STS Finals

Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing

• Aristotle's definitions of theoretical and practical knowledge are comparable to science and technology, respectively.
• Science explains the nature or principles behind an object, event, or phenomenon, enabling humanity to gain intellectual virtues.
• Technology applies theoretical knowledge to produce output, also enabling humanity to gain intellectual virtues.

Examples of Science and Technology

• Penicillum notatum: science discovered its antibiotic nature, and technology developed it into a medicine, providing cures to many diseases.
• Electricity: science discovered its nature as a form of energy produced from the flow of electrons, and technology developed it into a useful form, such as electric current produced by passing a magnet through a copper wire.

Science and Technology Literacy

• Science literacy is having the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision-making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.
• Technology literacy is understanding basic computer operations, digital communication, software applications, and digital citizenship, making us well-informed consumers.

Science as Methods and Results

• Science seeks to understand the natural world through the scientific method, which is characterized by objectivity, reason, and empiricism.
• The scientific method involves logical thinking, observing, and experimenting, and only considers results that are measurable and repeatable.

Verification Theory

• Verification Theory proposes that a discipline is a science if it can be confirmed or interpreted in the event of an alternative hypothesis being accepted.
• This theory was proposed by the Vienna Circle in the early 20th century, and only considers observable and measurable results as meaningful.

Falsification Theory

• Falsification Theory asserts that if an ideology is not proven to be false and can best explain a phenomenon over alternative theories, it should be accepted.
• However, there is skepticism towards this theory, especially when it comes to scientific theories that are not yet proven, such as Einstein's theory of light quanta.

Science as a Social Endeavor

• Science is not limited to individual scientists, but involves groups of scientists working together, correcting and verifying each other through social interaction and relationships.
• Scientists come together to create solutions to social problems, and scientific ideas are based on the results of experimentation or studies, having a factual basis.