Icarus1; or, the Future of Science

Abstract

Russell’s Icarus was commissioned as a response to Daedalus . He distinguishes between two effects of science: helping humans fulfill their desires; or changing their world-view. He proposes to bracket off the latter here (in fact it is the subject of his second To-day and To-morrow book, What I Believe , also included in the Reader ). On the instrumental view of science Russell takes a cynical position, arguing that attractive though Haldane’s vision is, such developments will only be misused by those in power. In a section on ‘The Effects of the Physical Sciences’ he explains that new technologies are especially likely to be misused for economic and military advantage. Russell discusses ‘The Increase of Organization,’ and considers the feasibility of a unified world state to obviate conflicts; but thinks it unlikely rulers will cede sovereignty; and even if they did, examples of historical hegemonies such as the Roman Empire do not recommend the prospect. A section on ‘The Anthropological Sciences’ takes in birth control, Eugenics, intelligence tests, and discusses the prospect of political leaders being able to control the moods and personalities of citizens through biochemical means. Here too the decisive counter-argument is that such powers would be used not by scientists in the interests of science, but better to fulfill the desires of the already powerful.

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