issues. However, science is a double-edged sword and has also brought many new issues.It is important to place limitations on science and research in order to prevent or abate anything that can go wrong during the ursuit of knowledge. The pursuit of knowledge can often blind one of potential problems that can arise during or after an experiment. â€Å"l collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. † (Shelly 285) In Frankenstein, we can see that Victor becomes very elated to what he might infuse to his creation.However, he does not consider what might potentially go horribly wrong during this process. He doesn't think anything ca n fail because the power to create something has shrouded his Judgment. It is for this very same reason why we have many energy and environment crises in our world today. Many scientists wish to help a company, themselves, or humanity and are engulfed by the end result that they become ignorant to any possible unwanted byproducts or results. Jeremy Rifkin also elaborates on the ignorance caused by the pursuit of knowledge in Biotech Century. Fears over the possibility of transgenic genes Jumping to wild weedy relatives heightened in 1996 when a Danish research team observed the transfer of such a gene – something critics of deliberate-release experiments have arned of for years and biotech companies have dismissed as a remote or nonexistent possibility. † (Rifkin 31 5) Rifkin explains that the transfer of genes from altered crops to weedy relatives could create super weeds that are resilient to herbicide, pests, and viruses. These super weeds would cause farmers to spra y even more herbicide on them.Naturally, this would affect our food supplies because we would be spraying so many harmful chemicals to the soil and to the food that eventually ends up at our dinner table. The companies and scientists seeking either onetary gain or any form of knowledge, deny any possibility of any deviations from their plans. Seeking to create plants that are resilient is a noble cause; however, ignoring the proven fact that it can also destroy the environment through the unintentional genesis of super weeds is another example of shrouded Judgment.The examples on ignorance, instigated by the pursuit of happiness, which Shelly and Rifkin elaborate upon, are clear reasons why there should be limitations imposed on scientists. Shelly also demonstrates how scientists meddle with nature and attempt to usurp nature's role. l pursued nature to her hiding-places. † (Shelly 286) Victor was obsessed with the idea of having the power to create life. â€Å"†¦ listen ing attentively, demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life. † (Shelly 289) Up until then, Victor was drunk with the idea that he was going to create the perfect specimen and the next evolution of man.Once Frankenstein was born, Victor was horrified that his plan to usurp nature had backfired. He realized Frankenstein was a â€Å"demoniacal corpse† and not human. This wasn't a simple experiment where you could redo an experiment many times for a favorable result. Victor had created a monstrous living creature. He had introduced the living creature to an exotic environment, physically superior to others, intimidating in appearance, and predestined to be persecuted in a world where he had no idea why he was there.Rifkin also gives insight to the topic of scientist's endeavor to usurp nature's role. â€Å"In Just the past 18 months, genetically engineered corn, soy and cotton have been planted over millions of acres of U. S. farmland. Genetically engineered insects, fish and domesticated animals have also been introduced†¦ † (Rifkin 313) Companies are ntroducing thousands of new living specimens into real environments without a single thought of the real problems that could come out of these actions.Just like Victor, theyre caught up in the moment of having the power to create new life that has never even existed in nature prior to scientific advancements that allowed it. Consequentially, these new genetically engineered specimens can have disastrous effects on exotic environments that aren't used to having them. They're the modern Frankensteins. Rifkin appeals to the reader's ethos by saying that, similar to Frankenstein, these enetically engineered creations are the works of man and are potential threats to any ecosystem they enter. â€Å"Genetically engineered products also reproduce. They grow and they migrate. (Rifkin 313) This means that the genetically engineered products of a lab can freely migrate themselves to any part of the world they can tolerate.Everyone is aware of the destruction brought by introducing exotic animals/ plants to ecosystems that are in harmony. Scientists are playing â€Å"ecological roulette† when they release these engineered creations because even if they were to admit or ind out that their creations had devastating effects, they would be unable â€Å"recall genetically engineered organisms back to the laboratory, especially those organisms that are microscopic in nature. (Rifkin 313) Rifkin and Shelly both make outstanding arguments on why there should be limitations on science where scientists dare not tread for the sake of order. They agree that the power to create life instills an ignorance that also gives birth to new sets of potential problems. Science will always be present in society because it holds a lot of prominence. Science is how we understand our universe and it allows us to hape it as well.Science has helped mankind out of the caves, increased the average life span, and also let us Journey to places where man could only dream of. Of course, like anything in this world, science will require a cost to advance. The cost can be in the form of problems that were nonexistent in nature before that sometimes do not outweigh the benefits. These same problems will also challenge our own humanity as well and our future on this planet. For these reasons, Rifkin, Shelly, and I believe that whilst science is a powerful force for the advancement of the human Is planet.