THE VISION FOR SCIENCE AND WAR IN THE 1930s AND THE CURRENT SITUATION:-

Science and technology came to the fore during the Renaissance period, a period which saw massive attempts at the colonization of the lesser world. Even though emphasis was still given to knowledge and understanding of the world around us and to make the lives of people more comfortable, technological advances were made to exercise the sovereignty of nation-states over the rest of the world. With the onset of World war I, it became necessary to gain an upper-hand over the enemy, technologically. This period, from the early 1930s until the end of the cold war, saw massive strides in both science and technology with regard to the research approach. Scientists were encouraged to conduct research in any field, but the applications of these scientific discoveries were thought up and created with the sole and supreme aim of projecting the country's sovereignty and military might.

One such approach to war was 'Cybernetics'. The term was coined by Norbert Wiener, a Professor at MIT, who was also responsible for the design of the anti-aircraft guns that were used by the US during World War II. The concept of 'Cybernetics' is based on the concept of Feedback. The result of the use of Cybernetics on technology is a tool that is empowered with senses, or ports for information input, and takes a course of action accordingly. For example, the anti-aircraft guns designed by Wiener used a certain model of flight patterns of the enemy, combined with senses that observe the target, to predict the motion of aircrafts and gun them down. Cybernetics derives it's roots from nature, wherein all organisms function on a feedback-reward system. The concept of Artificial Intelligence was also born from Wiener's Idea. The core of Cybernetics lies in the accuracy with which the objects of interest, which in the case of Wiener's guns are the enemy aircrafts, can be modeled.

But the outlook towards science and technology changed dramatically following the atomic bombing of a Japan, the event that marked the end of the World War and the start of the Cold War. Even though the arms race was still existent in the world, it was now impossible to view technological development without studying it's moral implications. Weapons that cause a lot more damage than that which was caused in Japan, also exist in this world; but the intention is peaceful as these weapons act as a deterrent to war. The technology used to fight wars were modified appropriately to be used commercially. Once again the focus of science and technology was shifted back to what it was before World War I, to make the lives of people more comfortable.

-Amit M Warrier

EE09B004

References:-

1. The Class ppt.