--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead, in the absence of respect for…" description: "\"Instead, in the absence of respect for human rights, science and its offspring technology have been used in this century as brutal instruments for oppr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/john-charles-polanyi-14475_absence_instead-in-the-absence-of-respect-for-hu_972467.png" --- # Instead, in the absence of respect for human rights… ![“Instead, in the absence of respect for human rights, science and its offspring technology have been used in this century as brutal instruments for oppression.” quote by John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/john-charles-polanyi-14475_absence_instead-in-the-absence-of-respect-for-hu_972467.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/john-charles-polanyi-14475_absence_instead-in-the-absence-of-respect-for-hu_972467.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/john-charles-polanyi-14475_absence_instead-in-the-absence-of-respect-for-hu_972467.png) > “Instead, in the absence of respect for human rights, science and its offspring technology have been used in this century as brutal instruments for oppression.” [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When human rights are ignored, science becomes a tool for oppression, highlighting ethical responsibility. **In simple terms:** Lack of rights lets science be used cruelly. Key Takeaway Demand ethical oversight in science. Themes ethics human rights science Mood concerned hopeful Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - research funding - technology development - humanitarian work Key Concepts political philosophy technology ethics social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can scientists protect rights? - What safeguards prevent misuse? A Different Perspective Scientific progress can still be positive with proper safeguards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [“Histories are instruments of oppression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/histories-are-instruments-of-oppression/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. 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