Social Values and Science: Ramesh Shrestha

It is not either or

Social values are interconnected norms built and taught by teachers, community leaders and parents based on ancient scripts derived from religion, culture, beliefs, family values and local traditions. They deeply ingrained social characteristics in all societies help set standards and boundaries for individual behaviours to promote morality and justice for the betterment of societies, families and individuals. Social values are handed from one generation to the next to keep us within a moral boundary so that people remain rational and logical and do not commit crimes and obey society's rules. It is a way to maintain traditions and promote virtues. These principles implicitly are in compliance with the modern concept of human rights which promotes dignity, justice, fairness based on the local value system. There are some traditional concepts which contradict modern principles such as women's rights but they are progressively changing in compliance with modern concepts globally.

The principles and values of science and technology are based on physical science validated in laboratories and remain universal in their applications. Science and technology are dynamic with new discoveries all the time while social values and beliefs are a kind of 'static' but becoming flexible under the influence of science and technology and changing socio-economic environment, collectively delivering a better living and lifestyles. In modern days human beings in all cultures navigate between science & technology and 'evolving' social values. An interesting question though is how far science can influence human behaviour and how will it impact our social values in the coming generation? Given the way our society is adapting to changing individualised globalised economy and technology, especially AI, will science and technology completely decimate the social values of humans to create a valueless society; maybe it will. There may be a time when youngsters may have to show their national ID card to confirm their identity while meeting their grandparents and siblings. It is not an issue of right or wrong but just a question of plausibility.

A complex equation

The relationship between human rights, social values and science is complex and dynamic. While they can often support one another, conflicts may arise that require careful navigation. Addressing these tensions involves dialogue, education, and a commitment to fostering understanding and respect for both human rights and the diverse values within societies while adapting to scientific discoveries. Ultimately, the advancement of human rights can lead to the evolution of social values towards greater inclusivity and justice while enjoying fruits of science and technology.

The idea of right or wrong and some kind of justice system based on traditional social values have existed across all cultures since ancient times. There also exists a system of reward and punishment for human behaviour to encourage positive conduct and penalise negativities based on the traditional value system. Continuous discoveries in science and technology contributed to the physical wellbeing of people which has penetrated deep into human's psyche altering people's cognition and conduct. Many discoveries of science & technology contributed to bringing people together but it has also encouraged hyper-individualism, especially with cyber technology separating individuals apart. Our modern education also promotes personal achievements and emphasis on winning. It takes away the idea of cooperation and collectivism in favour of self-promotion. This is exactly where modern technology creates tides against traditional social values. Above and beyond individualism, there are already many examples of failure of modern politics and diplomacy suggesting a breakdown in our value system. Given this complex liaison between science & technology and social values, for how much longer will we be able to navigate and maintain a fair balance between science and traditional social values?

The application of robotics in manufacturing contributed to efficiency and saving. But expansion of cyber technology across all businesses is coming at the cost of creating mass unemployment without job substitution. This system will make the rich richer in businesses and industries and poor poorer among the general public thus widening the gap between two ends of the economic scale. One OECD country announced introducing AI in its federal administration in its new budget that will reduce federal employees by forty thousand in coming years. Who benefits from this; it is the CEOs of the AI industries, not the government or the people. Is there no limit to efficiency or cost saving? Where are the social values and the responsibility of the government to protect its employees?

Materialism, economy and politics are closely aligned with science and technology pushing away the idea of social values. Societies everywhere are changing under the pressure of modern pop culture pushed by industries and technology whose sole aim is to grow profit on a linear scale. Many industrialists and technocrats have become very powerful like kingmakers in the shadows. As we have seen in history time and again, absolute power corrupts in politics, businesses and the industry, especially industry of war, which has become the most dominant trade possibly second to info-technology. All these entities are unapologetically aided by science. All traditional social values, moral principles and ethics are on its way to the dustbins of history menacing the social order at all levels of society everywhere.

Survival of the fittest seems to be the motto of modern man as the narratives and directives of the rich and powerful set the standard aided by science. Technology allows a drone operator to kill and main scores of innocent civilians located thousands of miles away without seeing them. Automation of war is possibly the apex of violation of ethics and human's social value systems. Political leaders shamelessly talk of peace and security and advocate to exterminate certain groups of people to bring peace. This is how ethics and social values are twisted.

Being a respectable human being

Human ingenuity has consistently maintained its innovative role since the discovery of fire and shall remain on the path of scientific advancement indefinitely. The big task is how to keep social values and ethics alive in the face of aggressively advancing science and technology, especially AI, which is already creating menace and mischief in many ways. There is more to be a respectable human being than just flowing along the tide of technology and development. Social values and ethical beliefs define our identity and dignity that can never be lost. Humans have the capacity to navigate between differing views and contradictions with proper dialogue and education to save social values from collapsing. We must act now to prevent crumpling our society under pressure from destructive components of science.

Countries have introduced curricula on sex education and appreciation of the rights of LGBTQ starting from as early as grade two primary schools. Schools have also introduced computer coding in grade five primary schools. It should be possible to introduce relevant components of traditional social values and ethics based on local culture and religion to inculcate children to be aware of their identity as part of civic education. The idea is not to suppress contradiction between science and social values but to teach maintaining a balance between the two to really realise the motto 'man is a social animal'. Humans cannot be human without social values – it is a moral consideration.

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