University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
| by Cathleen Rineer-Garber, HSC Communications and Marketing |
When 19-year-old Mary Shelley penned “Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus” in 1818, she had no idea what a lasting impact the book would have on society. While Frankenstein remains the quintessential monster and has inspired countless movies, books and Halloween costumes, the book’s greater impact has been felt in its influence on society’s beliefs and fears of science and technology.
In today’s world, Frankenstein’s monster is often called upon to represent the dangers of what happens when science and technology run amok. When people speak of high-tech processes like stem cell research and cloning, invariably, Frankenstein’s monster is recalled to serve as a reminder of the potential danger. While these scare tactics may be effective, the discussion of bioethics is not so simple.
“Science has great benefits, but also significant harms that are often unintended or unexpected,” says David Bennahum, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine, and Law at the University of New Mexico. These unintended consequences, says Bennahum, include such things as global warming, bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and overpopulation due to immunization. “The benefits come at a price,” he says.
This Promethean bargain of science is not new, says Bennahum. The discussion is as old as science itself, dating back to the days of Hippocrates and Aristotle. The only difference is that as technology changes and improves, the questions become more complicated and the answers more elusive.
“As a society, we have paid a very high price for our scientific advancements,” says Bennahum, citing the bombing of Hiroshima as an example. “There are consequences that come with technology. The question is, where do we draw the line?” How can we balance the benefits of medical discoveries against ethical or spiritual questions? While Bennahum admits there is no easy answer, he believes the discussion must begin and end with society, as a whole, not just a few scientists or politicians.
To encourage this kind of public discourse, the National Library of Medicine® developed “Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature,” a traveling exhibit that encourages audiences to examine the intent of “Frankenstein,” and to discuss Shelley's and their own views about personal and societal responsibility as it relates to science and other areas of life. Other modern issues, such as cloning and genetic engineering, which raise questions about the human implications of potentially troubling scientific and technological advances, are also addressed. In addition to the exhibit, the UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center will host a series of lectures in April addressing some of these thought-provoking questions. The lectures, as well as the exhibit, are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Laura Hall at (505) 272-6518.
Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature Lecture Series
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