Our society has become inundated with "progress" as scientific advancements, technology and knowledge grows at an incredible rate. With this growth many dilemmas have arisen that we never really had to consider before because the ideas were so far-fetched.
To name a few, across the globe we are currently facing ethical questions of whether issues relating to stem cells, abortion, cloning, computer usage, Internet privacy and assisted suicide are morally correct or should even be allowed. To further complicate the situations, many of the decisions relating to these topics involve legal systems which are ill equipped to apply to these newly created scenarios; as a result they become political issues
As technology evolves we hold the same traditional kinds of moral beliefs we've always held, but scientific advancements add a twist because different factors now apply to the equation in the choices we are needing to make. For some people it ultimately comes down to a question of whether or not we should take the technical route simply because we can. The question of whether or not we should is the real question that begs asking; when advancements make something an option does this mean we should actually do it?
Any kind of technical or scientific advancement will impact the decisions we are faced with making as either individual or collective societies across the globe. These choices, which include using scientific progress, are eventually incorporated into cultural and social norms and the varying legal systems residing in different nations. I wouldn't go as far to say that scientific advancement inherently changes our values or throws our moral compasses off course, but it does add several shades of gray into the decisions we are faced with on a daily basis.
Advancements do not mean we change our internal values, but it does mean that technology allows us to make choices we may or may not have previously made if the option was available.
The problem with scientific progress is we are suddenly faced with a myriad of options that previously seemed unattainable and this is overwhelming because there is no clear or definitive framework to follow.
Visualize our world where we can now take cells and grow multi-celled beings, we can artificially create things which were previously impossible and only resided in between the words of science fiction novels. For most of history, these capabilities were a sheer impossibility and now suddenly a very real probability if not an actuality! As a result, the widely increased number of choices becomes a clash of ethical beliefs and moral foundations amongst individuals.
Unfortunately morals and progressive ideas don't always coexist peacefully. It's not uncommon we have to make trade-offs in order to meet solutions. For instance, technology has provided us with a means to track terrorists or criminal behavior and this capability is perceived by as heightening security, but for others it is infringing on privacy. As a result many questions arise. Which is the morally correct choice? Which value is most important one? Whatever the issue, when defining values, they aren't clearly marked with a black or white marker, but instead they are shaded with a very subjective gray.
Scientific advancements do not inherently change moral values, but they do impact and complicate the decision making process. Scientific advancements are fast, but taking the time to evaluate progress and the consequences from using it is slower paced.
Mr And Mrs Parshuram
