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SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY,
ANDSoCIETY

Daniel Josep@[cNamara, SJ
Vida Mia Valverde
Ramon Beleno III

G
\,
c&E Publlshing, Inc.
2(}18
 of Contents

Chapter 1: Historical Antecedents in the Course

ofScienceandTechnology. . . . . . .2
AncientTimes .....3
MedievaL/Middle Ages 26

ModernTimes 29

Philippinelnventions: ... ..... 32

E Publishing, Inc.,
Vida Mia S. Valverde,
Chapter 2: Intellectual Revolutions ... 39

Copernican Revolution 40
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, storedin a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
Darwinian Revolution 42
form, or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise-without the prior written permission
FrzudianRevolution .. ... 43
ofthe publisher.
Chapter 3: Science,Technology, and Nation-building .. 46
Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Pre-colonial Period 47
Science, technology, and society / Daniel J. Colonial Period 47
'Jl:s. -S.'V"1rr..do,
:Y.T
2018 McNamara, Vid" Mi^ and Ramon B.
Beleno III.-Qrezon City: C & E Publishiog, Inc.,
Post-Colonia1 Period 48
02018.
xii,139 p. : ill.; cm. nit 2z Science, Teehnology,
U S ociety,
Includes bibliography and index. andtheHumanCondition .....51
ISBN: 978-971 -98-0935-7.
1. Science-Social aspects. 2. Technology-Social Chapter 4: Human Flourishing in Science
aspects. I. Valverde,Vida Mia S. II. Belleno, Ramon B., andTechnology 52
III. III.Title.
Technology as a Mode of Revealing 53
Book Design: Lynzel S. Naguit and Paul Andrew L. Pagunsan
Cover Design: Ruth Anne D. Ellorin
Technology as Paeisis: Applicable
to ModernTechnology? 55
 QrestioningasthePietyofThought . - -. - 56 Chapter9:Biodiversity... ...96
Enframing: Way of Revealing The 2010InternationalYear of Dioersity 97
in ModernTechnology 56
Biotechnolory....,.. 98
Human Person Swallowed
byTechnology. . . 57 GeneticallyModified Organisms 99

Art as aWayOut of Enframing 58 GeneticModification. .. .. ..100

Chapter 5: Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety . . .102
andDevelopment ..- 62
Genetically modfred golden ricefalls sbort
Forget'deaeloping' loor countries, iti time to'de- onlfesaoingpromises . .103
deoelop'ricbcountries .. -63 Chapter 10: The Nano World . .105
Chapter6:TheGoodlife. ...70 WhyNano?... ...106
' Nicom.acbean Ethicsand Modernponcepts . 71
Chapter 11: Gene Therapy . . . .109
Chapter 7: When Technology and Humanity Cross ... 76
Wbat we sbould knous about stent cell treatnent
Universal Declaration of Human Rights ... 77 inthePH ....111
Humans vs. Robots 79 Chapter 12: Climate Change. . .115
Why the Future Does Not Need Us ..... 82 Sun
Earth's Movement around the . .1L6
Unit 3: SpecialTopics in Science,Technolory, MilankovitchParameters .. .179
andSociety . .85
GlobalWarming . . .L22
Chapter8:InformationSociety . . . . . 86 Greenhouse Gases . .124
Information. 87
FutureActions ... .126
TheRoleoflanguage ..... 87 Bibliography ...129
Mathematics as the Language of Nature . 88
Index ...135
TechnologicalWorld .....89 AbouttheAuthors
The Printing Press and Beyond 90

The World Wide Web 9L

 lntroduction
., , Science may be defined as the system of knowledge of
the natural world gained through the scientific method. It
,q1s originally called "philosophy of the natural world" since it
dtemmed from the ancient Greeks'desire to know about nature.
''Thus, the first scientists were called "philosophers of nature."They
sought to discover the truth behind material things and natural
things. It was the task of the philosophers of nature to observe
the world and beyond, and to discover what makes materials the
$ame and what makes them different. How is a tree not a flower
' and a flower not a rock?
' In their quest for understanding the natural world, the ability
to name and classify the objects found in nature was seen as the
first step towards knowledge. Thus, the scientific search for truth
early on recognized the usefulness of language and the ability
!t gave to describe, classify, and explain the different objects of
study.
Meanwhile, the term technology comes from Greek words
tekhnE meaning "art or craft" rnd -logia, meaning a "subject or
interest." Taken together, the term has come to mean "practLcal.
applicaticlns of what we know about nature" using scientific
principles for the betterment of the human situation.
As stated by CHED Memorandum Order No.20, Science,
Technolog!, and Society is an interdisciplinary course that
engages the students to confront the realities brought about by
science and technology in sociery with all its socio-political,
cultural, economic, and philosophical underpinnings at play.
These realities pervade the personal, the public, and the global
aspects oflife and are integral to human development.This course
also seeks to instill reflective knowledge in the students so that
they are able to live the good life and display ethical decision-
making in both social and scientific dilemmas.
 This course discusses how science has influenced human
society and viceversa. It examines the interaction between the
human quest to understand the natural world and how this
urrderstarding has fashioned society and its development' The
relationship between the two aspects of human culture is spelled
out in the very title of this book-science is linked to society
through technology.This connection has had a profound influence
on the development of human culture. UNIT I
This textbook gives students a taste of interdisciplinarity-
the weaving together-of two or more disciplines to come up
with a deeper understanding of the course in particular and the
world in general. Its three units contain discussions on history
General ConcePts in Science'
philosophy, and science. The first unit highlights significant Technology, and SocietY
iechnological developments throughout history that shaped
human civilizations.The second engages the students in reflective
and discursive thinking on the role of science aqd technology in
the pursuit of the good life.The last unit deals with contemporary
issues and scientific realities that we must all deal with as part of
a well-functioning societY.

It is hoped that by the end of the course, students will

appreciate the contributions of science and technology to the
world in general, and the Philippine society in particular; appraise
the impact of science and technology on their personal decision-
intelligent and
-uki.rg and on living the good life; and make
ethical decisions that will affect society for the good of humanity.

CHAPTER I ANcIrruT TIMES
Antecedents
H istorical
in the Course of Science
and Technology
LrRnNrxrc OurcoMES
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
1. explain how science and technology affected
the society and environment and vice versal
2. identi{y inventions and discoveries that
changed the world over the course of historyi
and
3. discuss the scientific and technological
developments in the Philippines.
Science and technology indeed play major
roles in the everydaytife. They make difficult and
complicated tasks easier and allow people to do more
with so little effort and time. The developments
in this field are not just products of people's
imagination or a one-time thought process; they
are also brought about by gradual improvements
to earlier works from different time periods. The
driving force behind this continuous progress is the
desire to raise the quality of life of the people.
->'
HIsToRIcAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COUNSTW
oF scrENCE AND TEcHNoLoGY q I
F
p
In the ancient tirnes, people were concerned with
transportation and navigation, cornmunication and record-
keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as
health, aesthetics, and architecture.
Transportation was significant during that time because
people were trying to go places and discover new horizons.
They travelled to search for food and find better locations for
their settlements. They also travelled to trade their surplus
goods in exchange for things that they lacked. Navigation
assisted them in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange
areas in the world. It allowedlhem to return home after they
discovered new places or comirleted an important trade with
another group of people.
Communication was also essential in their endeavors
to discover and occupy new places. They needed a wly to
communicate with the natives of the areas they visited so as to
facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts. Record-keeping
was also important since they needed to remember the places
they had been to and document the trades they made with
each other. It was also vital to keep records of their history and
culture so they could establish their identities as they tried to
relate with other cultures and civilizations.
The increase in size and number of nations connoted
increased demand for food and other basic necessities.
This condition also implied that people must be able to
produce food at a given time and space since resources were
getting scarcer as more people struggled to share the basic
necessities. The people thus .needed a form of technology
that would enable them to increase food supplies and other
survival needs without them travelling more or working
harder.

CoNCEPTS IN ScIENcE,TECHNOLOGY,AND SOCIETY
Weapons and armors were important as well in
the discovery of new places or the establishment of new
alliances with other tribes. At that time, there was always a
risk of conflict when people met others with different culture
and orientations. Conflicts were comrnon especially if different
groups struggled to control vital resources. Stronger nations
tended to invade weaker ones so they could take much needed
resources. As such, the development of weapons and armors for
security and protection was considered a major achievement.
A primary challenge they faced was the conservation of
life. The early people might have been successful in harnessing
the rich resources that the world could provide, but their
survival posed a gteat problem. Different illnesses and diseases,
both natural and man-made, hampered the full potential of a
human being. Given this predicament, science 4nd technology
played a major role in the discovery of cures to, if not the
prevention o{, illnesses.
Moreover, in order to integrate their needs-for better
transportation, establishment of structures for protection from
human attacks and natural disasters, and construction of bigger
and sffonger infrastructures-people ventured into what is now
known as the.field of engineering. The development in this
field allowed humans to build structures that would address
their specific needs and wants. Some of the structures built
during the ancient times still exist today and continually awe
people.
The development in engineering also ushered in the
introduction of architecture. Others might see architecture as a
mere style, but during the ancient times, elaborate architectural
designs were signs of technological advancement of a particular
civilization. In the generations to come, architecture would be
considered a status symbol among nations of how advanced
their technology is. It may also establish the identity of a nation.
HISToRICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE CoURSE
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The people were not contented on beautifying only their
ures and surroundings'l Being able to prolong
with the mass production of food and advancement of
I technologp as well as raise the quality of life by
king complicated and difficult tasks easier, humans later
developed the technology to improve how they look. They
that people looked more visually presentable and
ing by adding some features and decorations in their
With all these in mind, one can conclude that the
ments in science and technology, aside from affecting
lives of the people, were the results of many prior
ts. Out of necessity, people in ancient times were able
discover and invent things that would impact the lives of the
n people.
I The following discussions will tackle the different major
nological advancements during the ancient times, which
include some of the achievements of the early civiLizations such
the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It will continue
describe the gradual application of knowledge up to the
,:tontemporary time.
UMERIAN CIVILIZRTION
Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of ancient
amia. Sumerians are known for their high degree of
ion with one another and their desire for great things.
hey are not contented with the basic things that life can offer.
This desire pushed them to develop many things connected
with science and technology.
Cuneiform
of the major contributions of the Sumerians
One
is the development of the first writing system
known as cuneiform. It is a system that utilizes word
t' a
HISToRIcAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE CoURSE
6 GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
oF ScIENCE AND TEcHNoLoGY

Figure l.l Figure 1.2

Sumerian deities listed Ziggurat of Ur
in cuneiform,2400 BC (re co n stru cti o n)

they constructed the City of Uruk. Without much building

pictures and triangular symbols which ate carved on
clay using wedge instruments and then left to d.y.
Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep records of things
with great historical value or their everyday life.
tnaterials, the structure was constructed using sun-baked bricks.
'lhe ziggruat served as the sacred place of their chief god, where
only their priests were allowed to enter. The temple showcases
not only the elaborate and intricate Sumerian architecture but
rlso the remarkable technology used to build it. As such, even
I

until today, people still enjoy and marvel at the preserved Great
Uruk eity Ziggurat of Ur. itr

Another important contribution of the Sumerians is lrrigatlon anci Dikes

the City of Uruk. It is a great wonder not only because it
,'l
is considered to be the first true city in the world but also As population increased, so did the demand for food. The
for the way it was erected. There were no building stones Sumerians were challenged to mass produce food items but
it
in the location of this city and lumber was limited, making I'l
the construction a big challenge. The Sumerians were able 1.3 Sumerian fields ',1

to build the city using only mud or clay from the river, which
they mixed with reeds, producing sun-baked bricks-a true
engineering feat. They used the bricks to make houses that
protected them from the harsh weather and to build a wall
around the city that prevented wild animals and neighboring
raiders from entering.

The Great Ziggurat of ur

Another engineering and architectural feat of the

Sumerians is the Great Ziggurat of Ur. The ziggurat, also
called the mountain of god, was built in the same manner that

GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY,AND SOCIETY
ilt*'lri
the elements in the environment seemed uncooPerative. It
was difficult to get water from the rivers, thus they could not
maintain farmlands. Some grouPs had scarce water supply,
while others had problems with flooding caused by the river.
As a solution to this dilemma, the Sumerians created dikes
and irrigation canals to bring water to farmlands and at the
same time control the flooding of the rivers. This method was
considered as one of the worldb most beneficial engineering
works. Through the dikes and canals, the Sumerians were able
to enjoy year-long farming and harvesting, which increased
their food production.
Sailboats
Another challenge to the Sumerians was ,transportation.
At that time, the *he.l was not yet inverited; the main
mode of transportation was through waterways such as
rivers and seas. Boats were used to carry large quantities
of products and were able to cover large distances.
However, they wanted to discover faraway lands to settle
since the population was getting lzrger, and boats were
not enough to accommodate more peoPle and products.
Figure 1.4 Mesopotamian sailboat
iiiii!"
' .a 'i
HISToRIcAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE CoURSE
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
They needed a mode of transportation that did not require
much human resource. Some sources attribute to the Sumerians
the invention of sailboats to address their increasing demands.
Eeilboats were essential in transportation and trading as well as
ln fostering culture, information, and technology.
Wheel
In the latter part oftheir history,
the Sumerians were able to invent
the wheel since the specialized tools
needed to create it were aheady
available. The first wheels were
not made for transportation but for
farm work and food processes. With
the use of the wheel and axle, mass Figure 1.5
production was made easier. F'armers Mesopotamian wheel
were able to mill grains with less
effort in less time.
The Plow
Another farm technology invented by the Mesopotamians
is the plow. Humans evolved from being food gatherers to farm
cultivators. However, farmers needed a technology which would
enable them to dig the ground where seeds would be planted.
The plow was invented to dig the earth in a faster pace. As the
plow breaks the ground, the farmer would just drop the seeds
and farm work would already be done. With this tool, farmers
could cultivate larger parcels ofland faster, enabling them to
mass produce food without taking so much effort and time.
i
I
I
t
I
r1
r

a : ^
GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY, AND
SOCIETY
10
Roads
In order to facilitate faster and easier travel, the Sumerians
tleveloped the first roads. With this work, the flow of traffic
b"."-" faster and more orga'nized' They made the roads with
Figure 1.6 MesoPotamian Plow 1 hand, if it really existed, it must have been destroyed by
bricks
the same technology they used in making the sun-baked
that they laid down on the ground' They later poured bitumen'
a black sticky substan.. ,i*ilut to asphalt, to smoothen
the
roads. The invention of roads was very useful especially during
the rainy season when traveling in soft and muddy roads proved
to be too difficult.
BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphraies Rivers. The Babylonians were great . builders'
and architects. One of their major contributions is
".rjir.".r,
thJhanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of
the ancient world.
t t't
HrsroRrcAL ANTECEDENT' tN rHE couRSE 11
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Hanging Gardens of BabYlon
Today, people can only marvel at the beauty of the famous
Hanginj curd"r* of Babylon from stories of historians and
pairrt"i"it that portray the place' It was said to be a structure
Lrd" .ri of layers ,rpon laye" of gardens that contained several
species^of plants, trees, and vinis' According to
le-gends'.the
g'r"rt Bubyionian King Nebu chaLdnezzar II built the gardens
ior his wife, Qteen Amytis. However, no physical evide-nce
Gardens
has been found io pror. the existence of the Hangin-g
Since time
of Babylon. Its e;act location is also unknown'
immemorial, people have been debating about the existence
of the said mythical place. Many said it was just a product
of
the creative imaginaiion of the great King because -it lacked
documentation or archaeological evidence' On the
other
war'
erosion, or an earthquake. True or not, hearing the
stories
and description of thi place would be enough to-inspire
awe
to anyone. One can imagine the th-ick greenery decorated by
beautiful flowers .o-irr[ from different places in the garden
and complicated design of the infrastructure. If the
stories were
true, the Hanging Cu.d"," of Babylon may be considered as
one of the gr"u1.ri engineering and architectural achievements
of the worlJ that is almost impossible to replicate'
Figure 1.7 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
 --\\.
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A
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G.ENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
HISTORICALANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE'&' * -^
13
oF scrENcE o,ur rr.r*"J,-"o;;

