I recently had the opportunity to write an article titled “Navigating the Tension Between Science and Religion.” During this process, my dear friend, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan of the Kerala High Court, recommended that I watch the docudrama “Einstein and the Bomb” on Netflix. I cannot thank him enough for this suggestion, as the documentary raised several fundamental questions in my mind about science and education. It served as the spark that inspired me to write this article.
The story of Einstein and the bomb is more than just history—it’s a lesson for all of us. When we look at Einstein’s life, especially during the time when Hitler was rising to power, we see a man who struggled with the power of science and the responsibility that comes with it. He was a genius, but he also worried deeply about how his discoveries could be used for harm. Watching his story makes us ask a question that is just as important today: Is the world in more danger from people who are uneducated, or from people who are educated but lack morality, empathy, and a sense of right and wrong?
As Roald Hoffmann, Nobel laureate, warns, “well-intentioned research that holds promise to cure disease, clean water and otherwise improve the conditions of life also can be commandeered for sinister purposes”. The genie, once released from the bottle, cannot be easily contained. Yet, in the rush to produce innovators and leaders, we have sidelined the conversation about character, leaving a vacuum that is too easily filled by selfishness, prejudice, or fanaticism.
Today, science and technology have given us amazing things. We can cure diseases, communicate instantly, and solve problems that once seemed impossible. But these same advances can be turned into weapons or tools for harm. Viruses can be made in labs, digital tools can be used to steal or cheat, and inventions meant to help can be twisted to hurt. The real danger often comes not from those who don’t know, but from those who know a lot—and choose to use their knowledge for the wrong reasons.
Think about the world of cybercrime. The people behind the biggest online scams and data thefts are usually smart, educated, and skilled. They are not driven by ignorance, but by greed or thrill. Statistics show that most cyber criminals are young, educated people who use their knowledge in harmful ways. The problem, then, is not too little education, but education without values.
This shakes our belief that education is always good. If knowledge without character leads to harm, what is the real purpose of education? Are we just creating people who are smart, or are we helping people become good human beings? Too often, our schools and universities focus only on skills and facts, and forget to teach empathy, responsibility, and kindness. This leaves a gap that can be filled by selfishness or even cruelty.
Should we be more afraid of the educated than the uneducated? Should we question every new invention for the harm it could do? Are we, as a society, at risk of being destroyed by our own intelligence? These are questions that should make us stop and think deeply. For every Einstein who worries about the consequences of his work, how many others don’t care, or even help to cause harm?
But maybe there is hope. What if the next big step for humanity is not just a new scientific discovery, but a new way of thinking—one that combines knowledge with wisdom and compassion? Science is powerful, but it doesn’t tell us how to use that power. Spirituality, or a sense of higher purpose and connection, can give us the values we need. When these two come together, they can guide us to use our knowledge for good.
We can see examples of this already. Meditation and mindfulness, once seen as spiritual practices, are now proven by science to help our brains and make us more empathetic. Even Einstein said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” If we let technology grow without any moral guidance, we end up with things like cyberweapons and fake news—tools that can destroy trust and safety. Spiritual values like kindness and non-violence can help keep our inventions in check.
Imagine if our schools taught empathy and ethics along with math and science. Imagine if our scientists and engineers were guided not just by curiosity, but by a sense of responsibility to others. This is not just a dream—it’s something we need if we want to survive and thrive.
The purpose of education must be more than just making people smart. It must help people become wise, caring, and responsible. Without this, every new invention could become a new danger. The challenge is not to stop progress, but to make sure our progress is guided by conscience and compassion.
So we must ask ourselves: Are we educating minds, or just arming them? Are we building a world where knowledge lifts us up, or one where it tears us down? The answers to these questions will decide our future. If we don’t act, if we don’t bring ethics and empathy into our education and our inventions, we risk being destroyed not by ignorance, but by knowledge without a soul. As the ancient wisdom says, “Truth is one; the wise call it by many names.” We must remember this unity, before our divisions and inventions destroy us.
Knowledge in clever hands can heal or harm,
Without a guiding heart, it loses charm.
Wisdom and kindness must light the way,
Or brilliance alone may lead us astray.
Let soul and science together shape our day.
Justice N.Anand Venkatesh Judge Madras High Court
