SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY &
THE NATURE OF SCIENCE
SOCIETY
Lecture Notes on Introduction to Science, Technology and
Society
What are Science, Technology and society, and why should
people want to study and learn it? Why should students,
teachers, researchers and other professionals have interest in
the subject? Primarily, we need some background and
understanding of the significance of science and technology in
the living past and their importance in the modern world
(Mosteiro, 2004)
DEFINITIONS OF SCIENCE.
1. Science is a Process
- Concerned with discovering relationships between
observable phenomena in terms of theories.
- Systematized theoretical inquiries
- It seeks for truth about nature.
- It is determined by observation, hypothesis,
measurement, analysis and experimentation
- It is the description and explanation of the
development of knowledge
- It is the study of the beginning and end of everything
that exist.
- Conceptualization of new ideas, from the abstract to
the particular.
- Kind of human cultural activity.
2. Science is a Product
- Systematized, organized body of knowledge based on
facts or truths observations.
- A set of logical and empirical methods which provide
for the systematic observation of empirical
phenomena. c. Source of cognitive authority.
- Concerned with verifiable concepts
- A product of the mind
- It is the variety of knowledge, people, skills,
organizations, facilities, techniques, physical
resources, methods and technologies that taken
together and in relation with one another.
Prof. Pacifico U. Payawal
(G. Gore 1878) “Science is the interpretation of nature and
man is the interpreter.”
(A Wolf 1925). “Nature, with all her irregularities, might have
been just as real even if there were no men to observe and to
study her. But there could have been no science without
human beings or beings like them. It is the spirit of man
brooding over the stream of natural events that has given birth
to science.”
(A. Einstein 1940) “Science is the attempts to make the
chaotic diversity of our sense experience correspond to a
logically uniform system of thought.”
Science according to (Gore, Wolf, and Einstein)
- Subject matter of science is nature
- Component of nature- Every physical entity in the
extraterrestrial and terrestrial environment.
- The galaxies, the stars in the galaxy, the planets and
their moons, the asteroids and the comets, the air,
water, and soil; the plants and the animals, they are
physical entities of Mother Nature
- We are conscious of natureʼs reality because of the
stimuli emanating from these entities which our sense
perceived.
Nature is very complex.
- The multitudes of entities comprising nature, and
their complex interactions, make nature innately
complex. Therefore, the totality of stimuli emanating
from her is intuitively chaotic.
- Science represents the attempt of man to put order to
this chaotic perception of nature.
Why are we curious?
It is almost an instinct for us humans to try to understand what
our senses perceived because of our highly developed mental
skills. These are the mental skills to observe, infer, measure,
classify, experiment, and to communicate. Through the ages,
our ancestors learned to use these skills in a methodical
manner to investigate the ‘how,ʼ the ‘why,ʼ and the ‘whenʼ of
natural events. This methodical manner to our mental skills to
satisfy human curiosity is the scientific method.
Using the scientific method, generation after generation of
scientist gradually discovered the natural laws that govern
natural processes. As each generation described with an
ever increasing accuracy the events and circumstances that
prevail in nature, what was once perceived as chaotic becomes
rational, and man saw the unity in the diversity of nature.
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move a stationary object or stop a moving object (Newton’s
Second Law), and what happens when two objects collide
(Newton’s Third Law). Collectively, the three laws constitute
the basis of classical mechanics – a theory of moving objects.
The goal of scientific research is to discover laws and
postulate theories that can explain natural or social
phenomena, or in other words, build scientific knowledge. It is
important to understand that this knowledge may be imperfect
or even quite far from the truth. Sometimes, there may not be a
single universal truth, but rather an equilibrium of “multiple
truths.” We must understand that the theories, upon which
scientific knowledge is based, are only explanations of a
particular phenomenon, as suggested by a scientist. As such,
there may be good or poor explanations, depending on the
extent to which those explanations fit well with reality, and
consequently, there may be good or poor theories. The
progress of science is marked by our progression over time
from poorer theories to better theories, through better
observations using more accurate instruments and more
informed logical reasoning.
We arrive at scientific laws or theories through a process of
logic and evidence. Logic (theory) and evidence
(observations) are the two, and only two, pillars upon which
scientific knowledge is based. In science, theories and
observations are interrelated and cannot exist without each
other. Theories provide meaning and significance to what we
observe, and observations help validate or refine existing
theory or construct new theory. Any other means of
knowledge acquisition, such as faith or authority cannot be
considered science.
Falsifiability:
- A theory must be stated in a way that it can be
disproven. Theories that cannot be tested or falsified
are not scientific theories and any such knowledge is
not scientific knowledge
- A theory that is specified in imprecise terms or whose
concepts are not accurately measurable cannot be
tested, and is therefore not scientific. Sigmund
Freud’s ideas on psychoanalysis fall into this
category and is therefore not considered a “theory”,
even though psychoanalysis may have practical
utility in treating certain types of ailments.
Parsimony:
- Scientists must always accept the simplest or
logically most economical explanation. This concept
is called parsimony or “Occam’s razor.”
- Parsimony prevents scientists from pursuing overly
complex or outlandish theories with endless number
of concepts and relationships that may explain a little
bit of everything but nothing in particular.
- Any branch of inquiry that does not allow the
scientific method to test its basic laws or theories
cannot be called “science.”
-
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

