The best way to avoid abuses is for the populace in general to be scientifically literate, to understand the implications of such investigations. In exchange for freedom of inquiry, scientists are obliged to explain their work. If science is considered a closed priesthood, too difficult and arcane for the average person to understand, the dangers of abuse are greater. But if science is a topic of general interest and concern - if both its delights and its social consequences are discussed regularly and competently in the schools, the press, and at the dinner table - we have greatly improved our prospects for learning how the world really is and for improving both it and us. . Carl Sagan
About This Quote

In our society today, there is a great distrust of science. As a result, the people are not only uninformed about science, they do not even know that they are uninformed. The people's ignorance about science has many consequences. One of the most serious is the failure to understand the implications of certain developments in science and technology. To give one example: without widespread awareness of the fact that we live in a world where we can expect to be killed by nuclear weapons, we might not take seriously the warnings and recommendations of scientists who study such weapons and who express concern over our security and safety.

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