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The influence of science
Science has always affected the society around it, just as science is affected by society. However, in more recent times (in my opinion since the atomic bomb) the impact (and perceived impact) of science (and scientists) on society has increased exponentially. Whereas scientists were once ivory tower dwellers, free to pursue any line of inquiry, they are now regulated both by themselves and by society to reduce the impact of their findings. Research into weapons is controlled by necessity (see North Korea, Iran as well as the controls on independant scientists) to protect the public, however, there are also controls that are associated with a societys moral compass such as stem cells, reproductive medicine, cloning etc. Considering moral implications and the concept of "if we don't someone else will" How far can science be controlled, how far should it be controlled by scientists, who understand the research and how far should it be controlled by legislature that answers to the people?
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