Have more lives been sacrificed or saved by science and technology? [closed]

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

Let us broadly define "science" as:

The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

and "technology" as:

Machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge.

Here are some examples of what I mean:

Sacrificed

• Any act of war involving technology: guns, bombs, missiles, etc.
• A man being electrocuted by a wall socket
• Car accidents
• Smoking industrialized products (e.g. cigars, cigarettes, etc.)
• Crimes committed with the aid of internet, cell phones, etc. which would not have happened otherwise (indirect consequence)
• Indirect effects on exercise (e.g. automobiles, video games, etc.)

Saved

• Healing which was scientifically proven to have been induced by medicine (i.e. not "alternative medicine")
• Cell phone enabling someone to call for help (e.g. 9-1-1 emergency service in U.S.)
• Identification of causes of ill effects (e.g. carcinogens, heart disease, etc.) enabling people to actively avoid risk-increasing habits
• Modern transportation allowing refugees to flee dangerous locations

This question is obviously impossible to answer with 100% certainty. That said, please try to be more objective than subjective. I'm looking for an order-of-magnitude assertion that concludes either "more sacrificed" or "more saved" and explains why. As demonstrated in the examples above, feel free to consider both direct and indirect consequences of science and technology.