EcYPT|AN CrvtHzRttott

Another early civilizrtion famous for its legtcy is the
Egyptian civilization located in North Africa. Many stories
tell about the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially
regarding the infrastructures established by the pharaohs. Aside
from engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed
other practical things that the world now considers as essential-
It is thus safe to say that the pyramids are not the only
contribution of the Egyptian civilization to the modern world.
When the Egyptians invented the papyrus or the paper,
Fgraving ceased to be used in writing. As a result, the
Dgyptians invented ink by combining soot with different
phcmicals to produce inks of different colors. The ink must
flthstand the elements of nature since it was used to record
lfthtory culture, and codified laws. It must also be tamper-proof
. fo
that people could not simply tinker with those written down
py authorities.
k

Paper or Papyrus fl{leroglyphics

' Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a system
One of the earlier contributions of Egyptian civilization
was the paper or papyrus. Although Egypt wa.s not the first of writing using symbols, known as hieroglyphics. Although
to develop a system of writing, they were able to make writing tome say that hieroglyphics was adapted from the early writing
easier for the world. Before the Egyptian innovation, clay system established in Mesopotamia as a result of trade between
tablets were used. However, safe-keeping and transporting civilizations, the Egyptians believed that this writing system
them were a major problem. Clay tablets were very fragile, was provided to them by their gods. This form of writing can
heavy, and delicate to handle. So, bringing them to places was still be seen today and remains to be as famous as the pyramids
amajor challenge. Hence, the Egyptian invention of the PaPer
or papyrus was a welcome development. Papyrus was a plant
that grew abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt. They
were able to process the plant in order to produce thin sheets
on which one could write down t'hings. Since papyrus was
lighter and thinner than clay tablets, it was easy to carry and
store. The sheets were also less breakable as compared to clay
tabtrets. This invention was a major accomplishment in Egyptian
record-keeping and communications. People then were able to
send letters or correspondences anywhere in the world since the i1.
pieces of paper were very light that they could be carried and iii:
;ii,}
delivered by birds. Moreover, record-keeping was no longer a H
l

problem since documents would not take huge storage sPaces. iirl'
15, i
J

Therefore, it was easier to keep them away from raiders who #,i I

often destroyed records ofthe nations they invaded. ?:

,l
:
.':,
Figure I.8 Ancient Egyptian papyrus
ri

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. 14 GENERAL CoNCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
H STOR CAL A\"::i::XJ}J:,i,.';.-:TJ a!

rS

where they were found. Hieroglyphics was the language that 'l'lrc Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics.
tells the modern world of the history and culture of the ancient Altlrorrgh cosmetics in the modern times are used to improve
Egyptians. Their records were well-preserved since they were 'rrrtl
lrighlight the facial features of a person, their function
carved at the walls of pyramids and other important Egyptian Irr urrcicnt Egypt was for both health and aesthetic reasons.
structures. l')6yptians wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and even cure
ryt' tliscases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or malachite with
rrrirrcral galena. Egyptians also believed that a person wearing
nurkc-up was protected from evil and that beauty was a sign
ol'lroliness. At present, the cosmetic industry is a booming
r rrrr ltibi llion industry.

wig

Figure 1.9 Egyptian hieroglyphics

Cosmetics

Figure l.l0 Egyptian Figure l.l I Egyptians wearing wig

woman putting kohl in
her eyes
Another cosmetic invention of ancient Egyptians is the wig.
At present, wigs are used to enhance the appearance of people
who are balding or those who want to try new hair trends.
Meanwhile, during the ancient trgyptian times, wigs were
worn for health and wellness rather than for aesthetic purposes.
1;
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't
a 16 GENERAL CONCEPTS lN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY,AND SOCIETY
1..
1., irll,
_,'
rif,

: The wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy
1l', Egyptians from the harmful rays of the sun. Wearing a wig was
better than putting on a scarfor any other head cover since a
wig allowed heat to escape. Moreover, it was considered cleaner
than natural hair because it prevented the accumulation of head
lice.

Water Clock/Clepsydra

Another imPortant ancient

Egyptian contribution is the
water clock. This device utilizes
gravity that affects the flow of
water from one vessel to the
other. The amount of water (or
its height, depending on the
method used) remaining in the
device determines how much time
has elapsed since it is full. In the
process, time is measured. The Figure l.12 Egyptian Water
water clock was widelY used as a Clock
timekeeping device during the
ancient times.

GREEK CIVILIZATION

Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe.

Known as the birthplace of western philosophy, some of the
major achievements of the Greeks include in-depth works on
philosophy and mathematics. More than coliseums and the
blympics, the Greek civilization has contributed much to the
world especially in the fields of science and technology.
F HtsroRtcAl ANTE.EDENT' rN rHE counsr :,,.

7
oF SctENcE AND TEcHNoLoGy
f
clock
[ ^,.., (----::-
] Orr" of the most utilized gadgets today / \
I thrt was invented by the ancient Greeks ( ,l

I h the alarm clock. Although the alarm Y

rfi*fi1+#qilfrl[*il]".,ffi
I
I
to
clocks used large complicated mechanisms
time the alarm. They made use of water (or
-f
O
, tometimes small stones or sand) that dropped II
lnto drums which sounded th"
"1rr*.
Pirt., &=I\
was believed to have utilized ,. ,t"r- .tJ.i I t I t\
l1"1i*JT;:1'T::i:fiH:,"#ffi1t
The upper vessel supplied rhe water which
Sy
f;-\
l
1;

il
dropped to the vessel below it, which *r;r;; ( i \
f"i;1i::;il"1'J'"?,ll',*H;:.::li:ii
third vessel which would cause the expulsion
b/ fi
of contained air, creating a whistling noise. Figure l.l3 An il
i"l
Afterwards, this vessel would empty towards illustration of il
the bottom vessel for storage and reuse. t,".:;:f.. lt!

Water Mill

Watermills were also considered as one of the most i{

important contributions of the Greek civilization to the world. ::t

They were commonly used in agricultural processes like milling

of grains which was a necessary form of food processing during
that time. Because milling was made possible by the use of
watermills, the mass production of rice, cereals, flours, and
the like became common. Watermills were considered better
than mills powered by farm animals because they required less
effort and time to operate since the farmer did not have to raise
a-\ .-;'
,' 18 GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
animals. They only required access to rivers or flowing water
where a mechanism of a large wheel with small "buckets" of
water attached to it could be installed.
RoMAN CrvrttzRrtoN
The Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest
political and social entity in the west. It was considered to
be the cradle of politics and governance during that period.
Because the Roman Empire was so large, other civilizations
looked up to it as their model in terms of legislation and
codified laws. Aside from their contributions in politics, a lot of
discoveries and inventions still relevant today can be attributed
to the Roman Empire.
Newspaper
Figure l.14 Roman Newspaper
---:Xi
Au,:iz:xJll:;.'"".*'
H'|sroR'|cAL
: trn'-
One of the major contributions of the Romans is the
newspaper. The first newspapers, known as gazettes, contained
Announcements of the Roman Empire to the people. Made
before the invention of paper, thes'e gazettes were engraved in
metal or stone tablets and then publicly displayed. When paper
was invented, it became easier for the Romans to "publish"
matters that needed the attention of the Roman citizens. In
fact, with the advent of paper, minutes of the proceedings of the
Roman senate were done in shorthand. These documents were
edited and published on the same day that they were recorded.
This way, the Romans enjoyed easy access to government
information the same way we benefit from present-day
newspaPers.
Bound Books or Codex
With the invention of paper, it became easier for
civilizations to write down everything that happened in their
time. Record-keeping was much easier since paper did not easily
break, was lightweight, and did not occupy much space. As a
result, civihzations became fond of record-keeping, especially
Figure l.l4 Bound books
' '"-t
{ 20
'''' GENERAL coNcEPTS lN sclENcE,TEcHNoLoGY,AND soclETY
,,i,,':t: ' :l'
'rrr: Aside frorr, fr.o*ans writing down information about history
and politics, literature also changed form from clay tablets
to parchments of paPer. According to sources, Julius Caesar
sta;ted the tradition ofstacking uP Papyrus to form pages ofa
book. Later on, they were able to provide covers to protect the
papyrus. The earlier covers were made of wax but were later on
replaced by animal skin which proved to be stronger and longer-
lasting. With the paPyrus Pages bound together and covered by
animal skin, the ancient Roman Empire was able to produce the
first books or codex.
Roman Architecture
Figure l.l5 Roman Forum in ltalY
Roman architecture is one of the most visual contributions
of the ancient Roman Empire to the world. Roman architecture
was considered a continuation of Greek architecture, hence, the
resemblance. However, Roman architecture was still regarded
as pioneering since the Romans were able to adapt new building
and engineering technology on architectural designs established
t
Jt' o'
H STOR CAL A\"::i?:}TJ}#i-'"";TJ
21
ln thc past. In this manner, they were able to preserve great
lhrl claborate architectural designs because they could produce
ItUrdicr and stronger infrastructures. The Romans were also
*ble to creatively redesign old architectural patterns to adapt to
thc new trends at that time. This development in the field of
€hgineering and architecture was fully supported and funded
by the Roman government so they were able to implement
mujor projects such as large churches (cathedrals and basilicas),
lqueducts, coliseums, amphitheaters, and even residential
houses. The quality of these majestic Roman structures can be
teen by the way they withstood time and the harsh elements
of the environment. Today, people of the world still enjoy
these marvels. These structures are proofs of ancient Roman
technology.
Roman Numerals
Figure l.l6 Clockwith Roman numerals
Although other number systems had aheady been
established before the Roman numeral, these old systems
could not keep up with high calculation requirements due
to the increasing rate of communication and trade among
nations. Since the Roman Empire was expanding, it had to
&.
.
HISIORICAT ANITCTDINIS IN IHI: COI]RSI 23
22 GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY oF sctENCE AND TECHNoLoGY

dealwith many nations to maintain its power. For this reason,

the Romans devised their own number system specifically to
address the need for a standard counting method that would
meet their increasing communication and trade concerns.
Although the Roman numeral is no longer widely used today
due to its inherent limitations, quite a number of enthusiasts
would still use it over other more popular number systems, like
the Hindu-Arabic system, due to its aesthetic and historical
value.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION
CC BY-SA 2 5 Available from
l,lroto credit: colegota. Khotan fabrica seda. Licensed under
jpg
https://commons.wiklmedia'org/wiki File:Khota n-fabrica-seda-d18
The Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest
Figure I'17 Silkweaving in China
civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as the middle
kingdom, china is located on the far east of Asiao It was famous
fea Product.ion
,-orrg other ancie nt civllizations because of its silk trade' Not
a gteat amount was written about ancient china p^rtly due to
Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or boiling ylttt
its"distance from the other civilizations. Despite its less popular that
ovcr crushed or shiedded dried tea leaves. It was believed
status among the early civilizations, one cannot discredit the
thc first tea was drunk by a Chinese emPeror' Tea production
significant contributions of chinese civilization to the world.
wa, derreloped when an unknown Chinese inventor created
Sill{

One of the things that connected Far East China to the

world is silk. Although silk is naturally produced by silk worms,
the Chinese were the ones who developed the technology to
harvest the silk and process it to produce PaPer and clothing'
silk production resulted in the creation ofa product for trade.
The sitt< trade opened China to the outside world, making way
for cultural, economic, and scientific exchanges' It bridged the
gap between the western world and the middle kingdom'

Figure l.l8 Chinese tea

t11l
/\
_..:,>
r24 .GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
a machine that was able to shred tea leaves into strips. This
machine was done using a wheel-based mechanism with sharp
edges attached to a wooden or ceramic pot. Because of this
invention, the Chinese were able to increase their production
of tea.and trade with other nations. china thus became known
for its tea exports aside from its silk products. Tea production
developed b/ the ancient Chinese may have resulted in making
tea as one of the most popular beverages in the world today'
Great Wall of China
once considered the only man-made structure that could be
seen from outer space, the Great wall of china is said to be the
largest and mostixtensive infrastructure that the nation built.
It ri", constructed to keep out foreign invaders and control the
borders of China. Made with ston]e, brick, *Jod, earth, and
other materials, it showcased the extent of Chinese engineering
Figure l.l9 The Great Wall of China in 1907
. .t !
H STOR CAL A\"1:i?:X'JJ\I::".J':Ti, ZS
at that time. The structure was so massive and
the
tfr?t it was said to have literally divided China from
nation among
oith" world. The wall's construction put the
ancient times' It Y::
fow.rfrrl civilizations during th9
ir1J" .f their land and their crowning glo[' TodaS.with
sections already in ruins, the Great Wall still continues
'e
and
be a world attraction due to its historical significance
itectural grandeur.
The gunpowder is one of the most interesting inventions
ln China] Oiiginally, it was developed by Chinese.alchemists
who ai*ed to' u.hi"r" immortaliiy' They mixed
charcoal'
elixir
lulfur, and potassium nitrate, but instead-ofcreating an
oifif" they accidentally invented a black powder thatinstant'
could
in an
,atrrutiy ge'nerate large amounts of heat and gas
Figure 1.20 Earliest known gunpowder formula
 .,.11':1,,.

ii:i:rqENERAL
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HISToRICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE .o,*''..I..III,. :-

u
26 CoNcEprs rN ScrENcE,TEcHNoLoGY,AND SoclETY oF scrENcE AND TEcHNoLocy z/
..

- . ...:,,,.:"'

Ironically, instead of prolonging life, gunpowder is widely used
ittf
to propel bullets from guns and cannons which cause countless
deaths. In fact, gunpowder-propelled weapons are preferred by
raiders who plan to attack at a distance. The same weaPons are
also used to dissipate any attempts of invasion. On the other
hand, gunpowder is also used in fireworks during important
celebrations in China.
MeorrvnUMroolE AcES
The start of the middle ages was marred by massive
invasions and migrations. Wars were prevalent during this time.
As such, great technology was needed in the fields of weaPonry'
navigation, mass food and farm production, and health. The
the Chinese developed woodblock printing, Johann
was able to invent the printing press, a more reliable
Of printing using a cast type. He utilized wooden machines
Gxtracted juices from fruits, attached to them a metal
of the letters, and pressed firmly the cast metal into
of paper, which then made an exact impression on paper.
This general invention soon evolved to be the mechanical
press which was eventually used all over the world.
printing press was invented to address the need for
iohing books that would spread information to many people
faster rate. This invention also made works accessible to
s who could not even write (Streissguth,7997).
ii
SCOPE iJ

*ur. hr.r" resulted in population decline, but dLring the latter

part of the period, there was a significant rise in population. Another invention in the iil
Trade and commerce among nations increased, which resulted le Ages is the microscope.
in greater demands for transportation technology. Some of the ing populations caused massive
most innovative minds came from this period. ion and urbanization during
period. More and more people
rred to polluted and populated il
ia
PRINTING PRESS
areas which resulted in more iI
getting sick and needing s
ical attention.To develop the
medicines for illnesses,
must understand the sickness
h an investigation. Thus, ;#

needed a device that could lr

,;]
agnify things invisible to the i;
. Guided by the principles used
the invention of eyeglasses in
barlier years, ZachariasJanssen was
able to develop the first compound
ffiicroscope. With this device, people
were able to observe organisms that
Figure 1.22 Reproduction I
of an early microscope
Figure l.2l The Gutenberg Press

tr
 sa€rrueneI CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY,AND
2B SOCIETY
-.- a," q3
,.
were normally unseen by the naked eye. The microscope was
key in discovering new means in preventing and curing various
illnesses (Davidson, 2015).
TELESCOPE
Figure 1.23 Sketch of Galileo's refractor
Since the Middle Ages was also known as the Age of
Exploration, the need for nautical inventions was high.
Considering the vast and empty oceans that separated lands,
ship captains needed to see far and wide for them to navigate
or to avoid dangers at sea. The invention of the telescoPe, an
optical instrument that helps in the observation of remote
objects, was a great help for navigators during this time.
Together with the telescope, the invention of the compass, oars,
and rudders made sea travelling easier and safer (Helden, 7989).
WAR WEAPONS
Since wars were widespread during theMiddle Ages, great
development in the weaponry technology also occurred. A1l
sides must develop weaponries not only as offensive tools but
time, it would be impossible to trade them.
HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COUNST'ffS
; u
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 29 N
defensive instruments. For open-area battles, people
cross bows and long bows so that they could attack
ies at long ranges, keeping themselves safe with
lotectio, of *alls utd fottt"t."t.'Additionally, in close-
frand-to-hand combat, soldiers should wear something
themselves, a need addressed by the creation of iron
ors. Flowever, body armors were heavy and limited
. The problem was eventually solved by the
of the chainmail.
ERN TIMES
booming world population during the nineteenth
onwards demanded that more goods be produced at a iil
rate. People needed efficient means of transportation to
;fitore goods and cover alarger distance. Machines that ifl
l'gd animals to operate must thus be upgraded. Faster and
;means to communicate and compute should be developed
ish qonnections between and among nations. All these
resulted in the development of industries. However, due
ive industrializatiot, the modern times again faced more
icated problems. Food processing and medicine posed til
of the bigger challenges since health was of great concern.
EURIZATION il
,#
llh
. As people were able to develop better means of production :ll
meet the needs of the population, food preservation and food lr!
became an issue. The challenge to keep manufactured
from deteriorating was greater for dairy products,
ially milk, since they usually spoiled faster. These goods i
to be consumed almost immediately after production
they would cause illness like diphtheria, food poisoning, and
id fever. Since transporting these products would also take l
I
lf
( ,,_l q
:5,
/Eo ,al::llil
,,.',...G
EN ERAL CoNCEPTS I N ScI ENCE, TECH NoLoGY, AN D SOCI ETY
HISToRICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE CoURSE
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
..,','..

