SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Midterm Reviewer

What is Technology?

- Technology refers to methods, systems, and devices which are the result of scientific
knowledge being used for practical purposes.
- Technology is the use of knowledge to invent new devices or tools.
- Machinery and devices developed from scientific knowledge.
- To meet human need or resolve a human problem.
- Improves the quality of life.

Examples of Technoology

- Laptop
- Gas Stove
- Pencil Sharpener
- Electrical Appliances
- Machineries
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet
- Transportation

What is the interconnection of Science and Technology?

- Science explores for the purpose of knowing, while technology explores for the
purpose of making something useful from that knowledge.
- Science derives technology by making new technology possible through scientific
breakthrough.

Example: Engineers use science to develop products.

Technology is the practical application on knowledge derives from science. Without the
technology, science won’t have its form which humans can benefit from. Technology primary
aims to makes human life easy so without it, some knowledge can be useless.

“Science is a way of knowing, technology is a way of doing”

What is Society?

- A large group of people who live together in an organized way, making decisions
about how to do things, and sharing the works that needs to be done.
- A large group of people who live in the same country or area that have the same laws,
traditions, etc.
- It is a group of people who share commonality, common purpose, values, norms and
institutions, they interact with one another within a defined or cultural space.
- It is organized through complex systems of relationships, roles, and institutions

What is the interaction of science, technology, and society?

- The essence of how science and technology contribute to society is the creation of
new knowledge, and then utilization of that knowledge to boost the prosperity of
human lives, and to solve the various issues facing society.
- Science, Technology & Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks
to explore and understand the many ways that modern science and technology shape
modern culture, values, and institutions, and how modern values shape science and
 technology. STS examines how science and technology emerge, how they enter
society, how they change through social processes, and how society changes in
response to science and technology.

Historical antecedents in which social considerations changed the courses of science

and technology

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standings on the shoulders of the giants”
-Isaac Newton
1. What do you think Newton has seen?
2. What do you think Newton refers to as giants?
3. What do you think this phrase tells you about Newton’s character?

History of Science and Technology

Ancient World

No one exactly knows where and when science and technology began, however the
earliest known technology are the stone tools (i.e hammers, scrapers, etc.) used by human
during stone age (Paleolithic era). Hunters developed skills and techniques to use tools and
make weapons, to use fire, and to identify edible plants

Nearly 10,000 years ago, as the population grew and naturally available food sources
declined, humans started to domesticate plants and animals. This preceded the Agricultural
Revolution which started somewhere in the Middle East.
 Agricultural Revolution led to the development of towns. New plants and animals
were being grown for consumption. In this period, humans started to develop sun-dried
bricks, ceramics, mortars and even metal products. The first known metal used by man is
copper (6500 BCE). It started somewhere in the middle east and human started to
domesticate plants and animals. Copper, bronze, and iron products has also been developed.

After the Agricultural Revolution, scientific knowledge and technological

advancements led to the rise of civilizations. These civilizations paved the way for more
advancements in science and technology. Evidences of these are the many infrastructures
built such as irrigations, roads and bridges.

Classical Antiquity

The next period is called 'Classical Antiquity', which was dominated by the Greek and
Roman civilization. It was during this period when the current concept of science began.
Specifically, it started with the Ionian School of philosophy, which introduced the earliest
form of scientific method, based on reasoning and observation. It shaped the history of the
western world.
Greek Philosophers

 Socrates (470 - 399 BC) (Father of Philosophy)

Socrates is known for his method of inquiry called elenchus.

Using this method, a problem must be broken down into a
series of questions that need to be answered. This is the basis
of the current concept of making hypothesis for a specific
research problem. It test the relevance, consistency and
reliability of questions.

 Plato (428 – 327 BC )

Socrates' student, aristotle's teacher. He believe that all

substances are made up of earth, air, water, and fire, He always
emphasized the concept of "proof" and insisted on having
concrete. He founded the Academy and is the author of many
philosophical works that have a remarkable influence in
western thought.

 Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Aristotle is a student of Plato. He is known for his

deductive method of scientific inquiry. He believed that:
natural principles can be identified through careful
observation, which is another foundational component of
the scientific method.

- They lead the foundation of the modern day science

- They initiated the discipline of understanding of the

universe and the universe and the natural world using the
earliest form of scientific method
Deductive Reasoning - a logical approach where you progress from general ideas to
specific conclusions. It's often contrasted with inductive reasoning, where you start with
specific observations and form general conclusions. Deductive reasoning is also called
deductive logic or top-down reasoning.

In Egypt, the city of Alexandria became a center of scientific knowledge. One of the first
important scientific text from Africa is the Edwin Smith Papyrus. It is a medical text
about ancient surgery methods. Also, knowledge on chemistry was applied in ancient
cloth tanning, indigenous distillation and fermentation.

Meanwhile, in China, scientific knowledge and technological advancements were also

increasing. Compass, ships, ceramics, and metal products were developed. The
greatest construction achievement of China at the time was the Great Wall (220-206 BC).

*It is said that the dead bodies of the people who constructed the great wall were
buried in the wall itself.

The "Four Great Inventions" symbolized China's achievements in science and technology
in the ancient times.

