Science: friend or foe? Science, a field of study characterized by a ceaseless flow of change and progress, is widely considered both the scourge and savior of the modern world. It's true that science offers solutions to many problems, suggesting greater convenience, improved technology, and longer, healthier lives. However, the science is far from perfect, a point that many critics are eager to make. Science has been accused of instilling fear, of achieving inadequate results and of supporting the most immoral studies. Clearly, the opinions and perceptions that people have towards science play the most important role in this complex love-hate relationship. Mary Shelley and J. Michael Bishop have a lot to say about this conflict between people, and they also predict where science will take the world in the future. Society cannot escape its dependence on science. It is worth noting that almost every aspect of an individual's life is influenced by science in one form or another. The technology people use, the hospitals they frequent, and the lives they lead are steeped in scientific discovery, advancement, and mastery. Most people willingly accept these various advancements in their lives; appreciating its convenience and usefulness, society does not constantly despise the fruits that science has produced. Regardless of these facts, science's reputation in today's world is not one of flagrant and incessant praise (237). Indeed, science has been referred to with many angry terms, including “socially constructed fictions” and “useful myths” (238). We must then ask ourselves why science has been subjected to severe scrutiny. J. Michael Bishop, leading a......medium of paper......and to aspirate (234). Shelley's Frankenstein is indeed a reminder; his account suggests that the ends must justify the means, and further that the ends must be willed in the first place. In a world where scientific progress seems inevitable and happens every day, it is clear that there will be no definitive conclusion to this complex topic any time soon. The best strategy is to recognize the good and the bad, the successes and the failures, and hope that people's hearts will guide them to the right answers to life's most difficult moral questions. Works Cited Bishop, J. Michael. "Enemies of the Promise." The presence of others. Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 237-242.Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." The presence of others. Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 231-235.