31
;lllil:,

more people got connected by trade and exploration,

more they needed a way to, easil)r maintain these
ions and communicate with each other in real time.
likewise needed some kind of communication
which would allow them to administer their states
Important day-to-day decisions must be discussed and
at the fastest time possible. Thus, the development of
Figure 1.24 Pasteurization process ne by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the most
inventions at that time.
Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist, and
chemist, found L wly to solve the problem. He invented
pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill
the harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil faster. Through
this process, milk could be stored and consuared for a longer
period. It also prevented illnesses caused by harmful bacteria
(Macalester College, 2010). Other contributions of Pasteur
to science, technology, and medicine included his works on
molecular asymmetry, fermentation, and vaccination.

PETRoLEUM REFINERY

The modern times demanded better means of powering

homes and transportation. At first, people used animal oils
for generating light to illuminate their homes. However, the
production of animal oils could not keep up with the demand.
Faced with this concern, Samuel M. Kier was able to invent Figure 1.25 Recreation of Alexander Graham Bell's
kerosene by refining petroleum. Kerosene was later on referred invention of the telephone
to as the "illuminating oil" because it was used at first to
provide lighting to homes. After some time, it was applied for ALCULATOR
heating purposes. The development of kerosene established
the petroleum refinery industry (Skrabec, 2010). At present, Although an earlier version of the calculator had already
petroleum is widely used in powering automobiles, factories, been developed, circumstances in the modern times required
and power plants, among others. a faster wzy to compute more complicated equations.
Computing devices must also be easy to caffy since they would
 ,*n 'd'
1 __-) .l
"- HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE
,2 ,.,lr..il 33
/ 32,,,''' n:.:*o. coNCEPrs tN ScIENcE,TECHNoLoGY,AND soclErY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

':{:' be utilized on a day-to-day basis. The creation of moderrr NDER AMPHIBIOUS TRICYCLE
ilt calculators did not orrly parre the way for easier arithmetit'
has become ordinary for Filipinos to convert transport
calculations, but also resulted in the development of morc
complex processing machines like the comPuter.
i, irr,o something more "tif"l' An-exampl".it.,tl"
of American military jeepi used in World War
ieepneys. Another Filipino innovation is
the addition
l.rt ,o a motorcycle, tiansforming it into a tricycle to
more Passengers.

lr
,irl

ril
Figure 1.26 Mechanical calculators

PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS il
Figure 1.27 Amphibious Salamander
Despite being considered a developing country, the iil
(a
Philippines also contributes to the global advancement of {,I

scienie and technology. It is quite remarkable to note the ffi

ingenuity of the Filipinos despite the lack in resources. The
Philippines is known to be one of the most vulnerable countries ffi
in terms of natural disasters. Many of the discoveries and It
inventions made by the Filipinos were therefore built from
indigenous materials or created to adapt to the harsh tropical :11

environment. l:

ir

l
l..i
{.: }
,/ i ...ii:i:

t r:.,..,""'O.:::- coNcEprs rN scrENcE,TEcHNolocy,AND socrEry HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE

OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
35

,
I'lrll,
SALT Leyp ICAL INCUBATOR

A common problem in the Philippines is the high mortality

1
Figure 1.28 SALI lamp
One of the major needs in the Philippines, as a developing
nation, is electrification. Electricity powers various tlpes
of machines, including light ro.rr..r. In many ,rrrl ur.u, i,
the country, activities would cease when it g;ts dark. It also
becomes more dangerous to travel. Filipinos have resorted
to using candles and kerosene lamps but they carry certain
risks as they are fire hzzards. solar power is also a wercome
development but like rechargeable'batteries, sorar panels are too
expensive for ordinary Filipinos. Fortunately, a yorr.rg Filipina
inventor named Aisa Mijeno was able to invent , tigtii"g
system that utilizes a material abundant in the philippines-
saltwater. she invented the sustainable Alternative Lightirg
(sALt) lamp, an environment-friendly right source thJt runs
on saltwater. The sALt lamp is safer as it poses no risk of fire
of newborn babies. One reason for this problem in the 20'h
ry was the lack of available incubators especially in far-
rural areas due to lack of resources and electricity. Dr. Fe
Mundo, a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman
into Harvard Medical School, devised a medical
made from indigenous and cheap materials which did
run on electricity. Dr. del Mundo's incubator was made by
a native laundry basket inside a bigger one. Hot water
. *"r" inserted between the baskets to provide warmth
a makeshift hood to allow oxygen circulation. Its main
ose was to maintain conditions suitable for a newborn, ir
.11y a pre-term baby. Other breakthroughs in Philippine iirl
icine attributed to Dr. del Mundo include her works on the
nization and treatment ofjaundice and the BRAT diet for ril
ng diarrhea.
ITO OVICIDAL/LARVICIDAL TRNP SYSTTM
t
$
ffi
ri5
ffi
,$
.U
'Llt
it
l

and emits no toxic gases. Aside from people who live in coastal
areas, it may also benefit those from far-flung barrios because
they can make their own saltwater by mixing two tablespoons
of salt and a glass of tap water. il
Figure 1.29 DOST-|TDI OL TraP

ls

36 lc"',G EN ERAL coNcEprs N sct ENCE, TECH NoLocY, AND socl
I ETY
''ti$
'., :,,''
Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral illness, is endemic in
tropical and subtropical areas, including the Philippines. This
virus is usually transmitted by Aeda aegypti mosquito, rampant
during the rainy season. Insecticides were previously used to
kill the species. However, recent studies show that insecticide
resistance has evolved in some mosquito populations. Likewise,
using insecticides is harmful not only to humans but also to
the environment. In 20L0, the Department of Science and
Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute
(DOST-ITDI) was able to introduce the Mosquito Ovicidal/
Larvicidal Trap System, also known as OL Tiap. This
trap system is made of natural ingredients that are lethal to
mosquitos but safe for humans and the environment.
HISToRICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE CoURSE
oF ScIENcE AND TECHNoloGY 37,
exhaust system. To counter these disadvantages, the
jeepney (eJeepney) was developed. This modern type of
ion utilizes electricity instead of the more expensive
It is environment-friendly since it does not emit any
and noise.
items discussed in this chapter are only some of the
inventions and developments during the different time
There are still more innovations and discoveries that
ftade in the course of history that changed the world. Can
other great discoveries?

EJEEPNEY QuesrroNs FoR Rerlecrroru

,

A major innovation that changed the transportation Give three other major scientific and technological
industry in the Philippines was the development of the jeepney. developments in the world (or in the Philippines) that
This iconic public utility vehicle was built using the military created alarge impact on your daily life.
jeeps left by the Americans after World War II. The chassis and
; What historical antecedents gave rise to the inventions you
the body of the military jeePs were extended to accommodate
mentioned in the first question?
more load and passengers. Because of its usefulness, the jeepney
dominated Philippine streets and is considered as the primary How did the developments in science and technology shape
mode of transportation of most Filipinos. However, the diesel- human history?
powered jeepney produces large quantities of black smoke,
and is usually a major contributor of noise pollution due to its

Figure 1.30 eJeepney t

 \
tiiii
."''"GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
3B
,. :,
,::.]!f
ACTIVITY
STANDING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE GIANTS
Divide the class into four groups. The three groups will
be assigned to each of the three time periods (ancient, middle,
modern), and the last group to Philippine inventions. Each
member of the group should search for one great achievement
during their assigned time period aside from those discussed in
the chapter. Afterwards, accomplish the following:
1. Draw or print a picture of your chosen achievement.
As a group, collect and paste these inventions on a 1/4
illustration board. Design the board'with a theme
appropriate to the assigned time period.
2. Explain in your own words how each invention
works. Also identify their use and purpose. Paste the
information at the back of the illustration board.
3. Present your project in class. Conclude your report by
discussing how these inventions impacted the people and
the society during the time period when they were made.
u
CHAPTER 2
lntellectual
Revolutions '
LennNING OUTcoMES
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
1. discuss the paradigm shifts through history;
2. explain how the Intellectual Revolution
changed the way how humans see the world;
and
3. describe the technological advancements that
happened in the information age.
The previous chapter tackled how historical
antecedents have affected the course ofscience and
technology. It has been established that most, if not
all, of the discoveries and inventions in science and
technology during each time period were due to
human needs and wants. Brilliant minds responded
to the call of the times and created things that could
make life easier for the people.
There have also been instances when
advancements in science and technology changed
people's perceptions and beliefs. Much of these
events happened in a period now known as the
)
Intellectual Revolution.
b
(-.-t ___.-x
'l
q
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GENERAL coNcEprs lN ScrENcE,TEcHNoLoGy,AND SocrETy INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIOITIS 4'1. ,

i,.
,:;, The developments during the Intellectual Revolution
lr.tr showed how society was transformed by science and technology.
This chapter aims to establish the interaction between science
and technology and society, cementing further the relationship
as introduced in the first chapter.

CoprRNrcAN RevoluroN
In the early times, people questioned what created days and
nights. They wanted to understand what heavenly bodies like
stars, moons, and planets are. The invention of the telescope
allowed the people to take a peek at the outer space, but more
importantly, it also intrigued them to know what was actually ,i
:l
out there.
iil
Many Greek philosophers and intellectrials wrote about
planets in an attempt to explain the movements of heavenly
bodies and their effects on the world as they knew it. Many Figure l.3l The Geocentric Model
f
of these philosophers agreed that planets moved around in
circular motion, and that these movements created days and the 16'h century, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish fi
nights, among others. A famous philosopher and astronomer, tician and astronomer, challenged the Ptolemaic
Claudius Ptolemy, stated that the planets, as well as the sun and . He introduced a new concept known as
that the center oI the Solar
heliocentrism,
was not
t
riil
the moon, moved in a circular motion around the Earth. The ,r$uggested System
sun and moon's revolution explained the existence of days and h but actually the sun. This idea was rejected at first ffi
nights. He believed that the Earth.was at the center-a concept public. It appalled many since their religious belief had
known as geocentrism. Ptolemyt geocentric model was widely them that the Earth was created first before all other
accepted by the people and was one ofthe greatest discoveries of Copernicus was even persecuted as a heretic because his #
ngs were against what was widely accepted by religion. fl,
that time. &
seme time, astronomers realized that the Copernican Ir
simplified the orbits for planets. It also answered issues l1:

ruld not be explained using the geocentric model. Other

that supported this model started to emerge as well. It
ntually accepted by the people in a period which was
the birth of modern astronomy. This era began what
I

n as the scientific revolution which resulted in the

ion of society's thoughts and beliefs.
 iii{i
4:2 ]!'"'.GEwER.AL coNcEPTS tN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY tNrELLEcruAL REVoLUIoNs 43
i
t,,,,'
.,'
'*r
,{lr,
but the religious and the faithful strongly refuted it. It
{i a massive debate between science and religion.
only after some time that people came to understand
in's theory of evolution u/as not in fact against the
ofthe church and both can coexist.

irl

Figure 1.32 The Heliocentric Modi

,t
DARWINIAN REVOLUTION
The Darwinian revolution was considered to be one of
t
the most controversial intellectual revolutions of its time. In
1859, Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, biologist, and
$
Figure 1.33 Evolution
Evolur of man rif,
geologist, published his book, On the Origin of Species.In this tm
book, Darwin introduced the theory of evolution, which
posited that populations pass through a process of natural DIAN RCVOIUTION
selection in which only the fittest would survive' He stated that tffi

organisms have the ability to adapt to their environment and In the past, the field of psychology was always classified hl
l,1l
flt
would gradually change into something that would be more philosophy. Psychology was considered more of an art l,ll

competitive to survive, a Process known as evolution. However, er than a science. In the late 19,h century, Sigmund Freud i,rl

this theory became very controversial as people perceived it to able to change people's perception of psycho'iogy with his 1,,

be contradictory to the church's teachings that the source of life
is a powerful creator. The theory emerged at a time when most
of the population believed and accepted the biblical version of
the Earth's creation. Because of this conflict, the people were
divided-some believed that the theory explained the origin
ionary theory of psychoanalysis.
Psychoanalysis is the study that explains human behavior.
his theory, Freud explained that there are many conscious
unconscious factors that can influence behavior and
He also argued that personality is a product of three
 T

GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY,AND SOCIETY INTELLEcTUAL REVoLUTtoNs'"' 45

",ii'il::;

conflicting elements: id, ego,

and superego. Science hardliners
brushed off the legitimacy of QuesrroNs FoR RerrecloN
psychoanalysis as a science
since its concepts were more Why do you think were most intellectual ideas
philosophical and supernatural. controversial?
Many believed that Freud's
theory had no scientific basis as Why did the people accept these new discoveries despite
no empirical or experimental data being contradictory to what was widely accepted at that
could support it. time?

Despite criticisms, Freud still 3. How do intellectual revolutions transform societies?

continued to work on refining 4, Can you name other scientific revolutions that happened in
his theory and in fact tried to ' the following places?
Figure 1.34 Sigmund Freud
explain how psychoanalysis
a. Meso-America
can be a clinical method in treating some mental disorders.
Soon enough, people were able to understrtld th. concePts b. Asia
of psychoanalysis, which eventually resulted in classifying c. Middle East
psychology as a science
These three revolutionizing theories are just some of the d. Africa
many scientific ideas that transformed and molded societies
and teliefs. The changes they brought to the perspectives and
perceptions of the scientific community and the public are
evidence of science and technology's link to humanity. Through
,#, Acrrvlry
scientific research and experimentations, people will continue to
deepen their understanding of the world and the universe.
x
Divide the class into two groups. One group will research
on the positive results brought about by innovations and
technological advances in the information age while the other
should focus on the negative. Report your findings in class.
Afterwards, reflect on th. present;tiorrs and .o*. ip with ten
rules or guidelines in using the different media of information
to ensure that humanity will reap the rewards of information
age.

