IPOC Italian Paths of Culture is proud to offer a new printing of this excellent study, unsurpassed in its depth and significance. The building of a "knowledge-based society" necessarily implicates analysis and criticism of the relationship between society and techno-scientific innovation. If we maintain that the function of such innovation ought to be the general enrichment of human existence and not solely the profit of a few, then relevant discourse cannot be limited to scientists or politicians. The difficulty, in fact, lies not in discovery but in discovery's application. What are the ramifications of a discovery or innovation? What benefits does it bring with it? What world do we seek to build? The ability to make responsible choices for our planet and for future generations requires us to construct new forms of democratic debate in which all components of society have a voice. This study examines these issues and their implications.