It is an anomaly of modern society that science, which could contribute much to the welfare and happiness of mankind, creates, more often than not, the very things which add to human unhappiness, insecurity and suffering.
What then of the scientists? Are they inhuman monsters relishing the spectacle of increased unemployment brought on by their mechanical creations, or gloating over the destructiveness of their atom bombs, etc., etc.? Or are their inventions the outcome of some force behind the scenes?
Let us see whether examination will throw light upon the role of the scientist in the social order of today.
We live in a society split into two classes—the Capitalist class, and the working class. The former, through its ownership of the land, mines, factories, railways, etc., etc., exploits the labour power of the working class in the production of commodities. Masses of commodities are acquired, but cannot bring a profit until they are sold. Individual Capitalists, therefore, must see that their commodities are on sale at prices which bring profit, but, at the same time, are at least as low as the commodity prices of their rivals. Thus we find the Capitalists endeavouring to keep production costs at a minimum by keeping down or reducing wages.
From a Capitalist viewpoint, however, this measure has a disadvantage. Wages cannot profitably be reduced below the level which maintains in the workers a satisfactory standard of working fitness. The Capitalist class, then, finds itself finally reliant upon an alternative course—that of introducing machinery which will reduce the amount of labour time spent upon the commodities produced. Thus we find Capitalists competing with each other to introduce machinery which will appreciably lower their production costs and keep their commodities at competitive prices. Only mechanisation will ensure for the Capitalist the retention or expansion of markets, and the consequent high demand for machinery here and overseas brings rich rewards to the owners. On the other hand, inventions that would benefit mankind but would do nothing towards maintaining or increasing profits, are, by comparison, unsaleable.
Inventors and scientists, therefore are faced with the fact that only the ideas beneficial to Capitalism are acceptable. Small wonder that these are the ideas upon which scientists, in the main have to concentrate.
And what of when Capitalist competition overflows national boundaries and becomes a case of each nationalistic entity competing against the Capitalism of other countries? What of when the struggle for markets, trade routes, and sources of raw material inevitably ends in war?
It is then that the most urgent need of sectional Capitalism is that its own nationalistic entity should survive against the Capitalism of other countries. It is then that the individualistic competition within the opposing countries is temporarily abandoned and every muscle is strained to achieve a greater task for national Capitalism—i.e., to win the war.
The fruits of science most needed by Capitalism thus change from industrial machinery to weapons of destruction and the machines that will manufacture such weapons. Only these things will now be in high demand.
In this manner we find that scientists, in order to live, must resort to the creation of things which either throw many workers out of employment, or intensify the horrors of modern war.
Nor does nationalisation prevent this. Nationalised industries, like private concerns, run for the purpose of making profits and must therefore adopt every possible measure to achieve that end. Moreover, countries wherein nationalisation exists still find that the functioning of Capitalism inevitably drives them into periodic wars. Consequently they are forced to use all the hideous means of killing and destruction entailed in waging war.
Not until Capitalism is replaced by socialism, , an order of society wherein there could be such things as commodities, buying and selling, markets, etc., etc., will scientists cease to be restricted by the question: “Will our inventions be profitable to Capitalism?” The only question facing them within socialism will be: “Will the things we create benefit mankind?”
F. W. Hawkins
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