What is a contribution to society?

Answer 1

Answers provided here to answer the question at hand may lead some readers to scoff and write-off as silly. Careful thought however, should be made here. An answer to "what is a contribution to society ?" is an extremely broad question with many answers. The answers can also be biased depending upon a person's views on history, politics, and a particular society. With all that said, there are some contributions that most people would agree are are contributions to society. In these cases we are speaking of such things as discoveries, inventions, advances in science, government policies, art and books that have been beneficial to society. In each of these categories ( and more could be added depending on the individual asked to provide an answer) I shall give examples that reach beyond the easy responsethat a contribution is something that is beneficial to society.

It needs to be noted however, that some positive contributions to society can be categorized as having a negative impact. In the examples below will try to anticipate these negatives.

Under the category of "discoveries", I define this area as to mean "exploration". The discovery of the Western Hemisphere by Europeans generated added wealth and prosperity to Europe. It also became a refuge for Europeans with religious views that were persecuted in Europe. The power and affect of "religion" cannot be over stated. Wars even to the 20th century have had a basis in religion. The battles of Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland were religious based. The fighting between Christians and Muslims in the Sudan were horrific in terms of the estimated 2 million deaths there. The extermination of Muslims in Kosovo in Serbia, once again based on religion. The Holocaust of Jews in Europe by Nazi Germany were based on religion and on ethnicity.

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Under the "discovery" category I'll cite the European discovery of the Western Hemisphere as a "negative" for the Native Americans. However one views the Native American civilizations, or lack there of, Europeans crushed these societies. What would have happened if Europe landed in the Americas 300 years after 1492, no one can say.

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Inventions such as the telephone, wireless communications, railroads, airplanes, automobiles surely have had beneficial affects on society. The cynic can point to the fact that these inventions all contributed to creating more devastating weapons of war. I'll note here that Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite felt so guilty about his invention we have the Nobel prizes.

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Advances in science covers inventions, but also medicines and medical treatments to fight diseases.The medicinal advances such as the polio vaccine, injections to treat lockjaw, malaria, HIV along with medicines and injections to fight diabetes, and X-rays, MRI's and catscans to see inside the human body are surely positive contributions. Let me add antibiotics to treat infections.

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Government policies to aid the poor, regulate banking, ensure civil rights & provide military protection for a nation's population are surely contributions & vital ones.

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The arts which include paintings, poetry, books, dance, cinema and stage plays all enhance a society and its culture.

Answer 2

Vote! And run for elections. If you think you can do better than those in office, go for it. But definitely vote, make your voice heard.