Anthem Theme of Science

The main character of Anthem, Equality 7-2521 is a scientist by nature – a scientific genius. More than anything else, he wants to learn about the way the world is, and believes knowledge to be good for its own sake. Unfortunately, he's born into a collectivist society that suppresses his talent for science, because it threatens to make him superior to others. In secret, Equality 7-2521 starts to illegally conduct scientific research, and discovers for himself secrets that his primitive society has never dreamed of. Equality 7-2521's illegal research ironically enables him to produce an invention far more beneficial to the greater good than anything his society has invented. At stake in the conflict between Equality 7-2521 and his society is the status of truth itself, and the importance of science for improving the lot of mankind.

1. Why does Equality 7-2521 pursue science so passionately? Do his motives change throughout Anthem? Is there a conflict between them?
2. Why is equality 7-2521 able to advance so much further in science than the Scholars of his society?
3. What, according to Collective 0-0009, is the purpose of science? According to Equality 7-2521?
4. Why does Collective 0-0009 reject Equality's invention?

Equality 7-2521 progresses from valuing science for its own sake to valuing it for its usefulness.

Collective 0-0009 and his fellow Scholars have an understanding of science that makes science impossible.