バートランド・ラッセル「科学を補うもの」
* 原著：The Scientific Outlook, 1931, A (Introd.) & III-17* 出典：牧野力(編)『ラッセル思想辞典』
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科学は因果関係を理解させる種類の知識であり、基礎的知識の結合である。科学は事実に対し、観察、仮説、実験、験証、公理という手続をへて証明された確実な知識を与える。
科学には、験証された一般法則（真理）を求める科学的気質と一般法則を実地に活用する科学技術とがある。科学技術の実用上の利益は甚大であるが、人間が愚鈍であると、科学技術は、人間への重大な公害源となる。
現代科学は自然を巧みに扱う力を人類に与えたが、良き科学文明を目差すには、知恵が加味された科学技術の活用でなければならない。
知恵とは、人間の生きる目的を正しく考える心の働きのことで、科学には提供できないものである。科学は人間の目的に役立つ一つの重要な要素であるが、科学の発達のみに依存しても、知恵は獲得できない。哲学には人間に知恵を与える役割がある。
( Science, as its name implies, is primarily knowledge ; by convention it is knowledge of a certain kind, the kind, namely, which seeks general laws connecting a number of particular facts. Gradually, however, the aspect of science as knowledge is being thrust into the background by the aspect of science as the power of manipulating nature. It is because science gives us the power of manipulating nature that it has more social importance than art. Science as the pursuit of truth is the equal, but not the superior, of art. Science as a technique, though it may have little intrinsic value, has a practical importance to which art cannot aspire. ...
In considering the effect of science upon human life we have therefore three more or less separate matters to examine. The first is the nature and scope of scientific knowledge, the second the increased power of manipulation derived from scientific technique, and the third the changes in social life and in traditional institutions which must result from the new forms of organization that scientific technique demands. Science as knowledge of course underlies the other two, since all the effects which science produces are the outcome of the knowledge which it provides. Man hitherto has been prevented from realizing his hopes by ignorance as to means. As this ignorance disappears he becomes increasingly able to mould his physical environment, his social milieu and himself into the forms which he deems best. In so far as he is wise this new power is beneficent ; in so far as he is foolish it is quite the reverse. If, therefore, a scientific civilization is to be a good civilization it is necessary that increase in knowledge should be accompanied by increase in wisdom. I mean by wisdom a right conception of the ends of life. This is something which science in itself does not provide. Increase of science by itself, therefore, is not enough to guarantee any genuine progress, though it provides one of the ingredients which progress requires.
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