Science, Technology, and Society

• Lesson explores the historical interactions between science, technology, and society throughout different periods in world history and in the Philippines.

Objectives

• The interactions between science, technology, and society throughout history are discussed.
• How scientific and technological developments affect society and the environment is analyzed.
• Major paradigm shifts in the history of science and technology are identified.

Science

• Any system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena.
• It entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation.
• Involves the pursuit of knowledge covering general truths or the operations of fundamental laws.

Technology

• The application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life.
• Involves the change and manipulation of the human environment.

Society

• A large group of individuals who live together in an organized manner.
• Make decisions about how to accomplish tasks and share the necessary labor.
• Science and technology exhibit a dual interaction, signifying mutual influence.
• The advancement of technology relies on science, and conversely, scientific progress relies on technology.

Science and Technology

• There are dual interactions between them, but with society as social activities
• No one knows where and when they began however, the earlies known tech is stone tools during the Stone Age
• Early hunters, gatherers, and foragers developed skills and techniques to use tools and make weapons, use fire, and identify edible plants and animals.
• Knowledge and practice spread as people migrated
• The Agricultural Revolution was preceded by this development to domesticate plants and animals.
• After the Agricultural Revolution, new products were made from copper, bronze and iron
• Ceramics prospered after this development and wheels were invented for transportation
• Knowledge led to the rise of towns because of science and tech advancements such as: irrigations, roads and bridges
• Classical Antiquity was a period of Greek and Roman civilizations which initiated the current science concept
• Ionian School of philosophy stated the the first scientific method based on reasoning and observation
• Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle initiated the discipline of understanding the natural world through the earliest form of scientific method.
• Socrates developed elenchus where problems were broken down into questions
• Plato was a student of Socrates and believed all substance are made of earth, air, water and fire
• Aristotle was a student of Plato known for the deductive method of scientific inquiry and identifying natural principles thru careful observation

Classical Antiquity Egypt and China

• Egypt became a center of knowledge where the Edwin Smith Papyrus, a text about ancient surgery, came from
• Knowledge of chemistry was applied in cloth tanning and indigenous fermentation.
• Compass, ceramics, and metal products were developed in China where The Great Wall was the greatest construction
• The development was halted because of wars, famine, diseases, piracy, and poverty.
• Christianity was a factor of this decline and the Roman Empire also seemed uninterested
• Medicine remained important due to the deadly plague and Christians needing a cure
• The center of science and tech shifted from Europe to China and nearby areas.
• The science of Islamic civilization was well developed but Islam prohibits further study of anatomy by human autopsy, astronomy, chemicals and other techniques were developed.
• Medicine lead the development of new instruments and humane treatments.
• Science was revived thru Emperor Charlemagne and ordered schools to be established
• Geographical exploration also made voyages possible

Modern Age of Tech

• Societies in Europe became smaller because of the Black Death
• This marked the beginning of new tools and discoveries and marked the beginning of a more conducive enviroment for ST
• Europe encouraged advancements especially for defense and trade
• Universities taught such technologies such as Da Vinci
• This period was also known as the renaissance of giving more importance to humanism
• The Scientific Revolution started and England's Royal Society was founded as a more organized community
• In astronomy, Copernicus discovered the heliocentric view of the universe while many opposed this
• Galileo Galilei developed maths to explain many natural concepts that led to modern science
• The enlightenment of logic and reasoning started with Carolus Linnaeus's works
• Sir Issace Newton founded modern day physics from the enlightenment
• James Watt invented the steam engine in 1765 to lead to the Industrial Revolution and made efficient industrial processes possible
• Industrial revolution started the beginning of industrial wasting and other pollution
• Darwin proposed the Theory Of Evolution which was opposed but became a milestone
• From the 19th century, scientific advancements became rapidly increasing
• New communications, clothing, transportation and entertainment led to more skilled workers
• Germany focused heavily on developing new lab weapons for world war
• Plastics were created to create a development of appliances but became an environmental pollutant
• Watson discovered the DNA structure leading to gene therapy and engineering

History in the Philippines

• The early filipinos were less than their neighbors of Japan or China, simple metal and stone tools
• Agricultural practices and weaponry of bows and spears
• By AD 1000 the Philippines developed shipbuilding technology
• In 1933 there was legislature passed to establish more scientific research
• But after WWII the institutions were reformed and created the Science Foundation in 1952
• Due to lack of support in 1957 a study showed science was in decline for 4 core reasons
• Increased gov support led to development and high public awareness
• The Philippines is still behind in scientific/tech productivity and Filipino preformance in math is generally poor.

Conclusions

• Science, technology, and society affect society so machines are meant to be made easier and faster as more lifestyles and habits are developed.
• This led to environments being challenged and exploited to the natural resources.