Science: Humanity's Religion of Shameless Lies
Humanity has used science to 'advance' itself through time, in the hopes that their efforts will uncover the purpose of life itself. Kurt Vonnegut mocks this technological prowess in his novel, Cat's Cradle, by spinning a tale that examines the uselessness of science. Vonnegut views science as a revolutionary religion, one whose 'rituals' create destruction and chaos, and whose blind worshippers believe the one shameless lie: that science can improve humanity past its violent tendencies.
Scientists, the most devout followers of humanity's modern religion, believe that they are saving the world with their knowledge, when in fact they are merely speeding up the time for Earth's demise. Dr. Breed explains that science's primary mantra is to find "new knowledge" so that "we have more truth to work with" (36). This truth that scientists seek is the purpose of life, the awareness of which will 'improve' humanity as a whole. But Vonnegut believes this quest for truth is actually a hoax, as scientists instead use their knowledge for the purpose of advancing their precious religion alone. Dr. Hoenikker sums up this blind following of science when he asks Miss Faust, a 'non-believer' of science, what 'God' and 'Love' are. Vonnegut mocks humanity's dependence on fact and 'truth' by making his scientists mindless zombies, unable to see a bigger picture in the universe other than their facts and figures. These statistics many times blind scientists into believing that their work is 'beneficial to humanity'. But although they may be armed with this 'new knowledge', scientists seem to lose humanity in the process of 'learning the truth'. Marvin Breed tries to explain this phenomenon, when he wonders whether scientists were indeed born "stone-cold dead" (53), their souls devoid of anything except an obsession for knowledge. To the followers of science, knowledge is far more powerful than simple bombs or bullets. It is the link that humans need to assert their domination universally. Vonnegut believes that scientists long to possess this power hidden within new knowledge, and their inventions are destructive manifestations of this power. Thus, the followers of science continue to toil onward with their experiments, not realizing that the truth they seek will validate their religion, but also destroy the world.
Vonnegut believes that the followers of science use 'experimentation' as an excuse for venerating their religion, therefore justifying whatever destructive weapons they may create. This central ritual of science turns the world into a toy, allowing scientists to try and manipulate their environment, with dangerous effects. Frank Hoenikker, son of a scientist, 'experimented' with watching bugs attack and kill each other, all for the purpose of his entertainment. Scientists are like children playing with fire, unable to see the consequences of their actions until someone gets hurt. Scientists enjoy experimenting because it is the most direct way of worshipping their religion, even if the result of this practice comes in the form of weapons such as ice-nine. Dr. Hoenikker "played puddly games with pots and pans and ice-nine" (166), as if the weapon were just a toy. The result of his childish experiments eventually would bring about Hoenikker's death, along with an icy doom to the world itself. When scientists experiment with the powers of Death, they open a Pandora's Box that entices them to create even more inventive ways to kill other humans. Despite the idea that their work actually serves a malicious purpose, scientists still believe that the rest of the world supports their religion and that all people "serve science too…even though they may not understand a word of it"(34). Vonnegut points out how all humans are in fact followers of science, thus participating in an active experiment of survival. The rituals of science are a disguise for destruction, thus making the idea of 'finding the truth' meaningless. Science is simply death cloaked in knowledge, a concept that a childish race like humanity cannot understand.
Vonnegut views science as a bunch of foma, or shameless lies, because it is a product of humanity, a worthless race. Julian Castle expresses Vonnegut's opinions about the creations of Man, when he explains that "man is vile, and man makes nothing worth making, knows nothing worth knowing"(116). Since science was created to advance humanity, then it too is meaningless because all products of science are improving a miserable, hopeless race. When the narrator attempts to explain to Mona, another non-believer, about the wonders of science, she thanks him, but finds no point in this knowledge. Vonnegut depicts Mona as beautiful because science and its destructive capabilities have not tainted her. If those who are untouched by science become beautiful and perfect, then the rest of humanity would be the same if they disregarded their precious religion. But according to the Books of Bokonon, "given the experience of the past million years", humanity can hope for "nothing" (164) in the way of making themselves more modernized. Man does not want to give up his religion, and therefore is condemning himself to a barbaric lifestyle, never getting any closer to the truth he seeks. The knowledge gained from science is too precious, so man forsakes perfection for limited happiness in the ability to have power over the fate of millions. Vonnegut illustrates how science is a religion that caters to a selfish race of individuals, who would rather die than forsake the shameless lies they are indoctrinate themselves with.
The world heralds its scientific triumphs as victories for mankind and products of ingenuity, when in fact these advancements are superficial. Vonnegut does not see any point in the existence of science, as it only bolsters man's ego, while giving him excuses to kill other members of his race, several million at a time. Ice-nine is the triumph of an 'experiment' which is in fact the culmination of human destruction, all in the name of advancing society. But man's greatest technological feat only serves as a weapon of mass destruction, thus proving that humans are only capable of creating instruments of death with their scientific knowledge. Science serves as a religion to the brainwashed, backward, and destructive society known as mankind, and its meaninglessness reflects the people who worship it with utmost reverence.
Analysis
This example high school English paper succeeds because it is easy to read. The essay was described by the grader as "well-written, insightful, in-depth and articulate" and having "great transitions and flow." The essay's commentary is particularly well-done - at one point, it points out that in Vonnegut's novel all humanity would look more beautiful if they turned away from the destructive nature of science. The essay could be improved by making its thesis statement more specific - the author could list examples of how Vonnegut proves his point.
1,028 words / 4 pages
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