- Refers to a standardized set of techniques for building

scientific knowledge, such as how to make valid
observations, how to interpret results, and how to
generalize those results.
- Allows researchers to independently and impartially test
preexisting theories and prior findings, and subject them
to open debate, modifications, or enhancements.

4 Characteristic of Science method that must satisfy:

Replicability:

- Others should be able to independently replicate or

repeat a scientific study and obtain similar, if not
identical, results.

Precision:

- Theoretical concepts, which are often hard to

measure
- must be defined with such precision that others can
use those definitions to measure those concepts and
test that theory.

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on Philosophy and Mathematics. They are also celebrated for
their contribution to the world like coliseum, Olympics, alarm
clock and water mill.
Perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the
west,
Roman Empire
- Perceived to be the strongest political and social
entity in the west.
- Was considered to be the cradle of politics and
governance.
- Other civilizations looked up to it as a model in terms
of codified laws and legislation.
- They are also celebrated for the invention of
newspaper, bound books or codex.
- In terms of architecture and engineering, Romans are
known for building elaborate churches, basilicas,
aqueducts, coliseums, amphitheaters and residential
houses. They have also devised their own number
system which is the Roman Numeral System.
China
- Considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia.
- Known for the silk trade, tea production, gun powder
and the living legend great wall of China.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN MIDDLE AGES
The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions
and migrations. Wars are prevalent during this time. As such,
great technology was needed in the fields of weaponry,
navigation, food and farm production and health. The wars
have resulted to population decline. However, in the later part
of this period, there was significant increase in population.
Trade and commerce among nations increased, which resulted
in greater demands for transportation technology. Some of the
most innovative minds came from this period. To facilitate
record keeping, wood lock printing developed by Chinese
was improved by the time of Johann Gutenberg with a cast
type printing press. This general invention soon evolved to
be the mechanical printing press which was eventually used
all over the world. The printing press was invented to address
the need for publishing books that would spread information
to many people at a faster rate. This invention also made
works accessible to individuals who could not even write
(Streissguth, 1997).
Another invention in the Middle Age is the microscope.
Growing populations caused massive migration and
urbanization during the period. More and more people
transferred to polluted and populated urban areas which
resulted in more people getting sick. With this, experts needed
to a device to study microorganisms in order to develop
proper medicines for illnesses. Guided by the principles used
for the invention of eyeglasses in earlier years, Zacharias
Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope
(Davidson, 2015).
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ANCIENT

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 - Hieroglyphs
MIDDLE/MEDIEVAL AGES
4. A thick type of paper made from the pith of the papyrus
plant called Cyperus papyrus.
Around 476 A.D may span roughly 1,000 years ending
between 1400 and 1450. , the period of world history known
- Papyrus
as the Middle ages started where major advances in scientific
and technological development took place.
5.In ancient Babylonia, it is one of thr earliest systems of
This era gave various contributions and made various
writing, distinguished by its wedge-shaped marks on clay
inventions which resulted to being called as the “Age of
tablets, made by means of blunt stylus
Exploration.”
- Cuneiform Inventions during the middle/medieval ages
6. It is use by Egyptians for religious literature on papyrus and  Printing press
wood.  Microscope
 Telescope
- Cursiv
 War weapons
7. An art that aims to Aprove the capability of writers or  Mechanical Artillery - Counterweight Trebuchet
speakers to inform, most likely to persuade, or motivate  Horseshoe
particular audiences in specific situations.  Horse Collar
 Hourglass
- Rhetoric  Water-mill and Windmills
 Chess
8. _ has descended from the Phoenician abjad while the  Mirrors
Phoenician alphabet is de from Egyptian hieroglyphi
PRINTING PRESS
- Greek Alphabet
Johann Guttenberg was able to invent the printing press, a
more reliable way of printing using a cast type. A machine by
which text and images are transferred to paper or other media
by means of ink.