CHAPTER 3 OLONIAL PERIOD
SciencerTechnology,
and Nation-building
LennruING OUTCOMES
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
1. explain how early Filipinos applied scientific
principles in their daily living;
2. present government policies on science and
technology and explain their importance to
the nation; and
3. discuss the role of science and technology in
nation-building.
The development of science and technology in
the Philippines has already come a long way. Many
significant inventions and discoveries have been
accomplished by or attributed to Filipinos. This
chapter tackles how the development of science and
technology affect the development of the Philippines
as a nation.
q
'illlll!
ScI ENcE, TECH NoLoGY, AND NATIoN-BUI LDING'iI]], 47
cntific and technological development in the Philippines
ln the pre-colonial period. Even before the Spaniards
to the Philippine islands, early Filipino settlers were
using certain plants and herbs as medicines. Systems
ng and animal-raising were also implemented.
', early Filipinos had also developed different modes of
ion, whether terrestrial or maritime.
complicated engineering feat was achieved by the natives
r Cordilleras when they built rice terraces by hand.
these terraces, the people were able to cultivate crops
mountainsides in cold temperatures. They incorporated
tion system that uses water from the forests and
tops to achieve an elaborate farming system. The.rice
irl
of the Cordilleras, which are still functional, show the
tive and ingenious way of the natives to survive in an il
unfriendly environment.
fl
,:1,
LONIAL PENIOO $'
il
ifi
Colonization by the Spaniards provided the Philippines 13,
t modern means of construction. Walls, roads, bridges,
other large infrastructures were built using some of #
engineering skills and tools brought by the Spaniards. ;;#
&i
addition, the Spanish government developed health and il'fi
1ll.
ion systems that were enjoyed by the principalia class.
ill
The American occupation modernized almost all aspects iil
life in the Philippines. They established a government
; the Bureau of Science, for the sole purpose of nurturing
in the field of science and technology.
 u
ScIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY SCIENcE, TEcHNoLoGY, AND NATIoN-BUIL,,*".dU 49 l

PrRroo
QuesrroNs FoR REFLECTToN
After achieving independence from the colonizers, the
Philippines, under different administrations, continued to
p,rt.,r" programs in science and technology- Each leadership the development of ..i.rr." and technology from
had its own science and technology agenda. However, it is pre-cdlonial times up to the present. What have you
important to note than some Philippine presidents posted more
developments in the field than others. do you think are the major contributions of science
One of the presidents who ushered in advancements in technology to Philippine nation-building?
science and technology was former president and dictator specific government policy do you like the most in
Ferdinand Marcos. Under his term, many agencies in science
and technology were established and strengthened, including ficrms of contributing to the development of science and
nology in the Philippines?
the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) in place of the abolished ..ffi 6t'.iiff d&.ft ffi {lm!,tr',tt."
iil
Weather Bureau; the National Academy of Science and rmrgu|flr**ffi#.ffi
Technology (NAST); and the reconstituted National Science ffi;;.r.. ;" r;;H#hrySJ,t'-ent to imprement in
and Technology Authoriry (originally established in 1958
,td
the near future?
as the National Science and Dev,eloPment Board and now
the Department of Science and Technology), among others' fr
Marcos saw that the key to nation-building is the continued ",..1

development of science and technology. The progress in science

';,t.",
',;^,, H'
and technology continued even after his dictatorial rule and the i.r rs
presidents after him left their own legacies in the field. #l

ffi
ffil
lril

llt
11,

f
,ritr.
ffi qelreul coNcEprs I N sctENcE, TEcHNoLocY, AND socl ETY

,fl, AcrvtrY
X
Divide the class into six grouPs. Each grouP will
be assigned to a president after Marcos. Identify some
achievements in the field of science and technology under the
assigned administration and trace how they helped shape the
Philippines as a nation. Show your findings to class through a
5- to 10-minute creative video presentation.

pfftuppfi{E
$ctlo0t 0t [{IER|0R DEStoil . Afi [Et{ firsTlrl,lTq mu.
LIBRARY
 UNIT 2
Science, Technology, Society,
and the Human Condition
:

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--_57
HUMAN FLouRtsHtNG tN sctENcE AND TEcHNoLoGy 53
',,
CHAPTER 4 be able to appreciate the fruits 9f science and technology,
lllust be examined not only for their function and
Human Flourishing lity but also for their greater impact on humanity
The various gadgets, rfachines, appliances, and
in Science and Technology are all tools that make human lives easier because
as a means to an end. Their utility lies on providing
with a certain good, convenience, or knowledge.
ile, medical research employs the best scientific and
ical principles to come up with cures for diseases and
LeenNING OUTCOMES to prevent illnesses to ensure a good quality of life.
i1

At the end of this chapter, the students should NOLOGY AS A MODE OF REVEALING
be able to:

1. discuss what technology reveals; In his seminal work, The Question of Technology, Martin
urges us to question technology and see beyond
2. examine modern technology and its role in
's common understanding of it.
human flourishing; and
According to ancient doctrine, the essence of a thing is
3. explain the role of art in a technological considered to be ttshat the thing is. We ask the question concerning
world. technology ttsben s,te ask zabat it is. Eoeryone knous the two
nts that anss)er our question. One says: Technology is a
theans to an end. The other says: Tbchnology is a burnan actioity.
The progress of human civilizations throughout
.The tzoo definitions of technology belong together. For to poiit
history mirrors the development of science and
', bnds and procure and utilize the means to thern is a
technology. The human person, as both the bearer human
.actioity. The manufacture and utilization of equipment, tools,
and beneficiary of science and technology, flourishes
and machineq the manufactured and used things tbemse/r.rcs, and
and finds meaning in the world that helshe builds.
,,,the needs and ends tltat they sertte, all belong to v.shat technology
In the person's pursuit of the good life, he/she may
unconsciously acquire, consume, or destroy what the i ir. The usbole complex of these contrivinces is technoto{y.
Tbchnology itself is a contrirsance-in Latin, an instntmentum.
world has to offer. It is thus necessary to reflect on
Tlte current conception of technology, according to uthich it
the things that truly matter. Science and technology
is a rneans and a human activity, can therefore be called the
must be taken as part of human life that merits
instrunlental and antltropological definition of technology
reflective and-as the German philosopher Martin
(Heidegger, 1997, p. 5).
Heidegger says-meditative thinking. Science and
technology, despite its methodical and technical
nature, gives meaning to the life of a person making
his/her way in the world.
:!ii u
l*qrqeruce, TEcHNoLoGY, soctETY, AND THE HUMAN coNDlrloN HuMAN FLouRtsHtNG tN scrENcE AND TEcHNoLocy '
s5 I

This definition is correct but not necessarily true. The NOLOGY AS POEISIS:
'true" entails so much more meaning and significance.
LE TO MODERN TTCHNOLOGY?
Heidegger, however, asserted that the true can be pursued
through the correct. In other words, the experience and
the idea that technology is poeisis apply to modern
understanding of what is correct lead us to what is true.
? Heidegger characterizes modern technology as
Heidegger urged people to envision technology as a mode of
ing forth since it is very aggressive in its activity.
revealing as it shows so much more about the human person
technology may also be a mode of revealing but not
and the world. Technology is a way of bringing forth, a making
rmonious bringing forth that is described in his thesis
something. By considering technology as a mode of revealing,
as poeisis. Modern technology challenges nature
then truth is brought forth. For instance, the truth that the
ds of it resources that are, most of the time, forcibly
Earth is weeping could be revealed by the information and
for human consumption and storage. It brings about
data taken by modern devices. Whatever truth is uncovered, it
upon" of the land. Mining is an example of modern
willbe something more meaningful and significant than the
that challenges forth and brings about the setting
superficial or practical use oftechnology.
1and. It extracts minerals from the earth and forcefully
Heidegger also put forward the ancient Greek concePts the land as a means to fulfill the never-ending demands
of aletheia, poiesis, and techne. Aletlteia means unhiddenness or
disclosure. Poeisis is defined as bringing forth. For Aristotle,
modern technology, revealing never comes to an end.
it means making or producing something fot a purpose. It is ievealing always happens on our own terms as everything
sometimes used to refer to poetry and composition. Finally,
demand. Information at our fingertips, food harvested
techne (the root word for technology) means skill, art, or craft.
out of season, gravity defied to fly off to space-such
It is a means of bringing forth something. Thus, in Heidegger's
i capacity of the human person. We no longer need to
work, technology is a poeisis that discloses or reveals the truth.
with the rhythms of nature because we have learned to
On the other hand, to think of technology as Poetry takes a it. We order nature, and extract, process, make ready
different mindset, a more reflective and sensitive way of looking nsumption, and store what we have forced it to reveal.
at the world. This perspective is not easy to take especially in described modern technology as the age of switches,
this era when instant knowledge is demanded and split-second ing reserve, and stockpiling for its own sake. This
updates are the norm, and when the pursuit of fame and fortune rration is manifest in the mechanization and digitization of
is unceasingly bannered on social media. There is so much noise aspects of our life-from agriculture to communications
in the world that it would take a disciplined stepping back to see transportation, among many others.
what Heidegger meant and to appreciate how technology could
Wltat kind oif unconcealrnent is it, then, tbat is peculiar
actually be poetry that brings forth truth.
to tltat which results frorn this setting upon that challenges?
Eoeryzuhere everytbing is ordered to stand by, to be imrnediately
on hand, indeed to stand there just so that it may be on callfor a
furtber ordering. Whateaer is ordered about in this zaay has its
own standing. We call it the standing-reserue (Heidegger,7977,
p.s).

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=-\ -tt..-
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v i

ENCE,TECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY, AND THE HUMAN CONDITION HUMAN FLouRrsHtNG tN SctENcE AND TEcHNor-ocv *
$] r

QuesrroNrNc AS THE PIETY oF THoucHT ie put in a box or in a frame.so that it can be better !l
and controlled according to people's desires. Poeisis
In this stepping back and taking stock of things, we begin in enframing as nature is viewed as an orderable
to wonder and question. One may admire the intricacy of system of information. '
mechanisms and the sophistication of mobile applications. ing at the world, Heidegger distinguished between
Another may marvel at the people and circumstances that ,tlve thinking and meditative thinking. In calculative
allowed for such technology. There is so much wealth of as mentioned earlier, one orders and puts a system
insights that can be gathered when people stop, think, so it can be understood better and controlled. In
and question. "Qtestioning is the piety of thought," stated thinking, one lets nature reveal itself to him/her
Heidegger h The Ques tion Concerning Te chno logy. forcing it. One kind of thinking is not in itself better
Normally, piety is associated with being religious. For other. The human person has the faculty for both and
Heidegger, however, piety means obedience and submission. ,do well to use them in synergy. However, people also
In addressing what technology has brought forth, one cannot and are afraid of unpredictability, so calculative
is more often used. Enframing is done because people li'l
help but be submissive to what his/her thoughts and reflections I
.t
,gqcurity, even if the ordering that happens in enframing is
Iil
elicit. Sometimes, thinking brings forth insights that the mind
has not yet fully understood or developed. There are times It and even if the Earth is made as a big gasoline station
when one's thinking brings forth eureka moments. Whatever which we extract, stockpile, and put in standing-reserve, il
understanding is found becomes significant because it is evoked to be used as we see fit.
iifl
by questioning who or what we essentially are in the world.
iil
For example, it is a known truth that we, human beings u#
and everything around us, are made of the same substances I,4AN PERSON SWRLLOWEO
,fr
that constitute the stars. Therefore, we actually are stardust. .ECHNOLOGY
ffi
Do we just take this matter-of:factly or do we wonder at its ;1r
significance? It is when we start questioning that we submit ugh it is true that the individual takes part in the
ourselves to our thoughts. This kihd of questioning leads one to ,u
ling of nature, limits must still be recognized. Humans D
search for his/her place in the universe and in the grand scale of ,u
really call the shots on this Earth. If we allow ourselves Il
things. It is through this process that one builds awly towards
rrl

swallowed by modern technology, we lose the essence of ;1il

knowing the truth ofwho he/she is as a being in this world.
ENTnnmING:WAY OF REVEALI NG
IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY
The wly of revealing in modern technology is
enframing. This enframing that challenges forth and sets uPon
nature is a way of looking at reality.In simpler terms, it is as
!,1.
rre are as beings in this world. If we are constantly pl"ggud
tl
and no longer have the capacity for authentic personal l:
nters, then we are truly swallowed by technology. If we
let go ofthe conveniences and profits brought about by
and industries that pollute the environment and cause
mate change, then technology has consumed our humanity.
an Nevertheless, as expressed by the poet Holderli4, "But
danger is, grows the saving power also." The saving
 q
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s8 ,,luuiq,grr ru ce, TEcH NoLo Gy, soc ]ETy, AND THE Hu MAN coNDrrloN HUMAN FLou,RtsHtNG rN scIENcE AND TEcHNoaoo, '

power lies in the essence of technology as technology. Essence is proposes art as a way out of this er,lframing.
*L,
the way in which things are, as that which endures. Heidegger we are better able to see the poetic in nature in
further asserted that the "essence of technology is nothing leads us a\May from calculative thinking and towards
'It thinking.
technological" (7977\. The essence of technolqgr is not found in Through medititive thinking, we witrl
the instrumentality and function of rnachines constructed, but that nature is art par excellence" Hence, nature is the
in the significance such technology unfolds.
He also expressed that the various probtrems brought Tkere was a tirne zlhen it was not technology alone
about by hurnan's dependence on technology cannot he simply bare the name techme. Once tbe reaealing that brings
resolved by refusing technology altogether. He stated: truth into tbe splendor of radiant appearance vsas
eolledtechne.
Thus use shall neoer experience our relationsbip to the essence

of tecbnology so long as we merely represent and pursu:e the

*, Qnee there ans a time ashen the bringing-fonb af the
tecbnolagical, put up aitb it, or eoade it. Eoerywbere we rernain lrc into tlte beautiful usas called techne. Tbe poiesis of
unfree and altained to tecbnology, uthetber zue paxianatellt affirm efi.ne arts usas also called techme. l;
or deny it. But we are deliaered over to it in tbe warst p.assible 1'l
rii
any wlten tne regard it a,s sornethilng neutral;fir this eance?tion At the outset of the destining of the West, in Greece, tbe
l:i
of it, n whicb today rue pmticwlarly like ta pay ltornaga rnakes us soared to the supreme beigbt of tbe rewealing granted
utterly blind to the essence of tecltnology (1977, p. tr). . Tb.ey illuntinated the presence [Gegenu:artJ of tbe iI
and the dialogue af divine and lturnan destinings. irh
ert s)as called sirn!$ techne. It uas a single, :[,1
i:|.
Anr AS AWny OUr OF ENFRA'.tING fald reaealing It was pious, promos, i.e., yielding ta rlf
halding su:ry and the safekeeping of nutb.
i$
Enframingr as the mode of revealing in nroder,n technotrqXl rfi
The arts were not deriaedfrom tbe artistic. Artwork:s
tends, to hlockToersrs" The poetry thaf is fclund in nature can
were not enjoyed aesthetical$l Art was not a sector of tlr
no tro,nger be easily appreciated when nature is enfrarned. If,the
#
Earth has jtrst becorne a gas station for us, then we trave becorne rn:

enfrarned as wetrl. In modern technologp the way of rev.eaXing '.

What was art-?erhaps only far that bri.ef but
D
r1l
[,,i
is no lo*ger poetic; jt is cl,rallerrgrng" When instrusrents are megnifiaent age? Wby did art bear tbc rnades,t name i1t

observed linearly, its poetry c&n no longer be fotrnd. For techrle P Bsrause: it,tuas a reaealing tbat bmugbt
fortFt and .ll
examptre, the waterrnill is a prinritiv,e structure cornp{ued to the 'inade presmt, and tlterefare betoiged atitbin poiesis. .Ir
hydropower ptrant; or the first iPhone model is just an obsotete wasfinally' tbat revealing wbicb bolds camp,tete swalt in
piece of rtachine. People no tronger realize how the watermill is all tbefine arts, in faetryt, and in everytbingpoetical tbat
more in tune with the rhythrns of nature'or how much genius '
a&tained poiesis as its proper name ff,1@x,7W,p.73\
went into the building ofthe first iPhor*e.

fl
 HUMAN FLoURISHING IN ScIENcE AND TEcHNoLoGY
1

enframing happens, it cannot completely snuff

ic character of technology. We ponder technology
its instrumental use. Technology is normally thought of as it. In so doing, we also become aware of the crisis
that which solves problems, but Heidegger asserted that it is plunged the Earth into. The tanger is made present
something that must be questioned. Again, it is in questioning palpable through our art and poetry. Amid this
that we build a way to understand. In the nuclear age, we view we remain hopeful because, as the poet Holderlin
nature as a problem to be solved. The calculative thinking in ..poetically man dwells upon this Earth" (Heidegger,
which we perceive nature in a technical and scientific manner is
becoming more important in the modern world. On the other
hand, it is meditative thinking that provides a wly for us to
remain rooted in the essence of who we are. It grounds us so as
not to let our technological devices affect our real core and warp
our nature. QuesroNs FoR Rerucrrox
Aristotle's conception of the four causes was mechanical. As
explained by Heidegger: , is technology a mode of revealing?
For centuries pbilosopfu bas taught tltat tbere are .your daily experience of technolog5 what else is revealed
four causes: (1) the causa materialis, the naterial, tbe
,ygu aside from its function?
rnatter out of which,for example, a siloer chalice is made;
should technology be questioned?
(2) tbe causa formalis, tlte form,, the sba4e into usbich
tbe ntaterial enters; (3) the causa finalis, the end, for is questioning the piety of thought?
exarnple, the sacrifi.cial rite in relation to usbicb the chalice does art provide a:.ur,ay out of enframing?
reguired is determined as to itsforrn and matter; @) the
causa efficiens, uhiclt brings about the effict that is the
fi.nished, actual chalice, in this.instance, the silaersmith.
Wbat technohg! it, ushen relresented as a tneans, discloses
itself zahen ute trace instrumentality back to fourfold ACTIVITY
causality (7977, p.2).

