Title:

The Challenge and Its Roots

Creator:

Luria, S. E. (Salvador Edward), 1912-1991

Date:

[20 April 1972]

Description:

The subject of Luria's Penrose Memorial Lecture was the relationships between science, technology, and responsibility. He specifically questioned why so many had begun to distrust science and technology. He believed this distrust to have been fueled by events of the world wars, and the advent of "nuclear terror," which shattered the "illusion of a smooth future of progress." He further noted that genetic manipulation that might be possible with further advances raised fears among many ranging from the ability to select the sex of one's child, the possibility of genetic weapons, or the ability to "create races of enslaved morons or of ruling supermen." Luria argued that by rejecting technological and scientific development outright, critics miss the real target: "the ills of society," noting that the real problems of men were social and political.

Original Repository:

American Philosophical Society. Library. Salvador Luria Papers

Rights:

Reproduced with permission of Daniel D. Luria. and Reproduced with permission of the American Philosophical Society.

Genre:

Lectures

Format:

Text

Extent:

25 pages

Language:

English

Legacy Source Citation:

Original Repository. American Philosophical Society. Library. Salvador Luria Papers. 12096

Legacy ID:

QLBBJB

NLM ID:

101584611X125

Profiles Collection:

The Salvador E. Luria Papers

Shareable Link:

https://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/101584611X125

Story Section:

Later Career: Teacher and Administrator, 1972-1991