Harari believes that science, capitalism, and empire together create a cycle of effect. He believes going out to find new lands and expanding our empires made us realize that we are ignorant to the world around us and increased the pursuit of science. We needed resources to do so which started interest in capitalism and the use of investors. This science then helped us to defeat others and take over lands to start the process over again (Harari, 250-254). Harari is a major believer in government and capitalism deciding how science is investigated and what is seen as important. I think one of the most famous examples of science being influenced by political and fiscal interests, not mentioned in the text, was the Manhattan project. We needed to end World War II so the government and investors helped to fund the creation of the atomic bomb. Had there not been a war the US government may have been far more hesitant in funding the project.
Harari believes that scientific progress is slowly moving toward a place where we defeat death (Harari, 268). Once again, he explains that the scientific topics being pursued are affected by money from the government and what investors put in. They, therefore, decide what is important to study in our society (Harari, 272-273). Harari believes this is what decides whether progress continues or not. I think he has a good point here, and it makes sense that if investors think vaccines are important they will be pursued. However, I do have to disagree with him in his belief of progress being stopping death. I don’t think we went to the moon or we study birds today with the intent of understanding medicine. I think a lot of medicine is used to help human suffering, but I’d say most people would not like to live forever.