Hersha Kadkol
Defenders of capitalism often point to the many advances in science and technology over the past three centuries as evidence of the system’s progressive nature. Indeed, capitalism has witnessed scientific achievements previously thought impossible: we have sent men to the moon, cured innumerable diseases and produced wondrous technology. But is this the best we can hope for? Scientific research which is overwhelmingly geared towards profit-making? Technological developments which have destroyed the environment, perfected industrial-scale murder, and allowed for mass surveillance and control? This talk will explore the limits to scientific progress under capitalism, and discuss how the human capacity for discovery would be better harnessed in a socialist society.