We take it for granted now that science has a social responsibility. The idea would not have occurred to Newton or Galileo. They thought of science as an account of the world as it is, and the only responsibility that they acknowledged was to tell the truth. The idea that science is a social enterprise is modern, and it begins at the industrial revolution. We are surprised that we cannot trace a social sense further back, because we nurse the illusion that the industrial revolution ended a golden age.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the thinking of the author about the science?

The correct option is: Science must pursue truth but be responsible for social welfare.

Step-by-step Explanation:
1. Understanding the historical view: The passage states that classical scientists like Newton and Galileo "thought of science as an account of the world as it is, and the only responsibility that they acknowledged was to tell the truth." This represents the traditional view of science as a pure pursuit of factual truth.
2. Understanding the modern view: The author notes that "We take it for granted now that science has a social responsibility" and describes the view of science as a "social enterprise" as a modern concept that emerged around the industrial revolution.
3. Synthesizing the author's perspective: By contrasting the historical view (focusing purely on telling the truth) with the modern realization of science's social impact, the author highlights that modern science operates under both paradigms. Therefore, science cannot exist solely in an academic vacuum of "truth-telling" without acknowledging its impact on society, nor can it ignore its fundamental duty to remain truthful. The correct option successfully bridges these two ideas: science must maintain its core pursuit of truth while simultaneously carrying a responsibility toward social welfare.