STS Introduction PDF

STS INTRODUCTION Science ⁃ is the human attempt to understand the natural world, with or without concern for practical uses of that knowledge. ⁃ tries to discover facts and relationships and then tries to create theories that make sense of these facts and relationships. ⁃...

STS INTRODUCTION Science ⁃ is the human attempt to understand the natural world, with or without concern for practical uses of that knowledge. ⁃ tries to discover facts and relationships and then tries to create theories that make sense of these facts and relationships. ⁃ any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation. ⁃ involves a pursuit of knowledge covering general truths or the operations of fundamental laws. Science may be defined as the system of knowledge of the natural world gained through the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step: 1. Make an observation. 2. Ask a question. 3. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation. 4. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis. 5. Test the prediction. 6. Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions. Division of Science The natural taxonomy of the empirical sciences would break the sciences down into three basic groups: the physical sciences (physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, metallurgy). the biological sciences (zoology, botany, genetics, paleontology, molecular biology, physiology), and the psychological sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology, maybe economics). Technology ⁃ is the human attempt to change the world by creating products that can help people. ⁃ It involves tools, techniques and procedures for putting the findings of science to use. ⁃ Greek words meaning 'art or craft' and 'subject or interest' ⁃ practical applications of what we know about nature. ⁃ Products - of imagination, of thought processes, redesigning ⁃ Purpose - quality of life Examples of Technology Some examples: Smartphone Laptop Electrical Appliances Machineries Interactions between S & T: ⁃ Science explores for the purpose of knowing, while technology explores for the purpose of making something useful from that knowledge. ⁃ Engineers focus on using science to develop products. Without technology, some science experiments would not be possible. Society ⁃ The sum total of our interactions as humans, including the interactions that we engage in to figure things out and to make things. Meaning of STS ⁃ is the study of how society, politics and culture affect scientific research and technological innovation and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture. SCIENCE "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" – Sir Isaac Newton Science is as old as the world itself. Science as an idea Science as an intellectual activity Science as a body of knowledge Science as a personal and social activity. Science ⁃ Latin "scientia" - Knowledge ⁃ Human have persistently observed and studied the natural and physical world in order to find meanings and seek answers to many questions. Our identity is based on how we see the world. Socrates Greek philosopher and the main source of Western thought. His "Socratic Method", laid the groundwork for Western systems of logic and philosophy. Socrates always emphasized the importance of the mind over the relative unimportance of the human body. He claimed to be ignorant because he had no ideas, but wise because he recognized "The more I know, the more I do not know" An unexamined life is not worthliving. Plato Was a student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle. Founded the academy in Athens. Idealist His work on the use of reason to develop a more fair and just society that is focused on the equality of individuals established the foundation for modern democracy. Plato claimed that knowledge gained through the senses is no more than opinion and that, in order to have real knowledge, we must gain it through philosophical reasoning. Know yourself. Constant struggle for human in discovering the reality of the world while balancing what you know to be true, and what the physical world is showing you to be true. Aristotle Focuses on systematic concept of logic. Objective was to come up with a universal process of reasoning that would allow man to learn every conceivable thing about reality. Realist. The golden mean: living a moral life Is the ultimate goal.