CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

SCIENCE

Science is as old as the world itself. There is no individual that can exactly
identify when and where science began. From the genesis time, science has existed. It
is always interwoven with the society. So, how can science be defined?
1. Science as an idea. It includes ideas, theories, and all available systematic
explanations and observations about the natural and physical world. It is the
systematized and detailed explanation of any phenomenon.
2. Science as an intellectual activity. It encompasses a systematic and practical
study of the natural and physical world. This process of study involves systematic
observation and experimentation.
3. Science as a body of knowledge. It is a subject or a discipline, a field of
study, or a body of knowledge that deals with the process of learning about the natural
and physical world. This is what we refer to as school science.
4. Science as a personal and social activity. This explains that science is both
knowledge and activities done by human beings to develop better understanding of
the world around them. It is means to improve life and to survive in life. It is
interwoven with people’s lives.

NATURAL SCIENCE – provides explanations about natural phenomena and

natural processes.
1. Biological Science – which deal with the study of living organisms.
2. Physical Science – which deal with the study of the non-living physical world.

SOCIAL SCIENCE - studies the social phenomena and the social world. These
disciplines concentrate on analyzing and explaining the different aspects of social life
of the individuals including their behavior.
1.Pure Social Science – is the search for knowledge for its own sake. Its goal is to
discover the truth.
2.Applied Social Science – is concerned with ways of using scientific knowledge to
solve practical problems.
 TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY comes from the Greek words tekhne meaning “art or craft” and
-logia, meaning a “subject or interest.” Taken together, the term has come to mean
“practical applications of what we know about nature” using scientific principles for
the betterment of the human situation.
-Things that fulfill our needs and desires or perform certain functions
-Application of understanding of natural laws to the solution of practical
problems

SOCIETY is a group of people occupying a geographical territory, with a common culture,

and interacting with each other.

The term “society” came from the Latin word societas, which in turn was derived
from the noun socius (‘comrade, friend, ally”) used to describe a bond interaction between
parties that are friendly, or at least civil.

Society and culture is not the same. Society is a group of people while Culture is a way of
life of the people.

*So, what is culture?

-The word culture is derived from the latin word “cultura” which means care, or
cultus, meaning civilization.

-Sociologically speaking, Culture refers to the total and distinctive way of life or
designs for living of any society.

It encompasses learned behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values and ideals characteristic of

certain societies.

Edward Tylor, an English anthropologist defined CULTURE as a “complex whole which

includes knowledge, beliefs, law, art, morals, customs and other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society.
SOCIOCULTURAL EVOLUTION

GERHARD LENSKI: Society and Technology

Lenski points to the importance of Technology in shaping any society. He uses the
term SOCIOCULTURAL EVOLUTION to mean changes that occur as a society gains new
technology.

1. HUNTING and GATHERING Societies

-men use simple tools to hunt animals and women gather vegetation
- the simplest of all societies and were the earliest type of society on Earth;
- are nomadic
- have only few dozen members
- family-centered
- consider men and women roughly equal in social importance
- Examples: Pygmies of Central Africa
Bushmen of Southwestern Africa
Semai of Malaysia

2. HORTICULTURAL and PASTORAL Societies

-developed some 12,000 years ago as people began to use hand tools to raise crops and as they
shifted to raising animals for food instead of hunting them.
- settlements of several hundred people
- religious system begins to develop
- show increasing levels of social inequality
- Example: Middle Eastern Societies about 5,000 B.C.

3. AGRARIAN Societies
- developed 5,000 years ago as the use of plows harnessed to animals or more powerful energy
sources enabled large-scale cultivation.
- Cities become common, but they generally contain only a small proportion of the population
- Family loses significance as distinct religious, political and economic systems emerge
- increased social inequality
- Examples: Medieval Europe, Egypt during construction of the Great Pyramid

4. INDUSTRIAL Societies
-Around the year 1750, people produced goods using advanced sources of energy to drive
large machinery.
- Cities contain most of the population; provides many modern conveniences and advanced
forms of transportation and communication
- moves work from the home to the factory
- reduces the traditional importance of the family
- Examples: Most societies today in Europe, North America, Australia and Japan

5. POSTINDUSTRIAL Societies
- Represent the most recent stage of technological development namely, technology that
supports an information - based economy.
- shifts production from heavy machinery making material things to computers and related
technology processing information.
- requires a population with information-based skills;

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INDEED PLAY MAJOR ROLES IN THE

EVERYDAY LIFE. THEY MAKE DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED TASKS
EASIER AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO MORE WITH SO LITTLE EFFORT AND
TIME.