"Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if man's power is increased, the checks that restrain him from abusing it must be strengthened"
- Madame de Stael
About this Quote
This quote by Madame de Stael suggests that as scientific development boosts, ethical progress needs to also increase in order to ensure that the power gained through scientific progress is not abused. To put it simply, as scientific progress provides people more power, the checks and balances that prevent them from abusing that power needs to likewise be strengthened. This is an important suggestion that scientific development ought to not be pursued without thinking about the ethical ramifications of the power it gives human beings. It is essential that moral development keeps up with clinical progress in order to ensure that the power gotten is utilized properly and fairly. Madame de Stael's quote is a reminder that clinical progress ought to not be pursued without thinking about the moral ramifications of the power it provides people.
"In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders until I could reach out my hand to the little clod of earth that I am"