Though correct in the four causes, Aristotle remained in the five groups and pick a work of art that you feel best
mechanical sense and did not allow for alarger truth to disclose technology. Reflect and discuss among yourselves how
itself. The poetic character may be hidden but it is there. For artwork describes and reveals technology. Ground your
example, the ancient Greek experience of cause is aition or ion from the concepts learned in this chapter.
indebtedness, not cause and effect. Thus, the Greeks revere the
sun because they are indebted to it, and not because the sun is
the cause of energy on Earth. Aition is responsible for bringing
forth.
 ililnn N FLOURTsHING AS REFLEC't-ED tN FROGRESS AND DEVELOpT,IENT 63

CHAPTER 5
Forget'developing' poor countries,
Human Flourishing it's time to 'de-develop' rich countries
.,. r1,1,......,r... l'

as Reflected in Progress
and Development Heads o{ ,state'are gatlrering in New York to sign th6 UNrs new
sustainable development Er:als ($DGs). The main objective is to

.+n eradicate poverty by 2030. Beyonce, One Direction and Malala are on

LrnnNrruc ourcoMEs board. lt's set to be a monumentai international celebration.

tS Given ali the fanfare, one nright think ths $ilGs are about to offer
a fresh plan for how to save ihe world, bui beneath all the hype, it's
At the end of this chapter, the students should business as usual. l-he rnain strategy for eratlicating pover'ty ts ttre
be able to: same: growth.

1. critique human flourishing vis-i-vis the Grr:wth has been the main object of d*velopment for the past tr0
progress of scicnce and technology; years, <lesoite the fact that ii is not working. $ince-:198U, {he global
econnmy has grown by 380%, i:ut the riumiier r.rf people living in
2" explain Hickel's paradigm of "de-
poverty on less than $5 {[3.20) a day has increased by mcne ihan 1.'i
development"; and bil1ion. That's 17 times the population ol Britain. $o much for ihe trickle;
3. differentiate it from the traditional notions of down effect.

growth and consumption. Orthodox econamists insist that ail we need is yet rnore growth
More progressive types tell us that we need to shift some of the yielcls
of growth from the richer segments of lhe populatiorr to the poorer
How do wc know that we arc progressing? What ones, evening things out a bit. Neither approach is adequate,.Why?
are the indicators of developn-ient? More often than Because even at current levels of average global consumption, we'r6
not, developmcnt is equated with growth and grcater oversh0oting our planet's bio-capacity by more than 50%,each 5rear.
consumptic'rn" The more that a population is able r'ln otheiwo-rds, growth isn't an option any mole;Oelve-,ai1,eady'
to conslrrne, the wealthier it is. Likewise, the more grdwn too'muah., Scientists are now telling us that ,wel,re' ,blowing
that a person is able to buy stuff, the higher he/she pasti planetary'bou,ndafies at breakneck speed",, Ahd]'thg ]hardirii,tiuthl
is on the development scale. The planet, tr-rowever, is,rrthbl, this'globat Crjdi$ is due almost entirely tolovAiconsumptiron,in
is already overburdened with human activities. rich countries.
Tt is about time ttrrat we rethink otlr stanclards of
,p.ianii,,onty nas enough i€soiiice$,r,,foi:r6aeh,rrof
C,,:,.cl,opr,tr:nt if i,,"e tru,ly u.an'l tc JL-.rc ttrl": 3;or,-d ilfc'
',',l.,rrXight,,noW;.i'a*i.',
u.s,.,.io't;onsu'4,,..ti8,l,,1g!oOal hectares" annually+a,'.istahdrridired:,,..un.ii'l
ll l.i;:: r, ,l,r l.t:l , ;tial '.i.rti-hirll1.,r1l:t,il1. :':1. i:'rrr.: L,:,,:,r]or-l
that,.,,mea5u,fs,s,''.rdsoufee,.,,U50,,ithd, waste. fttiS'.fig*ig,':,t$,..,.r.'trpEhllar',what',
 ,/\
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/ 6'4 l*dc,r*ce,TEcHNoLoGy, soctErY,AND rHE HuMAN coNDlrloN FLoURISHING As REFLECTED IN PRoGRESS AND DEVELoPMENT
 {t
,*&
,r.r"'rg(rENCE, TECHNoLoGy, SoctETY, AND THE HUMAN coNDlrloN IS.HING AS REFLECTED IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT

What is the standard response to eradicating poverty?

What is the threshold of the Earth for adequately

zustaining life?

5. According to the majority of people in middle- and high-

income countries, what puts the planet and society at
risk?

RenorNc Exenctsg
6. How many hectares should each of us consume annually
After reading the article, answer the following questions on the based on the resources available in the planet?
spaces provided.
1. What is the main objective of the Sustainable
Development Goals of the United Nations? tlr
,,lJl

7. What are two indicators of the quality of life given in the ill
article? JD
llr
,,tr
;l,i
r1..

2. What is the standxdized unit that rneasures resource use

and waste? lr

I
 &
| .ffiS.crer.rcE,TEcHNoLocY, SoclETY' AND THE HUMAN CoNDlrloN ISHING AS REFLECTED IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT

,w
8. What crisis in the planet would force us to slow down
we do not do so voluntarilY?
9. According to Hickel, what must be done instead of
urging poor countries to "catch uy''with rich ones?
if
Acrvrrv
the video clip titled Tbe Magician's Tttin: CS
tbe Case against Scientisrn. Reflect on the notions of
t that may evolve into scientism. In pairs, discuss
note of your thoughts on the video clip with the
guide questions. Be ready to share your insights in

;lW}rat is scientism?

i;Ho* is science comparable to magic?

10. How would the different areas of the world react to the
idea of "de-development"? i,Why is science more dangerous than magic?

[i',Wt ut is the presented essence of modernity and its

i qonsequence?

\Mhat do we need for the sciences to be good?

p euesrloNs FoR REFLEcTtoN

1. Why must we change our. paradigm of growth and

consumption to that of "de-development"?
2. Why are the terms de-development, de-growth, and zero
growth seemingly unacceptable to the usual framework of
human progress?
3. How have we been enframed by the notion of growth?
4. How do we improve our lives and yet reduce consumption?
5. What Lre the similarities and differences between
Heidegger's The Question Concerning Tbchnology and Hickel's
article?

CHAPTER 6
The Good Life
r*:t
5\8F/? LEARNINc OurcoMES
\.r^/
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
1. explain the concept of the good life as posited
by Aristotle;
2. define'the good life in their oivn words; and
3. examine shared concerns that make up the
good life to come up with innovative and
creative solutions to contemporary issues
guided by ethical standards.
Everyone is in pursuit of the good life. We do
certain things because we want to achieve a life
which will make us happy and content. By studying
and working hard, we try to attain this goal not only
for ourselves but also for our loved ones and the rest
of humanity. People's definition of the good life
may vzry and differ in the particulars. In general,
however, we recognize universal truths that cut
across our differences.
-----:x
-;v
"l
THE GooD LIFE 71
MACHFAN EIUICS AND MODERN
CEPTS
Aristotle, an important ancient Greek philosopher whose
spans from natural philosophy to logic and political
theory, attempted to explain
what the good is. His definition
may be useful in our pursuit of
the truth. In Nicomachean Etltics,
Aristotle stated:
All human activities aim at
some good. Eaery art and human
inquiry, and simi/arly eztery action
and pursuit, is thought to aim
at some good; and for tbis reason
the good has been rightly declared
as that at vLhich all tbings aim
(Nicomachean Ethics 2:2).
Figure 2.2 Aristotle Everyone is moving towards
(384-322 BC) the good. Thus, completing
's studies, training for a sport, or taking a rest is a good.
good is expressed and manifested in many various ways for
fferent persons and circumstances. The good life, however,
more than these countless expressions of what is good. It is
racterized by happiness that springs from living and doing
It.
i ... both the many and the cultioated call it happiness, and
su??ose that living well and doing tt:ell are the same as being
boryy (Nicomachean Ethics 1:4).
The ancient Greeks called this concept of "living well and
doing well" as eudairnonia. The word came from the Greek
wotd eu meaning "good" and daimon meaning "spirit." Taken
together, it generally refers to the good life, which is marked
by happiness and excellence. It is a flourishing life filled with
& .*
iui;qii

./*"\{ctENcE, TEcHNolocY, SoctETY, AND THE HUMAN coNDlrloN THE GooD LIFE

w
meaningful endeavors that empower the human person to be ln happiness. The lack of discipline in eating healthful
the best version of himself/herself. If one is a student, then he/ oventually makes one sick. Thrj lack of concern for the
she acts to be the best version of a student by studying well and ment destroys the Earth we live in. Thus, disregard
fulfilling the demands of school. If one is an athlete, then he/ htuous actions, especially for tho sake of convenience and
she strives to be the best version ofan athlete by training hard ion, does not contribute to happiness. The good life is
as well as joining and winning in sports competitions. hca ty happiness brought about by virtuous human actions
decisions that affect the individual self and the greater
Furthermore, according to Aristotle, happiness is the
ultimate end of human action. It is that which people pursue
iry It is characterized by a life of flourishing of oneself
pf others. The good life does not happen in a bubble where
for its own sake. Financial stability for one's family, the power
one person is flourishingi others have to be in it, too.
achieved from winning the elections, or the harmony and peace
as a reward for taking care of the environment-all these and plays a significant role in the living and attainment
more are pursued for the sake of happiness. good life. It is the constant practice of the good no matter
'difficult the circumstances may be. Virtue is the excellence
Noza suclt a thing as bappiness aboae all else, is lteld to
that empowers one to do and be good. Such virtue
be; for this zpe choose always for itself and neoerfor tbe sake of
ivated with habit and discipline as it is not a one-time
sornetbing else, but honor, pleasure, re*son, andrevery airtue we
but a constant and consistent series ofactions. Everyone
choose indeedfor themselves, but zoe choose thetr. akofor the sake
tho capacity within himself/herself to be good, but helshe
of ltappiness, judging that by m.eans of them we shall be ho??y.
has to be disciplined to make a habit of exercising the good.
Happiness, on the other hand, no one chooses for anything otber
th an its e lf (Nicomachean Ethics 2:7). 1,, Virtue, then, being of tzoo kinds, intellectual and moral,
' intellectual airtue ;n ini main oues its birth and grozath to
Happiness defines a good life. This happiness, however, i. teaching (for taltich reason it requires experience and tirne), ushile
is not the kind that comes from sensate pleasures. It is that
moral virtue comes about as a result of habit (Nicomachean
which comes from living a life of virtue, a life of excellence,
Ethics 2:1).
manifested from the personal to the global scale.
The onward progress of science and technology is also the
It is the actiaities tbat express airtue that control
ent towards the good life. Science and technology are
baPpiness, and tlte contrary acti,uities that control its contrary
(Nicomachean Ethics 1:10).
of the highest expressions of human faculties. They allow
to thrive and flourish in life if we so desire it. Science and
For example, making sure that one avoids sugary and may also corrupt a person, but grounding oneself in
processed foodsto keep healthy is an activity that expresses will help him/her steer clear of danger.
virtue. The resulting health adds to one's well-being and
happiness. Another example is taking care of the environment
through proper waste management which results in a clean
environment and adds to people's well-being and happiness.
These virtuous actions require discipline and practice. On the
other hand, activities contrary to virtue are those which do not
3ffi'qcre,ucr . TECF{NOLOGY. SOC.IETY, AND THE HUMAN CONDITION THE GooD
1
'w t

EI-l
I-T-I
l-t-r RTRoING EXERCISE QursrroNs FoR ReruecloN
H
Answer the following iterns. In your opinion, what constitutes a good life?

1. It is that which all things aim. What does Aristotle say about the good life? Does it still
in the contemporary world?
2. It is an ancient Greek word which means living
and doingwell. is the progress of science and technology a movement
,towards the good life?
3. It is said to be the ultimate end of human action.
It is pursued for its own sake.

4. He is the ancient Greek philosopher known for

Nicornachean Ethics.
5, The good life rneans that I rnake'sure I improve
without necessarily taking the others into
consideration. Tiue or false?
6. One does not need to eat healthfully to live the
good life. Tiue or false?
Excellence of character is innate. It does not
have to be practiced. Tiue of false?
ACTIVITY
Form groups of four members each. View the short
film titled Tltat Swgar Filrn. Discuss arnong
and report on how production and consurnption
$ugar affect your journey towards the good life. How does
ive consumption of goods-in this case, sugar-affect
life?

8. It is the constant practice of the good.

9. F.or items 9 and 10, give Aristotle! two kinds of

virtue.
10.

I

CHAPTER 7
When Technology and
Humanity Cross
LrRnNrruc OurcoMES
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
1. evaluate contemporary human experience to
strengthen the human Person firnctioning in
society;
2. discuss the importance of human rights in
the face of changing social conditions and
technological development; and
3. identifir laws or policies in the country
that protect the well-being of the Person
in technological advancement and ethical
dilemmas.
The good life entails living in a just and
progressive society whose citizens have the
freedom to flourish. The human person has the
autonomy to make choices which may enable
the flourishing of his/her self and society. The
United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
on December 10, 1948 as the global standard
=\ \ /-. q
=__,_.-X_
*1=.>
WHEN TEcHNoLoGy AND HuMANtry cRoss "*' 77 l
ii
r1
fundamental human rights for universal recognition and
lt
ion. The UDHR begins, "Whereas recognition of the w
nt dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all
of the human family is the foundation of freedom,
and peace in the world" (UDHR Preamble). As implied,
has absolute moral worth by virtue of being human.
dignity is an ultimate core value of our existence.
n we fully recognize and appreciate this truth in ourselves
in all the persons around us, regardless oftheir status in
then we pave the way for a just and progressive society. It is
this kind of society that we are able to become fully human-
free, more rational, and more loving. Human beings
more free when we are empowered to make choices for
flourishing. We become more rational when we are able to
and apply the principles of logic and science in our lives.
become more loving when we ensure that human dignity
at the foundation of our endeavors, whether scientific or
It entails knowing one's fundamental human rights that
always be protected in the face of changing conditions.
NIVERSAL DeclRnRloN
HuvnN Rrcurs
,, The UDHR explicates the fundamental human rights in 30
icles. It outlines inalienable human rights that are vital and
in the pursuit of the good life. These are the freedoms
ne is entitled to and guaranteed by virtue of being
man. The first article states the essential principle of being
man in a just, free, and rational society. Everyone is born
free and equal in dignity and rights. The common experience,
, does not always manifest such truth. More often than
those who have more to offer are given special treatment.
good life, nevertheless, as a life ofjustice, demands not just
'lequal treatment of human beings but also preferential treatment
ito those who have less or are disadvantaged. The first seven
articles of the UDHR encapsulate the spirit of this so-called
liri$,
,.I,ISCI ENCE, TECH NOLOGY, Soc I ETY, AND TH E H UMAN CoN DITION

ryill
"milestone document in the history of human rights." They are
as follows:

ARTICLE I

All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and
should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

AnrrclE 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth

in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as
race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth dr other status.
Furtherrnore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the
political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or
territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent,
trust, non-self:governing or under any other limitation of
sovereignty.

ARTICLE 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Anrcle 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the

slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
 I
WHEN TEcHNotoGY AND HUMANITY cRoss

LE5

one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or

treatment or punishment. '

has the right to recognition everywhere as a

before the law.

