50 , The Higher Usefulness of Science 



economic, many minds are being quickened by the 

 appalling disasters that are befalling mankind from 

 both directions, and searching inquiry as to what it all 

 means as to causes and possible remedies is the 

 order of the day. 



These inquiries do not fail to notice that science is 

 about the most potent instrumentality being used in 

 both aspects of the conflict. But since science is not a 

 mere lifeless machine or machine product, but a great 

 department of human endeavor, it is inevitable that a 

 measure of responsibility, social and moral, should be 

 attached to it for the part it is playing in the condi- 

 tions presented. This implication of responsibility 

 comes to view even in the utterances of those who, from 

 one standpoint or another, would hold that science as 

 an operating force is something quite apart from 

 human life. Thus: "Science ... is neither god nor 

 devil; science, by itself, has power neither to save nor 

 to destroy. But we are learning at horrible cost the 

 lesson that men armed with science can destroy in a 

 moment human life and happiness and beauty that sci- 

 ence can never replace." (R. K. Hack, in the Atlantic 

 Monthly, Sept., 1916.) 



Of course science "by itself" is neither god nor devil. 

 It is not, because it is nothing at all by itself. It has 

 no existence apart from the intellects and wills and 

 hands of men. It is quite impossible to carry through! 

 the notion that science is something with which men 

 can be armed, as they can be with swords and plows. 



