Is There Anything We should not Want to Know?

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter examines whether there can be scientific knowledge, the possession of which would be inimical to mankind. If the answer is positive, it is natural to impose restrictions on scientific research that may produce this kind of knowledge. Critics of unlimited scientific freedom argue that certain types of knowledge should be forbidden because it is dangerous. The chapter distinguishes between two main types of dangers. The first type is knowledge that will lead to undesirable material consequences. The most common fear is that certain forms of new knowledge will inevitably lead to technology that can be misused if put in the wrong hands. Thus knowledge is marked dangerous because it is believed to have dangerous practical consequences. The second type of danger is that certain knowledge is dangerous because of its mental consequences. It may threaten the established society or some of its institutions, or even the established view of humanity itself. Thus, some knowledge is thought to be counter-ideological or subversive, and thus, not desirable.