LE7

are equal before the law and are entitled without any
ination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to
protection against any discrimination in violation of this
and against pny incitement to such discrimination.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has a long,

rily history. Crafted in \948, after World War II, thl
R now serves as a common understanding of what each
's fundamental rights are. These rights apply to everyone,
yhere. It is imperative that we all know and live these
to prevent injustice and oppression.

$umnNs vs. RoBors

i::
f

*:
The rise of the machines accompanying the progress
6 science and technology *ry ,"rrd"r' human, -rr.J"r..
ilanual labor is gr"dually being replaced by machinery.
)omputers become more and more iophisticatei.
lobots, usually designed like human beings, are created
r perform complex, repetitive, or dangerous tasks.
Vith the development of artificial intelligence (AI),
rbots may also eventually act and decide like humans.

I

s*iib
P'screruce , TEcHNoLoGy, soctETY, AND THE HUMAN coNDlrloN
In the possibility that machines adopt the nature of humans,
there is a need to reflect on the ethical problems posed by such
development.
Though the Philippines has not yet reached the point of
producing robots on a commercial scale for household use,
it still behooves us to ponder the ramifications of replacing
persons with machinery. Much as the BBC News has reported
that experts in South Korea are crafting ethical guidelines
to prevent humans from exploiting robots and vice versa
(Evans, 2OO7), and that roboticists in Europe are lobbying for
government legislation, such reality is generally unheard of in
the Philippines. To Filipinos, artificial intelligence seems like
the stuff of science fiction movies. Be that as it may, its use in
the country is surely gaining ground, especially in the business
process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Techrlology enables
the growth of the BPO industry but it seems that it is also
technology that willkill the industry as we know it. Investors
and business people find as a sure return of investment the use
of business analytics provided by artificial intelligence. Business
analytics is a means by which consumer and industry data xe
used to come up with better decision-making. With the help of
AI, decisions now arise from sophisticated statistical analyses
made from massive data. As of August 20L7,it is estimated that
a million Filipino BPO workers may be affected and lose their
jobs with the adoption of artificial itrtelligence (Santos, 20t7)-
Unemployment is only one of the many ethical
considerations in the widespread use of AI. What does this
mean for human beings who can be replaced by machines?
Is the value of the person inversely proportional to that of a
machine exhibiting artificial intelligence? How do we guard
against mistakes committed by machines? These points are but
a sample of the questions that should be resolved when faced
with technology that may become a threat to human dignity
and security. In the future, when machines and robots become
more human-like, with allthe attendant feelings and thoughts,
people may also have to consider the ethical treatment for AI.
q
It is also interesting to note that as machines and robots
having a human-like nature, humans may also have
tendency to become machine-like. Since many of the things
ple need, from conveniences to'information, are available
just the touch and swipe of the fingertips, humans begin
tion more like automatons. The internet has become an
go-to tool for answers to questions. More often than not,
accept what the search engine, like Google, spews out in
sizes and forget how to process, read, think further, or put
[ngs in context. As the internet gets more intelligent, we are
dpnger of becoming less so. In the article, "Is Google making
id?" Nicolas Carr (2008) asserted that "as we come to
o,n computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it
own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence."
.ii[he development of society along with science and
lology gives rise to more and more complex issues. What is
is that, at the very least, we are able to protect and exercise
rights for everyone in our pursuit of the good life. It is
that amid these developments, human beings become
free, more rational, and more loving in our practice of
e and technology.
,As we examine contemporary issues in science and
information, genetically modified organisms,
technology and climate change-we keep in mind
the building of ajust and progressive society entails the
rnt practice of the good. It may be exhibited in exceptional
ific methodologies, personal virtue, social responsibility,
global concern.

.ilti
'82 .,,tru
q,9terucr, TEcHNoLocy, socrETy AND THE HuMAN Coruorrroru
" ''rg'
I
ii{i
WHY THE FuTune DoES NoT NEED Us
Chief scientist and corporate executive officer of Srrrn
Microsystems, Bill Joy, wrote in 2000 a controversial essay,
"Why the future does not need us." In his work, he contended
that our rnost powerful 2n st-century technologies-genetics,
nanotech, and robotics (GNR)-are threatening to make
humans an endangered species. This possible extinction of the
species may largely come about due to the unreflective and
unquestioning acceptance of new technologies by humans.Joy
also asserted that:
Accustomed to liaing uith almost routine scientifi.c
breakthrougbs, ue hac)e yet to come to terms usitlt tbe fact
tb at th e lnos t czrn? e I ling 2 I s t-century te ch no logies-ra bo tics,
genetic engineering, and nanotecbnology-pse a dffirent
tbreat than the tecbnologies that haoe come befire. Specifically,
robats, engineered orgniir*r, and nanobots ibare i dorgrnoo,
amfffiingfactor: They can selfreplicate. A bomb is blazan up
only anae*but o,ne bot can becorne rnanlt and guickly get out af
control.
Each of these tecbnolagies also affirs untold framise:
The wision of near immartality driaes us firuard; genetic
engineering may saon praqtide treatments, i.f not outright cures,
fir most diseases; a,nd n*mateebnology and nanomedicine can
address yet more ills. Tbgetber they cawld significontly extend
our average life span and improoe tbe guality of aur lioes-Yet,
witb eack aftltese tecbnolagies, a segucnce of small, indi,uidually
sensible a&,runces leods to aft @aeufinulatian af great pawer ond,
con eowi tan tly; great danger (]oy, 2000)"
Flurnans should have learned tlre lesson irl the atornic
borr,rbings of the Japanese eities of Hiroshinra and Nagasaki
in 7945 that hiltred over a hundred tho,usand people. Briltriant
physicists, ned byJ. Robert Oppenhei,nrer, brought into exister,rce
a deadly nuclear weapon. A definite testarnent to the success
o,f science and teehnology, the atomic bor,lb was also a fatal
q
WHEN TECI.{NOLOGY AND HUMAN1TY CROSS '" 83
I
r of its destructive power. Now with GNR, lve are
to be circumspect and questioning of,technology" Agair,
Heidegger (1977) propounded, it is in questioning thet
build a wan GNR today is acce'ssible to small groups and
iduals and does not require funding and facilities as huge
those needed by the nuclear weapons of rnass destruction.
makes GNR more prone to accidents and abuses. trt is
to imagine that such accidents and abuses ma1, sel{:
icate and spin out of control, especially when placed in the
of extremist groups and individuals.
Science and technology may be the highest expression of
rationality- People are able to shape or destroy the world,
it. Theoretical physicist and mathematician F'reeman
, in the docurnentary The DayAfier Tiinity (lgSQ,shared
thoughts and sentir,r,lents as a scientist taking part in the
ment of nuclear power:
I
bave fitt it myself Tbe glitter af nuelear weapons. It is
irresistible if yow aame ta them as * seientist- Tbfeel it'S tlaere in
yaur hands, ta release tbis energy tbatfuek flte stars, ta let it da
yur bidding To p.erfirrn tb,ese rniracles, t, W a tnillian tans
af rock inta tb,e sfo. It iis sometbing tltat giwes people en iilwsiarz
afillimitable poane6. aad it is, in sanre wsays, respansi&lefw all
aar troubies-this, what yeu might call teehnieal arrsgdEftee,
tbat oqtercomes peapte wken tbey see aftat tbey ean do wit& tbeir
minds"
Ftruman nattrre rnay he corrupted when the powers of,our
our ratiorxality, and our science and technotrog;r beco,ffxe
fmani&s,t. trf we are not ahtre to rein in the vanity *r*d arrogance
Srat suclr povrrtrs unXeash,, then we &re oxl theway to destroying
the world.
Tke wasteiand graws; zDoe unta bim w,ba ltarb,ars the
wasteland atithin. -Wiedrich Nietzsche
I
 -\
, iriilil
g'4 'l."".scr
ENcE, TEcH NoLoGY, socl ETY, AN D TH E Hu MAN coNDlrloN
"llll

@ 1.
QursrtoNs FoR REFLEcTIoN

How does science and technology affect contemporary life

and vice versa?
2. How do we protect our human rights in the face of UNIT 3
technological advancements and ethical dilemmas?
J^. Do you believe that Google makes people stupid? Cite at
least three examples to supPort your assertion. Special Topics in Science,
4. Read the entirety of Joy's article. Why doesn't the future
need us?
Technology, and Society
a

,fl,
\1 ACTIVITY
I
Work in pairs. Search for national policies or laws that
address the ethical and moral concerns in the technological
eta.

CHAPTER 8
lnformation Society
LrRRNItrtc OurcoMES
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
1. determine the human and social impacts of
the developments in the information age;
2. discuss the evolution of techndogy from the
ancient times up to the presentl and
3. illustrate how social media have affected their
lives.
Humans are surrounded on all sides by
technology claiming to supply information:
television, smart phones, and internet devices,
among others. However, do they all provide
information or just noise? More voices are trying to
get our attention but how can we be sure that they
share knowledge and the truth?
To answer this basic question, a short historical
backgrounder might prove useful.
Before the printed word, the written word was
prevalent. Yet, the intent to cfiry information has
always been present.
rrl
INFORMATION
FORMATION
A word is a combination of sounds that represents
ing. It is this significance which makes words distinct
just any kind of vocal utterance. Words are made up of
and yet they transmit something more significant. They
smit a message. The words are "informed" because they
"information" (Chaisso n, 2006; Ben-Naim, 2015). Words
informed with meaning given by the speaker and intended
the listener. Simply put, they communicate meaning.
E ROLE OF LANGUAGE
In the human quest for understanding the natural world,
ability to name and classify objects found in nature was seen
f,sa first step in knowing. Thus, the scientific search for truth
on recognized the usefulness of language and the ability it
ve to make sense of nature. For the ancient Greeks, language
was an object worthy of admiration. Words have power.
' This kind of knowing sprang from the Greek fascination
and wonder at the power of words and language. How is it
possible that one's idia can simultaneously exist in his/her mind
and in another's? How is it possible that human beings can
communicate through words and thus form a community? Does
the power of the communicated word come from the speaker,
who is the thinker and the source, or from the listener, who is
the recipient of the communication? However you answer these
points, it is clear that thinking in terms of a common system
being generated by the speaker and received by the listener is
useful in the pursuit of knowledge. Science, from the Latin
word scire (meaning to know), is one kind of knowledge the
Greeks wanted to understand.
The idea of comprehending words as more than just
combinations of sounds led the Greeks to seek out the principles il
, !.d
 -,//-
-\ - ,<\ ffl
rl ;\
'ii,ilri.r,
r'ri,'.
JB .*'qpecrAl Toprcs rN scrENcE,TEcHNoLocy, AND SoctEry INFoRMATToN socrETY 89 l

i ,' '\-
,li*i
"#
: of everyday language. When talking to other people, for technology that uses these laws and language for their benefit.
example, a meaningful message is created using ordinary fhis language is, of course, mathematics, the great contribution
sounds. Its meaning is also not diminished by multiplication- ,of Isaac Newton. Nature can be understood because it speaks
the speaker can use the same words over and over again to talk in the language of mathematics and the human brain, to a
to ten, a hundred, or even a thousand people separately or at the certain extent, can comprehend this language (Wigner, 7960).
same time. Nevertheless, the same message will be received by Unfortunately, this fact is not always appreciated.
everyone. Words, therefore, carr function across space and time
without reducing their meaning.
The first philosophers, as they thrashed about groping for TecuNoLoGIcAL WoRLD
and seeking a unifying principle in nature, sometimes hit upon
things such as fire or water. But they believed that something The ability to think and conceptually comprehend nature
was common in all of these. The many seemingly different and the principles it follows eventually leads to science. Even in
things in the natural world must have a unifring factor. There ancient times, Western thinkers harnessed the forces of nature
was an inside to be "understood." They sought for this rneta after understanding them better. Lost in antiquity is the first
phusis,literally meaning "rfter nature" (De Chardin, 1965). sailing vessel that worked through the power of the wind.
Similarly, it was never recorded when the early people reahzed
Plato's .principle of "One and the Many" refers to the
that fire has its own power and energy. Not all early inventions
underlying unity among diverse beings in the natural world. For
are lost in time, however. Hero of Alexandria, for instance,
Plato, there is a common intrinsic nature shared by different
would invent a primitive steam engine in the first century (Paul
objects, which determines their real sense. Biologists devised
Davies, 1990).
awzy to illustrate this principle using a system differentiating
between genus and species. Many species belong in one genus.
In the 21" century, we are aware more than eyer that there
is rich diversity in nature, which technology has allowed us to
discover (BANWA Natural Science, 2008).

MnruevAf,ICS AS THE LnruCunCr

OF NATURE

Technology in the modern world is the fruit of science.

Because the scientific method helped people discover
how nature behaves, they were able to control nature with
technology. A more accurate statement is: Since people have
discovered the laws and language of nature, they can develop
Figure 3.1 Ancient scribe working at his desk

,t
 i}ita
,.',,.,..,SP CC INI ToPI cS I N SCI ENCE, TECH NOLOGY, AN
.t'
,rll.
TUC PNINTING PRESS AND BEYONO
Figure 3.2 lllustration of an old printing press
The power of the eidos, or idea, would be witnessed
in the succeeding centuries of development in the West.
The ancient fascination with language gave rise to the
preservation of the words of earlier people at the same time
when the \Mest weakened itself due to internecine warfare
and conflicts. Throughout this dark period, the importance
of the word-the power to be informed as a human being-
led to the transmiision of ideas through hand-copying. From
this manual action would arise the technology that would
transform cultures-the printing press. The development of
the printing press, which may be regarded as the beginning of
D SOCI ETY
INFORMATIoN SoCIETY 91
true revolution, could be dated to the 15'h century. Through
,i!.
is technology, the ancient Greek idea that knowledge should
shared and communicated among humans would actually be
on a scale unimagined by its thinkers. Using the printing
s, people on different sides of the world could share their
and ideas with each other, forming communities of
nkers across space and time (Connell, 1953).
The world has never looked back. This technological
ntion allowed words and scientific ideas to establish a
of nature anchored in scholarly works and studies. For
nce, new discoveries about the phenomenon of electricity
eagerly absorbed by fellow scientists who then utilized the
to create other technological products. The radio was
ilt upon the wave nature of electricity and magnetism, and
there, television followed.
In the age of info.rmation, the transmission of ideas
has
dergone changes. Meaning and depth are no longer conveyed
ictly by rhetoric but rather by its electronic replacement, the
ital signal or digit. Such a digital world is a direct offspring
the progressing world of technology built upon the many
in science (Toffler, 1984).
HE WORLD WIDE WCE
A more modern example of technology feeding upon
f is the 20'h-century tour de force: the World Wide Web
fhrough the internet. Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented it as a
ivay of addressing data processing and information sharing
peeds among scientists for the European Organization for
Nuclear Research (CERN). CERN's atom smasher produces
.'.. SpTCIAL TOPICs IN ScIENCE, TECHNOLOGY. AND SOCIETY
a huge amount of scientific data eyery second. It thus required
better dzta an lyzers to work on the gathered information
in coordination with each other. While the telegraph and
telephone had allowed the transmission of information t<r
transcend physical boundaries, processing a veritable ocean
and mountain of scienti{rc data generated by the atom smasher
needed a new medium.
Figure 3.4 The NeXT Computer used by Sir Tim Berners-Lee at CERN
which became the first Web server
With the ease of sharing information at Present, its
reliability becomes compromised.'Anyone with a connection
to other people can produce contents which are showinghalf-
truths or even lies, giving rise to disinformation. Social media
also encourages building a community of like-minded people.
The creation of these groups often reinforces biases and
beliefs based only on the content that they allow within the
community, forgoing the variation and clash of ideas provided
in real life. Worse, these communities can be tapped by people
in power who may take advantage of these mechanisms-
controlling public opinion and harassing those who present
opposing views-for their own advantage. Meanwhile, the easy
INFoRMATIoN SoCIETY 93
to personal information makes one susceptible to online
identity theft, and scamming, among others. Thus, it
to be vigilant in utilizing these modern devices at all times.
lFigure 3.3 Plate next to the office where Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Robert
Cailliau began the World Wide Web
The technology applied when a sailor rigs up a piece of
h to catch the wiJis the same one that piodrces modern
hines and devices, albeit less complex. Nevertheless, human
beings have always found a way to address their needs and
discover new frontiers with scientific thinking. Considering
the many benefits we get from these technologies, we must also
be responsible in utilizing them to avoid harming others and
ourselves.
.J
&
YP\,SpEctAL ToPICS IN ScIENcE,TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
p }e
1.
QursrroNs FoR Rgrlecloru
Which developments in the information age brought
significant changes in the way you live your life today?
2. How did the transmission of information evolve from the
ancient times up to the present?
3. How did the printing press change the course of history?
What ideas were spread using this invention?
4. Social media is a technology which facilitates the sharing
of information, ideas, and other content in different parts
of the globe. If social media was deactivatdd for a month
in the country, what could possibly happen?
5. Social media also poses certain risks especially in the
dissemination of false information. As a student, how
will you use social media to ensure that you do not
propagate inaccurate and unreliable information?
!
INFoRMATIoN SoCIETY
Acrvrrv
A substitution cypher is a method of encrypting a message
which the letters of a plaintext are replaced with different
in a systematic manner. In a simple substitution, the codes
simply be a rotated or shifted alphabet. For example:
The cipher above shows a left shift of one. Using the cipher,
sentence "I know you" can be written as J lopx zpv." This
:hnique, also called Caesar cipher, was used byJulius Caesar
his private correspondences (Singh, 2000).
i Divide the class into groups of 10 students. Each group
should make its own code message composed of no more than
50 words by using simple substitution. Afterwards, exchange
messages with the other groups. The first group that decodes
the message wins.
L
 rr

CHAPTER 9 , the One in the Many. It is a system commoniy used

and shows that though the living organisms in the world
Biodiversity so diverse, they stil1 share many traits.

