Topic: The most important aim of science should be to improve people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

There is a general perception that the goal of every scientific research must be for the betterment of human existence. I agree with this notion to a large extent because it is us humans, the most intelligent being in the universe who has defined science and is doing all this scientific research; hence we should focus on using science for our comfortable existence.

To initiate, science was conceived by humans, the most intellectually superior being on this planet. Mankind defined force, pressure, developed laws of motion and eventually used these facts to build tools and simple weapons like a bow and arrow to defend themselves against wild animals. The cave men understood the concept of shelter to protect themselves from the forces of nature, and used this knowledge and science to evolve, and progress to the swanky penthouses humans now live in or make breakthroughs in the medical field to save their own lives. It is for this reason that many opine the prime aim of science must be to provide more comfort to humans.

Furthermore, despite the cutting-edge technologies we observe today especially in medicine or supercomputers, AI, or automobiles, we still have a long way to go as the scientists in pharmaceutical companies haven’t yet found a cure for cancer. Hence, the notion that people involved in scientific studies must focus on making human lives better by finding ways to prevent dementia, diabetes, and other health related issues, or they must try to reduce global warming, and so on, (the list is basically endless), to enable humans lead good lives on earth.

However, I disagree with this notion to a small extent because science also needs to also focus on aspects that don’t directly affect human lives, like prevent pandas or vultures from becoming extinct. We maybe surviving today despite the extinction of myriad plants, animals, and insects, but we can use science to save the endangered species to maintain an ecological balance.

To recapitulate, science was conceptualized by humans, for their own safety and benefit, and there are many more unresolved issues troubling humanity, hence the notion regarding the main goal of science, but we also need to use scientific knowledge to protect the other species on earth. (371 words).