Letter: Why progress?

Lewis Wolpert claims that "science is about progress" while art is "about change" ("Another art attack?" Review, 23 February). However, such boldness is undermined by his failure to address the crucial political questions of progress. For example, towards what exactly does he assume "we" are progressing, and on whose authority? And is progress possible outside science? Would he argue that cloning sheep is progress, while the rise of ethical concern for the natural world is not?

The irony is that by not putting his political cards on the table, Wolpert risks increasing suspicions that science is really about unwarranted, often unwanted change for its own sake, rather than what it could be - progress towards democratically decided goals. He therefore does science a disservice.

Nick Hunt

Centre for Science Studies and Policy, Lonsdale College, University of Lancaster