Where several different species a'nd genera cohabitate, there

rich biodiversity. One of the basic laws of the living is that of
tion. An organism will sacrifice a1l it has to ensure
.*)
(\8/t
\^t-/
LEARNINc ourcoMEs
survival. However, with a limited amount of resources,
do the many living organisms of a diverse region survive?
answer lies in the way the available energy supply in the
is shared among the different species through the various
At the end of this chapter, the students shoulrl
ical relationships. The energy needed to live is shared
be able to:
ng the elements of the living world, or passed on from one
1. determine the interrelatedness of society, the another.
environment, and health;
2. explain the process ofgenetidengineering;
and

3. discuss the ethics, implications, and potential

future impacts of GMOs.

From the early times, when ancient philosophers

of nature tried to explain all things as coming from
the elements of water, fite, air, or earth, sciencc
sought for the common characteristic, a unifying
element, in all of nature's maty phenomena. Therc
was a growing awareness of how all living things
are related to each other, an idea called biodiversity.
This recognition started wh.gn naturalists began
to classify organisms in the natural world using
taxonomy, a system devised by Swedish scientist
Carl Linnaeus. Still used in the biological sciences
today, taxonomy is the hierarchical system of
classifying and naming organisms. It builds on
the ability of the mind to find the common in thc

:a::::i:
]'.,.. SpecIRT ToPIcs I N ScI ENCE, TECH NOLOGY, AN D SoCIETY
BIoTecUNOLOGY
The Biodiversity International has released a module
"Lrw and policy of relevance to the management of plant
genetic resources" (Bragdon et a1., 2005) which aims to help
professionals in managing, conserving, and using plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture. The module provides the
following definitions:
L. Biotechnology uses biological systems, living organisms,
or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or
processes for a specific use.
2. Genetic engineering is a technique that allows genes
and DNA to be transferred from one source to another.
_____.-K
/-'----
BroDrvERSrrY 99
It leads to the production of living modified organisms ...
(LMOs) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
3. Modern biotechnology gives,scientists molecular tools
for obtaining a better understanding ofthe structure and
function of genes in living organisms.
Modern biotechnology paves the way for new developments
food and agriculture. Particularly, it aims to develop new
precision tools and diagnostics; speed up breeding gains and
efficiency; develop pest- and disease-resistant crops; combat
ealinity, drought, and problems of agriculture; enhance the
nutritional quality of food; increase crop varieties and choice;
reduce inputs and production costs; and increase profits
(Bragdon et a1., 2005).
GTNTTICALLY MOOITIED ORGANISMS
Based on evolutionary theory, the concept of survival of the
fittest implies that living organisms have a natural spectrum of
characteristics such as size, mass, or length. The characteristics
of an organism and its successors can be modified today by
modern technology, giving rise to what are called genetically
modified organisms or GMOs (Mayr, 2001).
titled
A GMO is a plant, animal, microorganium, or other
organism whose genetic makeup has been modified using
recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene
modification, or transgenic technology. It is the result of a
laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species
are extracted and artificially inserted into the genes of an
unrelated plant or animal, also called genetic engineering (GE)
or genetic modification (GM). Because this process involves
the transfer of genes, GMOs are also known as "transgenic"
organisms.
Genetic modification aims to address issues with regard to
food security, agriculture, drug production, and nutrition.
 ,n$ t-
'I
1 [ (j*t'qeecrAL Toprcs rN sctENcE, TEcHNoLocy, AND soctErY BroDrvERstrY 1O 1

The inforrnation about the microbe and its reproduction

tanism are contained in its gene structure. The first step
process is the identification of the desired trait from
organism. A gene containing this trait is first isolated
lreplicated. Next, the insertion of the trait happens. What is
l$ transferred from one organism to another is not the whole
i but only sections of the gene that carry the particular
Ifacteristic that will be integrated into the adult organism.
br the successful insertion, the modified organism should be
to grow and replicate.
the process of recombinant DNA technology, the needed
tion for an organism can be "borrowed" from another.
Figure 3.6 lnserting recombinant DNA into a host cell a process means that a farmer can "design" an organism
the characteristics necessary to address particular
. For example, a farmer may want the crops to have less
of getting bruised due to rough handling, If an organism
GeNErc MoprrtcATtoN ining a gene that prevents bruising in the mature fruit
ploying the science of genetics) could be found, then this
istic could then be used to modify the crops through
,r11)0verview ,6) Plant
process of recombinant gene technology.

;t
)ortheProcess

\\ ;[^ t Breeding
ff*r
4tF\
<5
I However, because GMOs zre novel life forms,
nology companies were also able to obtain patents
restrict their use. As a result, some companies that make
"giltl'a s could have the power to sue farmers whose fields are
bacteria

0 P i, minated with these organisms, even when it is the result

FIF
L#
inevitable drifting from neighboring fields (Nicholson,
4) DesigningF ,ht
'^n 4). GMOs, therefore, may pose a serious threat to farmer

\e-I
-cenis
r nfy and to the food security of a country.
' The promise of better food that is more resistant to
2l DttlA- 5)Transformafion
lage, pest invasiveness, and harsh weather conditions has
lsolation and Tissue euhure
transgenic crops enticing to many people. It is a truly
Figure 3.7 Producing a GM crop
able topic for the people of the 21't century, given the
ise of this technology and yet the fact that it is very new.
To understand better the controversy over GMO, the actual ld it be embraced as a saving grace or is it to be feared as a
process to achieve such an organism will be discussed.
threat to a sustainable food supply? t
<__-----L {X ,r

-7 ,,tlit,,,
1

{ 1C-2*
- i.;'
Q.lrctnl Toptcs lN sclENcE,TECHNoLoGY, AND SoclETY
C-
BroDrvERsrrY 1 O 3

CnnrncENA Pnorocol oN BlosRrrtY

The case above contextualizes the country's signing ol'
the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Protocol is an
international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling,
transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs)
resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adversc
effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks trr
human health. It takes a precautionary aPProach by making
sure that countries are provided with the data necessary to
make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such
organisms into their territory.
The Philippines recognizes the technologies that can be
of particular help for its development. Since the Philippines is
one of the biodiversity "hotspots" in the world, it is helpful to
know how biotechnology will progress in the country. Figure
3.8 points out that the country is not alone in this interest in
food and biotechnology.

'4ffi:fi?iiJa!;?T.,fl?i'
J lsGMCropcountries # Total
----:i -. IndustrialCountries
."F Developing Countries

1990 1996 1997 t99a 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

lncrease of 15%,9M hectores or 22.2M acres between 2002 and 2403

Figure 3.8 Global status of transgenic crops (James, 2003)

 \ ri

1 O 4.tspecrAl Toprcs rN scrENCE, TEcHNoLoGy, AND soctErY

CHAPTER IO
r&\
,.gdsz QuesroNs FoR RrrtecttoN The NanoWorld
es
l-. What role does the environment play in addressing the
needs ofa society?

2. How can people maintain the rich biodiversity in nature?

a
J. In your own words, how is an organism's genome
LenRTING OUTCOMES
manipulated?

4. What are the pros and cons of genetically modifying At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:
crops?
1. define the major potential ar..d realized
5. Will you eat GMOs? Why or why not? ,
impacts of nanotechnology on societyl

2. analyze nanotechnology through the

conceptual STS lenses; and

3. examine the costs and benefits to society of

nanotechnology.

To show how changes in gene structure can occur by

chance, divide yourselves into three equal groups. The first
group should flip a coin 50 times, the second group 100 times,
and the third group 150 times. Record the count of heads and
tails. Compare your results. Did you get an equal amount of
heads and tails? Is 50:50 really the most probable ratio? How
many flips would it take you to get aratio of 50:50?
In the pursuit of science and technology, humans
are now dealing more and more with a world not
seen by the naked eye. This is no surprise as the
study of science keeps leading us beyond the world
of everyday. The information we search for is always
available in nature but we need tools to harvest it.
The nano world, like the other scientific principles,
provides both knowledge and instrument to control
nature.
J-'-.----f
'
---\-
-x\
\v/

"a
,/, .. /,"-::r
J'' 1O@li"isrra'oa Toprcs rN scrENcE,TECHNoLoGy, AND soctErY
i ,,"
THE NANo woRLD aO7 ;

il;:r
I

Wuy NANo?
The term "nano" refers to a unit meaning one billionth or
ten raised to negative nine (10-e). For example, a nanometer is
one billionth of a meter. Hence, "nano" expresses a very tiny
amount or size.
Figures 3.9 and 3.10 compare objects of different sizes. A
icle of beach sand is almost ten times larger than a pollen
. Nanostructures can be found in nature. Catalysts,
nerals, and other particles are ff)"easured on a nano scale.
single strand of DNA is about three nanometers wide.
therefore, deals with materials that are very small
ng specialized microscopes and other nanodevices.

Just as we are not aware of the air we breathe or the

ilum nil& S*TTTRM $fi*il{uF$sJ $a&n$r ules constantly feeding our cells at every second, we are
w not conscious of these very little particles. Since the nano

#
.tr&
f&.\
&.{;ffia cannot be seen by the naked eye, it was only recognized
&#*$ t1j
identified after technology has allowed foi the discovery
\tr
.#,
,{S
;1.1
nanostructures. Without the microscope and its attendant
:hnology, people would not even be aware of how this tiny
surrounds and affects us. But what is the purpose of
ling with such small entities?
Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter on an
ic or subatomic scale. Some innovations developed in this
Figure 3.9 Nanoscale include microprocessors and strain-resistant fabrics. In
future, as nanoscience and nanotechnology progress, more
akthroughs are expected to arise in the different fields of
ience, hopefully resolving problems in health, environment,
security, among others.

(& PMro
&rst, palbn. npld, *,

Photo credit: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Figure 3.10 Human hair compared to particles

ir
 Iil

1 O fft'.specrAl Toprcs rN scrENcE, TEcHNoLoGy, AND socrEry

CHAPTER I I
QuesroNs FoR REFLEcToN
Gene Therapy
1. What are other examples of nanostructures?
2. What tools can manipulate nanostructures?
J. How can nanotechnology address problems in the
environment?

4. How can nanotechnology be used in the prevention and

treatment of illnesses?
LeRnNIUG OUTCOMES
5. What is another example of a nanotechnology and how
does it work?
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to:

1. describe gene therapy and its various forms;

,fl, 2. discuss the prevalence of gene therapy in daily
)d
I
Acrtvrrv life; and
3. explore the opportunities that may be opened
Watch the video on YouTube titled "The Next Step in by gene therapy in the future.
Nanotechnology (George Tulevski)" by TED Talks. Work in
pairs and discuss the following questions. Submit your answers
afterwards.

1. Why is nanotechnology likened to creating a statue out The last technology that will be tackled in this
of a pile of dust? book is gene technology. In the previous chapter,
the nano world that contains atoms and molecules
2. What science governs nanostructures? Why is it was introduced. This chapter will now focus on the
different? developments in the nano world as applied to the
3. Why is nanotechnology a difficult science? animate or the living.

4. What does nature show about building organisms from
the bottom up?
5. How can chemistry help in nanotechnology?
When identifying the contribution of
technology to biology, the first place to look would
be the field of human health. The whole vast
concerns of human health including aging, disease
I
 CIALTOPICS IN SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY,AND SOCIETY
*_lx" rl
GENETHERAPYAll, ,

m''*
,I
\i
treatment and prevention, and diet and general lifestyle have
greatly benefited from technology. Medicine is one example
of a scientific and technological innovation that made a
breakthrough in the area of human health. Before aspirin was
ever understood at the nano level, it had been known for its
effects. Pain of various forms could be relieved and softened
by this medicine. The aspirin was already an "old" technology
at the beginning of the 21't century. The more recent findings
in the areas of nano and gene science can be incorporated
to medicine. If new discoveries on the areas of molecular and
atomic physics are applied to the biological basic building
blocks-the genes-even greater technologies for human health
may be found.

{r
One .Aspirin l+lotecu te Onb knall Nanopafiicte
-0.5 nm at widest point -5 nm in diameter

Figure 3.1 I Size of an aspirin molecule

I
 rI

QuesrroNs FoR RerlecloN

tr. Research on the various forms of gene therapy. How are

they done?
2. What are the recent developments in gene therapy?
3. Stem cell treatment has been a subject of debates since
the early 21't century. What do you think about the
current developments in stem cell treatment?
4. What health condition do you think urgently needs to be
Suppose scientists would like to fashion a gene to counter
cancer cell growth. After several steps of developing the treated by gene therapy? Justifr your answer.
technology, its success would still depend on" its science and 5. Do you think the average human lifespan will change 20
implementation. To achieve the goal, the harmful gene has to years from now? Why or why not?
be found among the 46 such structures in the ordinary cells of
the person. The specific part of that gene doing the problem
should be identified. Afterwards, that section of the gene must
be removed and replaced with the "correct" or developed gene
part to complete the therapy. This process would then correct
,fl, AcTlVrrY
the misinformation encoded in the whole gene.
The financial cost of this therapy is not trivial. Each of
x
The genetic code is made up of 64 codons. Each codon is
the steps mentioned requires expertise and technological skill.
,a combination of three nucleotides. Sixty-one codons encode
Therefore, gene therapy can be costly.
rfor the 20 amino acids used in the synthesis of protein. Thus,
most proteins can be encoded by more than one codon. The
$enetic code may be expressed as either RNA codons or DNA
codons. DNA codons are composed of three out of four DNA
nucleotides, namely adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and
thymine (T).
For the activity, form yourselves into groups of three. Each
student in the group should be designated a number from
1 to 3. All students should pick a random letter from a box,
providing each group with three letters. Arrange these letters
 rH

,**!

