Impact of Science and Scientific Worldview on Man: A Critical Review

Abstract

As it relates to man, the conscious subject of scientific exploits, science could be a positive and/or a negative device in the course of nature. In so far as it rises to the occasion of the imperative of stewardship “till the earth”, it remains a good news to man. But when and where it reflects the Cartesian inspiration of turning men into “lords and possessors of nature” it constitutes a lethal tool against humanity. Consequently, at the various levels of the physical, intellectual and metaphysical realms, it is not difficult to isolate a plethora of positive constitutions of science as well as an enormity of its disservice to humanity. Indeed, no genuine history and/or records of the world’s progress and civilization can ignore the details and protocols of the scientific method without becoming disreputable. And none can “sanctify” all of science’s interventions without turning into a heresy of history. Science had volunteered great bangs in electricity, automobile and computer engineering, informatics and architecture, aeronautic and naval engineering to mention a few. It has provided sundry remedy to diseases through medical researches. Yet it has also bequetted to humanity an ensemble of violence and war, a culture of death and a godless world of unbelief. This essay sings the redemption song of science and men of science, it praises the dominion of science but cautious against a looming sumersualt into a fettered world of violence and death. What it recommends is for the education and repositioning of
science back its proper and pristine complementary paradigm of reality. In all, it makes a case for re-rooting science into its Christian origins where the laws of science are but a natural revelation of the “mystery” behind the universe, where the inspiration is “to till the earth” than “to subdue it” and where the ethical perspective of science are prior to the marvel’s of its “actions”.