Question:

What were these inventions? What were their importance at the time they were
invented? Are they still relevant in today's modern world?
 China’s four great inventions:

(1) Gunpowder,
(2) papermaking,
(3) compass,
(4) printing

Middle Ages

Around 530 AD, the development of science and technology declined as it was affected
by wars, famine, diseases, piracy, and poverty which were rampant at the time.

- Marriage is also enforced at such a young age. (14-15 year old teens involved in a
marriage was quite normal)
- Dark times of European countries, there are also a spread of contagious disease that
was treated using the wrong medication which causes faster spread of disease.

The rise of Christianity in Europe was also considered a factor in the decline of science.
The Church questioned many teachings and ideas of early philosophers and scientists. In
addition, the Roman Empire from 530 AD to 1000 AD seemed less interested with theoretical
science.

As science seemed to decline in Europe, the field of medicine remained and grew due to
an important need. The deadly plague ravaged Europe and Christians felt the need to
further their knowledge in medicine in order to develop a cure.

Science was revived in Europe by Emperor Charlemagne. He ordered the establishment

of schools which became centers of knowledge and discovery. The Middle Ages brought
many advancements such as the utilization of water and wind as source of energy and
the development of moving objects and clocks.
SUMMARY OF THE VIDEO LECTURE

- People did start marrying younger because they were also dying younger
- The Little Ice Age began in 14TH century, which meant cooler temperatures and
declining harvests which contributed to starvation
- Black Death - a huge pandemic of a disease called Bubonic Plague which spread to
Europe from Asia. Many experts believe the plague originated in Tibet as a localized
epidemic but then spread carried by rats and mice and fleas and those animals were
able to travel widely because humans were traveling, and the fleas and rats hitched
rides with them, in that sense, the plague was a product of growing human
interconnectedness. 50 – 60% of people infected died.
- These days, bubonic plague is treatable by antibiotics but such treatments have only
been around for a few decades. As recently as the 20th century, outbreaks in India
and China killed more than 12 million people. But the 14th century's Black Death was
even worse.
- Around 25 million people had died in Asia by the time the plague reached
Constantinople in 1347, and within four years, a staggering number of Europeans had
died from it.
- The war was fought between the rulers of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom
of France, over who would rule large swaths of continental Europe, and it actually
lasted at least 116 years, beginning in 1337.
- Code of Chivalry - a set of behaviors toward knightly opponents, whom one would
treat on the battlefield with respect and trust, not killing your fellow knight but
instead, holding him for ransom in good condition.
- Murder and violent crime rates were likely much higher than they are today,
- Dying in war was a pretty routine risk.
- Malnutrition and stunting were also very common.
- Child mortality was astonishingly high; perhaps as many as 50% of children died
before the age of five.
- Ciompi – workers in the cloth trade, rebelled in Florence, demanding an end to harsh
 - prosecution for debt and an end to the imposition of extra taxes. They marched
through the streets, shouting, "Long live the little people." The expansion of rights for
artisans and farm workers is a very long process, but their growing power and the
decline of feudalism was a dramatic shift for Europe. Even warfare itself had changed.
People no longer fought for ethical reasons or for God's glory but for fame and
career.

Modern Age

After the Black Death, the societies in Europe became much smaller and disarrayed.
Hence, people must find new ways to live. This led to the development of new tools, new
techniques and discoveries. The revived Europe became more conducive for science and
technology. This marked the end of the Middle Age and the start of the Modern Age.

In the latter part of Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution emerged. It started at the same
time as the foundation of England's Royal Society which paved the way for a more organized
scientific community. Sir Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin are two notable members
of the Society.

At the beginning of the Revolution, the invention of the telescope advanced the field of
astronomy. Among the astronomers, Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) became the center
of controversy due to his heliocentric view of the Universe, an idea that was opposed by the
Church. This marked the so-called Copernican revolution, which was a shift from the
geocentric view of the universe.

Another technology that significantly advanced science during the Renaissance is the
microscope. The invention of the microscope paved the way for the understanding of
microorganisms and the many types of diseases associated with them.

Perhaps, the leading figure of the Scientific Revolution is Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Father of Modern Science. He introduced experimentation using the scientific method. He
also developed many mathematical explanations to many natural concepts. He invented
many equipment and devices. His works led to the development of modern science.
 From the 17th to 18th century, science and technology further developed. Another period
emerged starting from the publication of Carolus Linnaeus' ( Father of Taxonomy ). He
works on biological classification. This period is also known as the " Enlightenment '' , which
emphasized logic and reasoning. It was a shift from the Renaissance which was dominated
by the teachings of the Church and of the early Greek and Roman Philosophers.

Isaac Newton - Leading figure of the enlightenment. His work, Principia, established the
foundation of modern-day physics. He also led the use of scientific methods in the
understanding of the natural world. He developed theories from observations and
experiments and use them to predict other phenomena.

Due to society's demand to make things more efficient and faster, machines were developed.

The most revolutionary of them is the steam engine. It was invented by James Watt (1736-
1819) in 1765. The steam engine made many industrial processes possible. This is part of
the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) - refers to the process of change in modern history

from a farming and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine
manufacturing.

Assignment: Research

The Industrial Revolution paved the way for many technologies. The telephone was invented
which communication easier. Light bulbs were invented gave offices and homes efficient and
cleaner light. Motor cars were invented for easier transportation.

Question: What other inventions were developed during this period? What were their
impact to the society? How have they been improved today? What technologies