1'f ff.seecrel Toprcs rN scrENcE, TEcHNoLoGy, AND soclEry

| .,r'

according to the nurnbers you axe assigned in the group (i.e., CHAPTER 12
student 1 will give the first letteq student 2,the second; student
3, the third). Find out which arnino acid was furmed by your Climate Change
group.
The table nray guide you in finding out the arnino acid.
Second Nucleotide
T c G
TTT Phe TCT Ser TAT Tyr TGT cys T

TTC Phe TCC Ser TAC Tryr TG€ cYs c LenRruIruG OUTCoMES
TTA Leu TCA Ser IAA STOP TGA s:toP
T TTG L4 TCG Ser TAG SToP IGG rrp G

CTT Leu CCT Pro CAT His CGT tug T

At the end of this chapter, the students should
CTC Leu CCC Pro CAC His cGc ,Aig c
be able to:
CTA Leu CCA Pro CAA Gn CGA Arg
c CTG Leu CCG Pro CAG Gln CGG arg G
1. expXain how clirnate change happens;
ATT lle ,ACT Thr AAT Asn AGT Ser T

ATC lle ACC Thr AAC Asn

'AGC
ser c 2. provide pieces of evidence to affirrn the
ATA lle ACA Thr Lys AGA Arg
ATG Met* ACG lhr AAG Lys AGG Aro G
presence of climate change; and
GTT GC]. Alo GAT Asp GGT Glv T

G:lc GCC Alo GAC asp GGC Glv c

3. discuss the implications of climate change.
GTA GCA Alo GAA Glu GGA Glv

G GTG GCG Alo GAG Glu GGG Glv G

If the group got STOR find

.4,
out which amino acid is still Acrrvrry
taken and use it for your group. Afterwards, report in class
function of the amino acid that you forrned.
X I

As a class, use an illustration board to make a

table of values, which you can display in front of,
the classroom. Afterwards, group yourselves into
three. The groups will be assigned to a specific
parameter: temperature, humidity, and heat
index. At the end of each week, the groups should
report on their "perceived" value of the parameter.
Only perceptions are to be indicated and not the
scientifically measured values. Use a consistent unit
of measurement for all data in a parameter. Do this
for the duration of the climate change topic. The
assessment of these values will be done at the end of
the chapter.

id
i,fl
 =S{ 'r
.z>
*4.
SoCIETY cLrMArE CHANGE 1 17
,t
w
; AIl
A11 the discussions regarding the the interaction among
w science, technologS and society will conclude with a current
controversial topic-climate change. It is current in a sensc
that it has been put under international spotlight since the start
of the 21" century. Data that have been accumulated are used
by scientists to determine if there really is a significant change
in the earth's climate. But what does climate change mean?
Doesnt the climate always change?
Climate is not similar to weather which is constantly
changing. Climate refers to the long-term weather patterns
prevailing over a given area of the planet. The term comes from
a Greek word klinein meaning "to slope." It evolved into klima,
connoting a zone or region of the Earth as characterized by its
atmospheric conditions. In ancient Greece, the orb of the sun
stood at a high angle in the sky at noontimg as ships sailed
toward the north, and the daytime temperature of the air would
Figure 3.12 The Earth's orbital motion around the sun
get colder. Hence the klirna in the north was colder than in the
south.
The elements in this interaction between the sun and the
Another consideration in explaining climate change is the Earth are defined as follows:
interaction between the sun and the Earth. The best way to
visualize this relationship is to look at the orbit of the Earth 1. Aphelion refers to the point in the orbit of the Earth
around the sun. With the sun in the center, the Earth moves in farthest from the sun.
an elliptical motion. 2. Perihelion is the point in the orbit of the Earth closest to
the sun.

EARTH'S MovemeNT ARoUND THE SUN 3. Earth's axial tilt is the inclination angle of the Earth's
rotational axis in relation to a line perpendicular to its
While the orbit remains an ellipse, its position or orbital plane.
orientation in space changes over time. pue to the tilt of the
Earth, the whole area does not receive an equal amount of 4. Precession is the change of the of the
sunlight. The Earth spins around its own axis, an imaginary rotational axis of the Earth.
line from the North Pole to the South Pole, which dips and 5. Equinox refers to the time the sun at noon is directly
wobbles gradually. The Earth could then be imagined like a
over the equator. It happens twice L year and causes an
spinning top or trumpo, turning and wobbling in its path about
the sun. almost equal length of day and night.
 'l {

1 :1 $"t;sptoAl Toprcs rN scrENcE,TEcHNoLoGy, AND socrEry

6. Solstice happens when the sun at noon sits above the I LAN KOVITCH PRRRIV ETERS
Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn. The summer
solstice has the longest period of daylight in the year and
the winter solstice has the shortest period.

7. Precession ofthe equinoxes refers to the motion of the

equinoxes relative to the precession of the Earth's axis of
rotation. It happens over thousands ofyears.
Return to modern

Today
March 20 position after 23,000
years
I

I June 21 December 21

t \
5750
from now \
September 22 March
I 20l
Figure 3.14 Wooly
mammoth
! I
:
t I
I
' Th"r" have been eras of climate change in the past. Is
11, 500 years I
from now it possible that the 21" century may introduce yet another
December 21 June 21 dramatic changes in climate? Is there enough information
I I 'l
I to answer the age-old question of "what will the weather be
t tomorrow" (Ciliberto, 2015)? There is a growing body of
16, 725 years data suggesting that the climate, not just the local day-to-day
from now
March 20 September 22 weather, is changing all over the world. In fact, since the end
of the 20'h centuryt many scientists have asked if the Earth is
headed for another Ice Age (Sparks & Hawkesworth,2004).
Figure 3.13 Precession ofthe equinoxes
This concern raises the question as to what causes such
The center of the Earth's orbital *o,io, is the sun but the dramatic changes in the day-to-day weather and climate.
angle or orientation of the planet around the sun makes all the
It was addressed as early as the 1930s by Slovak scientist and
meteorologist Milutin Milankovitch. His interest in the daily
difference. In discussing global warming or climate change, it
weather patterns led him to investigate the deeper issues: Do
makes sense to start considering the orbit of the Earth. Sunlight
weather and climate come ultimately from the sun so that it
falling upon the Earth warms the planet. The amount of
is the sun and its relation to the Earth that accounts for the
sunlight, however, is not constant since the orientation of the
Earth to the sun changes.

I d&a
1 2rq'UtAL Toptcs tN scrENcE,TEcHNoLocy, AND socrEry
; change in the climate? Is it possible that as the distance of
the sun to the Earth changes, the Earth is affected enough to
cause climate to change? He knew that it has long been said
by astronomers that the distance from the sun to the Earth is
constant as shown by the orbital radius of the Earth. Likewise,
the tilt of the North Pole of the Earth has always been relative
to the plane of the solar system. Fina115 the North Pole of the
Earth is also relative to the stars as the Earth circles the sun
over many years. But could all of these very small changes in
the amount of radiation reaching the Earth from the sun bring
about the huge change in the climate of the Earth?
His contemporary scientists
critiqued his work, saying that the
effects of the change in the radius of
the Earth's orbit, the change in the
tilt of the spin of the Earth, and the
wobble in the spin axis (now called
the Milankovitch parameters),
while real, were each so small that
they could not alter the amount of
sunlight reaching the Earth enough
to cause a phenomenon like the Ice
Age. They felt he had a good idea
but it was not enough to explain
the event that was being addressed.
Milankovitch's calculations indicated
that there would indeed be a change
Figure 3.15 Milutin
but seemed far too small to cause an
Milankovitch as a student
Ice Age. Even the cumulative effect
would simply be too tiny to matter. It could not be proven that
one caused the other and hence could not be qualified as a
scientific fact or genuine theory.
Milankovitch believed he was on to something so much
that he wanted to validate his theoretical calculations. The work
# x,}$\/ ri-
&
cLrMArE cHANGE 121 !i
time-consuming and tedious. Since this was the early 20'h
ry, no modern comPuting devices were available for him i&*s
use. Even the electronic adding machine was not invented
yet. With the technology at hand, he could not prove that the
rhathematics was correct (Gleick, L987).
; Nevertheless, the mathematical expressions of the Laws of
Nature as first enunciated by Isaac Newton in the 17h century
have some subtle features that might help explain the role of the
Milankovitch parameters in changing climate.
The equations of the Laws of Nature allow for cumulative
or summative effects. If the sun warms a small piece of land,
it can warm alarger piece of land in the same way. If a cuP
of water can be heated by one degree, two cuPS can be heated
in the same way, one cup after another. But what if the two
cups are added together? Can the sum be heated with the
same amount of energy? No, twice as much heat would
then be needed. The laws of science seem quite consistent
and reasonable. But French mathematical physicist Henri
Poincare showed that mathematically, this simple cumulative
or summing process need not be as straightforward as it might
seem (Zeh, 2007).
Using the computer, scientists went back to the
mathematical equations that described how the sun-Earth
relationship causes the climate to change over thousands and
even millions ofyears. They have come to rca'lize that changing
the Milankovitch parameters over long periods of time can
indeed have a cumulative effect fu greater than it aPPears at
first glance. This discovery is part of what has been called a
"new" science called Chaos theory (Gleick, L987).
In summary, it can thus be seen that science has been
reviewing for decades the issue of how and why the climate
changes, especially with regard to explaining the Ice Age.
Milankovitch studied whether or not the direct amount of
sunlight falling on Earth was the cause of the Ice Age. He
reasoned that over thousands of years, the relative position
 ;PECIAL TOPICS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

"k
of the Earth and sun changes, causing variations in the solar An oft-cited fact to better understand global warming is the :,1,.

radiation reaching the Earth over thousands of years. He knew perature of the planet versus th6"amount of carbon dioxide
that the change would be very small at Lny one time but he the atmosphere.
wanted to see if the cumulative effect could be sufficient to t4.s
cause the ice in the North Pole region to grow massively enough
over time to lead to the Ice Age. By the end of the century, the t4.3
mathematics had advanced and more data became available. As
a result, scientists are more open to new theories that could be 14. I

330 Temperature
verified by examining if the data and predictions conform to ('c)
one or more mathematical theories. With the advent of chaos 310 a r 3.9
,
theory, it seems that the Milankovitch theory might in fact be
relevant to the question of long-term climate change (Stewart,
2002).
/l^ I

t,
7l s t3.7

GLoanlWRnyrruc
The Milankovitch parameters seem to be part of the cause
of climate change, though not the only cause. Some other factor
seems to be needed. TodaS as the world considers climate
change and its implications on food security and national
development, many nations are taking a deeper look at the
science behind the issue.
Most of the scientists who study climate change agree that
the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere has been
increasing by over 900/o in the latter part of the 20,h century.
What are the causes of this pherqomenon (Rees,2001)?
There are two opposing arguments on the issue of whether
or not this global warming is just "natural-" One side states that
nature, simply acting according to its laws with no reference
to human beings and their actions, is the main reason. For
the purveyors of this belief, global warming will happen as
naturally as the suns rises and sets. Meanwhile, the other side
maintains that global warming is caused or greatly abutted by
the actions of human beings. It lays the blame on the actions of
humanity, past and present.
250 t3.5
1000 I t00 r200 t300 r400 r500 1600 1700 20m
Year
Figure 3.16 Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (gray) and mean
global temperature (black) during the past millennium
Photo credit: Hanno. CO2-Temp. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5. Available from
https://commons.wikimedia.orglwiki/File:CO2-Temp.png
In the graph, the x-axis shows the year and the y-axis
represents the amount of carbon dioxide (COr) in the
atmosphere measured in parts per million (pprn). It should be
noted that the amount of CO, in the years before 1950 remains
fairly constant but begins to climb afterwards. An important
visual is the sharpness of the CO, increase around the
beginning of the present century. Some scientists believe this
level could reach an irreversible situation in which the heat and
temperature of the planet will be unstable and unpredictable.
It should be remembered as well that while CO, is a known
indicator of global warming, it is not the only greenhouse gas to
be concerned with.

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CIAL TOPICS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY cLrMArE cHANGE Y25 i

GReTNUoUSE Gnses
The so-called greenhouse effect refers to how certain gases
in the atmosphere trap the heat of the sun. As early as 1859,
British engineer John Tyndall wrote:
As a dan built aross a riaer causes a local deepening of the
streaflt, so oar atmospbere, throu:n across tbe terrestrial [infrared]
rays, lroduces a local heightening of the ternperature at tbe Earth\
surface (quoted in Weart, 2003, p. 4).
fieleaseof CO, in the atmosphere were changing the global
i*s
temperature of the atmosphere. FIe began to mea-sure the
iiamount of CO, in the atmosphere of a place far away from the
i,ndustrialized nations-on an extinct volcano on the island of
Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean (Weart, 2003). The Keeling curve
(Figure 3.17) is a graph that plots the continuous measurements
of data taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.

His words mean that the atmosphere contains certain gases

that naturally capture the heat from the sun and hold it in so E
o.
q
that the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere becomes hotter
than it would be otherwise. This mechanism is good for the co
G
biosphere because without it, the earth's atmosphere would be
like that of Mars or Antarctica-extremely cold. Life can be o
('
c
sustained at planet Earth due to these gases and other elements. (,o
o
In the middle of the 19'h century, Tyndall noted that o
(,
the most prevalent of these greenhouse gases is water vapor.
Meanwhile, the amount of CO, was miniscule. Tyndall,
however, was concerned as to what would become of the
Earth's atmosphere if industrializrtion became widespread. Figure 3.17 Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from 1958 to 2017

Industrialization is the conversion of an agrarian economy Photo credit: Scrippsnews. The Keeling curve 1958-2007. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
into an industrialized one on a large scale. Since machines Available from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keeling-CurveJull-record.png

are primarily used in an industry, the production of electricity
by means of burning fossil fuel-usually coal-increases. In
Tyndall's time, manufacturing plants were not as widespread
so the by-product of burning fossil fuel, COr, was not great
enough to be an issue.
In a century's time, the situation'changed. With
Second World War and the changes in the geo-politicaJ arena,
the industrialization of many nations has directly affected the
amount of CO, in the atmosphere. This led Charles David
Keeling, an American scientist in the mid-2O'h century, to find
out ifthe increased burning offossil fuel and the consequent
The graph shows that the concerns of Engr. Tyndall in the
mid-19'h century and Dr. Keeling in the mid-20'h century were
well-founded. The carbon dioxide concentration has gone up
and the temperature has also risen. These findings are the solid
proofs of global warming.
the But how can scientists account for the correlation between
the amount of CO, and the temperature? Is the temperature
higher because the CO, is higher or are the values simply a
coincidence at this time in history? Just because a thing follows
something else does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
Therein lies the contemporary debate.
 &i
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scientists turned to history and technology to substantiate realized that science is more like a cookbook than a blueprint. It
W!! that there is a causal relationslrip between fri[t CO, and high
is open for experimentation, innovation, and refinement. So like
temperature levels. A major part of that debate hinges on what any good chef, reading it requires a fine sense of taste.
really is happening and causing the global warming. This issue
concerns many nations since not burning fossil fuels rnay mean
not industrializing or modernizing.
eurs,oNs FoR REFLE.TI.N
6p
FuruRe AcrroNs 1. Why does the average temperature of the atrnosphere
rise? What might have caused the unprecedented
Another arca of debate is centered on the predictions as
increase in its level?
to what will happen to the climate of the world in the future.
This is a difficult question to answer since the climate is a 2. Aside from the rise in mean temperature and CO,
chaotic system that can only be understood using computer levels, what are some other pieces of evidence for global
models. However, a computer model is only as good as the warming?
data it used to do the calculations. Thus, thd challenge is to
assemble. sufficient and well-established data from all over the 3. How does climate change affect biodiversity?
world to make the predictions as accurate as possible (Sparks 4. What can people and nations do to fix global warming?
& Hawkesworth, 20Aq. Some scientists take the issue further Give five contributions you can personally achieve
by setting "tipping points," specifying values of meteorological
parameters in which irreversible changes will take place. Upon
and three potential contributions on a national or
reaching the tipping point, a new state would replace the old international scale.
one. In chaos theory, it means that the Earth-atmosphere 5. Ifclimate change denial persists, what could possibly
relationship would becom.e a chaotic region where uncertainty
happen to the Earth and humanity after 20,50, and 100
would exist.
years considering the current trend?
As presented in this book,
however, this issue has
implications on the environment and on the economy-burning
of fossil fuels is one of the major sources of electricity but also
leads to higher amounts of COr. All factors must then be
considered when resolving this issue or debate. If we want to
industrialize but at the same time protect the environment, then
a balanced plan must be created.

Science has given humanity a tool for modernization.It

allows for the emergence of technolo gy that spreads and applies
knowledge for the attainment of the good life. It must be

I
 IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

Acrvrrv 2

At the end of the discussion, determine if the perceived

values of parameters as accomplished in Activity 1 reflect real
statistics. Then, answer the following questions individually and
submit your work to your teacher:

1. How close were your perceptions from the actual data?

2- How would you characterize the movement of the
valuesl Does it have a consistent pattern?

3. Did you find it hard to measure the parameters using

only your senses? Why or why not?

4. What does the actual data say about the cu'rrent climate?
5. What can you observe about this year's weather pattern
when compared to that five years ago?
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