Society - Generally, understanding natural

phenomena including the world of plants

 Refers to autonomous group of people and animals, geological formations, how
 Interacting with others in a distinct life began, composition of substance,
geographic territory among others.
 Sharing common culture

a. Natural Science
Culture - Talks about environment
- Early thinkers used this method to
 The ways of thinking
understand the social world.
 Ways of acting
 Materials / object
b. Social Science
 Together form the people’s way of life
-talks about relationships
 Diverse and vary across different places
(e.g. marriage ceremonies, what they
believe, how children are nurtured) Technology
- Includes the various processes which a
group of people use to harness the
Aspects of Culture environment to produce objects and
1. Material systems that could be utilized to respond
- Are those objects produced as a to human needs in society.
result of technology. - One aspect of culture from distant past
until the present, based on the existing
2. Non-material knowledge systems, now referred to as
- How the objects were produced and “science”, of specific societies
the processes and functions
involved.

Three Perspectives in Analysis of Society

Factors that contribute to cultural diversity: and Culture
1. Physical Environment
- Example: community near river,
mountain, island, urban, city 1. Symbolic Interactionist

2. How people manage to utilize what is Society is made up of individuals who

found in their immediate environment in interact with each other using symbols with
order to respond to their needs. corresponding meanings.

Social Problems are caused by different

understanding of symbols and their meanings.
Science
- Refers to the body of knowledge utilized
to the understand the world
 2. Structural Functionalist
Society is made up of interrelated
systems/institutions with corresponding
functions.
Social Problems are caused by a dysfunction in
one of the systems which affect all other
systems.
3. Conflict
Society is made up of conflicting groups with
unequal levels of powers, wealth and prestige.
Social Problems are caused by the exploitation of
the inferior groups by the dominant groups.
Specific views on the relationship between
science and technology with society and
culture.
a. Technological Somnambulism
( Langdon Winner , political scientist )
- Denies the various ways which
technology provides structure
meaning for human life.
- Technology is considered neutral in the
moral and ethical sense -- neither is good
or bad.
HUMANS TECHNOLOGY
b. Technological Determinism
( Thorstein Veblen, American sociologist and
economist )
- Technology is viewed as the main
determinant of society’s history and
driving force of its culture.
- For every new discovery of invention-
there is a corresponding transition or
change in society
Example:
Agriculture – Mechanization has led to the loss
of all traditional farming method.
Communication technologies – people
communicate through internet (emails)
CULTURE
TECHNOLOGY
HISTORY
c. Social Construction of Technology
( Wiebe Bijker and Trevor Pinch, 1984 )
- Emphasizes the importance of social
context in the development of new
technologies viewed as a product of
social processes involving several social
groups.
According to SCOT- Technological innovation is a
complex process wherein,
and
a. Both technology and society contribute
the meaning of new technologies;
b. Then make changes to technology
through resistance;
c. Construct social and technological
frameworks, actions and practices.