MICROSCOPE
The key in discovering new means in preventing and curing
various illnesses

TELESCOPE
An optical instrument that helps
in the observation of remote objects, and is used by
navigators during this time

MECHANICAL ARTILLERY
Artillery in the middle Ages primarily consisted of the
introduction of the cannon, large tubular firearms designed to
fire a heavy projectile over a long distance. It’s used for
security and protection

COUNTERWEIGHT TREBUCHE
Gravity powers these weapons revolutionized medieval siege
weapons by use of counterweights allowing it to hurl huge
stones very long distances.

HORSE COLLAR
It was one of the most important inventions of the Middle
Ages since it allowed more horse pulling power, such as with
the heavy plough

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SIGNIFICANT INVENTION IN THE
PHILIPPINES

MAJOR IMPACTA OF INVENTON TOWARDS

SOCIETY

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short paper in which he independently described a theory of - He proposed the Geocentric Model placing the earth
evolution by natural selection. opposed to the position of the sun

It was decided by Lyell and Hooker, who both knew of
Darwin’s work, that the two men should make a joint
presentation at the Linnean Society acknowledging their
independent discovery. No one took any notice of this. Darwin
then spent over a year developing the argument which was
published as On the Origin of Species, 1859.
The Origin of the Species: Variations
Chap. 1: Darwin pointed out that animal breeders artificially
select preferred characteristics from domestic populations
(pigeons, cows, dogs, etc.) in which there is a lot of random
variation. Over many generation these small differences
produce very different types of animals (varieties of the same
species).
Chap. 2: Darwin argued that a similar selection occurs in
nature. He then began to discuss the nature of species. He
pointed out that it is often hard to demarcate between species;
it is hard to decide what are different species as opposed to
different varieties. He argued that we could think of well-
marked varieties as “incipient species” – that is, newly
forming, or emerging
COPERNICAN REVOLUTION
- “The birth of the modern science.”
- Heliocentric (helio=sun, centric=center), the idea that the
sun is the center of the solar system.
- The believed existence of the early universe.
- A theory that support with scientific evidences.
ARISTOTLE (384BC-322BC)
JOHANNES KEPLER(1571-1630)
- A Lutheran astrologer and mathematics professor in
Austria.- it helped to refined the heliocentric model with
his "introduction of elliptical orbits.“
- Who discovered that the Earth and planets travel about the
sun in elliptical orbits.
- He asserted the physical reality of a heliocentric model as
opposed to a geocentric one.
TYCHO BRAHE (1546-1601)
- Danish astronomer, known for his accurate and
comprehensive astronomical observations.
- Proposed a theory of the solar system, which contained
elements of both the Earth-centred Ptolemaic system and
the Sun-centred Copernican system.
- Adopted a system much like Regiomontanus with earth
stationary but planets revolving around sun.
GALILEO GALILEI (1564-1642)
- Studied medicine
- Was appointed professor of mathematics at Pisa at the age
of 25
- Spyglass was invented in Holland in 1609 which
magnified about 3 times. . Later he improved it to 30
times magnification.
- Galileo became interested in Copernicus to explain
Galileo's theory of the tides.
- Those who opposed any aspect of Church authority were
on thin ice.

- Student of Plato.
- A philosopher who believed in a Geocentric Universe.
- Planet and star were perfect spheres.
- Movement of planets and star must be circular.

NICHOLAS COPERNICUS (1473-1543)

- Known as the father of the modern astronomy.

- He proposed Heliocentric model.
- The man who started demolition work of the
misconception.
- In 1543, Copernicus published his book called “De
revolutionimbus coelestium libri VI (“Six Books
Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs”), the
year of his death for fear of persecution by the church.

CLAUDIUS PTOLEMY (85 BC - 165 BC)

- He is a Mathematician and scientist who contributed to

the mathematics, geography, and optics.
- proposed geocentric (geo=earth ; centric=center).
- Believed that the earth is the center of the universe.

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