Although on the other hand, we aren’t grown-up enough. “Whales seem to be going extinct no matter what has been done about it” is an achievement of science, yet I haven’t heard of anyone celebrating that.
I mean, the very expected misuse of antibiotics is producing superbugs. And knowing that superbugs are being produced is very, very valuable for us in the future. But people somehow aren’t breaking into song.
So it seems to me that the examples of exuberance in the OP had to do with celebrating “the goodness of man” as much as “the power of science”, and the former is a different problem today.
Although on the other hand, we aren’t grown-up enough. “Whales seem to be going extinct no matter what has been done about it” is an achievement of science, yet I haven’t heard of anyone celebrating that.
I mean, the very expected misuse of antibiotics is producing superbugs. And knowing that superbugs are being produced is very, very valuable for us in the future. But people somehow aren’t breaking into song.
So it seems to me that the examples of exuberance in the OP had to do with celebrating “the goodness of man” as much as “the power of science”, and the former is a different problem today.