Professors Attach Misuses of Ethical Scientific Aims

"Scientists must not be milked dry and then hung like witch doctors," said Norbert Wiener of M.I.T., at last night's Law Forum. He urged freedom of scientific thought and inquiry.

Henry D. Aiken '40' associate professor of Philosophy, and Pitirim A. Sorokin, professor of Sociology, also addressed a crowd of approximately 400 people on the topic "The Moral Responsibility of the Scientist." Harlow Shapley, director of the College observatory, was moderator.

Aiken said, "If every scientist in the world would refuse to engage in research leading to the production of destructive arms, I would favor the plan.

"But this is obviously Utopian and impossible," he continued. "Therefore, I do not think individual scientists have the right to impose gag rules upon themselves in this respect, particularly at a time when our government feels it is in the best interest of freedom and peace to arm the nation."

Scientific Aristocracy

Sorokin claimed that there exists today " a powerful scientific aristocracy which determines over 50 percent of the moves of politicians in the world today."

These politicians, he added, are known for "ignorance, aggressiveness, cynicism, cruelty, and hypocrisy."

The only hope, he concluded, lies in the ascendancy of the scientific group, which must have a true sense of moral responsibility and extend this morality to a universal plane."

Wiener stated that scientists, who must always search for truth, "cannot put their heads under bushel baskets and freely accept the orders of others."