Abstract

The history of the modern world has recorded remarkable achievements and progress in the quality of life of people thanks to the developments of science and technology. Although man’s development of science and technology is said to date back to inception of the human society, the tremendous influence of the 18th century industrial revolution first in Europe and later the rest of the world, on the scientific and technological revolution that occurred during the early 1900s cannot be gainsaid. The world thereafter was taken by storm by the various scientific and technological inventions that characterize this period till date. This scientific and technological revolution enhanced productivity and changed the face of social material production. The revolution brought about, for instance, mechanized food production, technological construction, manufacture and design of means of transportation, clothing, medical applications, communication technology, military warfare, space exploration, power and energy, etc. In fact, the difference between the comfortable life in the developed countries, and by contrast the hardship in the developing countries, is strictly in the level of technological development. This paper examines the impacts of science and technology in human welfare. It considers the double-edge sword attribute of science and technology. It examines the implication of the incalculable harm of science and technology to mankind and as well as tremendous success recorded in the improvement of the quality of human life.