Theory and Science

I'm fairly swayed by the idea that our technological output is greater than our theories that drive much of this output. That is; Do we really know what we are doing with the technologies were are creating? I am thinking in nearly all realms, but will use the frequent example of armaments.

In the vein of weaponry (Nuclear weaponry in particular), I am very much in the Bertrand Russell School of Thought. They are abominable things that can cause utter devastation, they are an insult to the idea of peace, unity and freedom. Are we smart enough to yield that power? I doubt that we are.

I find the fact that someone (despite what the news may say or have you believe, its normally an elected official*) has the 'right' and immediate choice to indiscriminately and vastly kill as incredibly insulting. I find it also insulting that they do so readily replace these weapons despite international and judicial condemnation.

There are schools of thought that say "we need it for defence", "as a deterrent" these are, i feel, rather weak arguments as they are based on the premise of this note, evidently humans are not ready to deal with this power and we need to put down things we can't understand.

Despite all the doom and gloom its not all bad, we have the potential to slow down and understand, to let out theory driven scientists catch up with our technological scientists. We nearly 'got there' with the Einstein-Russell pact, a very thorough pact with the above positive qualities at its heart.

I recently wrote to my MP and questioned the replacement of trident I suggest others may wish to do the same with their respective representative.

* America, UK, France, Germany, India, China among others all have elected representatives (of course the means differ) with their "fingers on the button".