GEC108 - Science, Technology, and Society

Second Semester, SY 2022-2023

Science

- knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the

operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through
scientific method

- such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the

physical world and its phenomena : Natural Science

Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science
Retrieved: September 5, 2021

-knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the

operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through
scientific method

Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science
Retrieved: February 19, 2023

Scientific Method

-principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge

involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of
data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and
testing of hypotheses

Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scientific%20method
Retrieved: February 19, 2023

Hypotheses - a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and

test its logical or empirical consequences

Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypotheses
Retrieved: February 19, 2023

Scientific Concepts (theories, principles, laws)

A scientific concept is a scientific theory or law that explains why and

how a natural event or process occurs. Scientific concepts include
mathematical formulas that explain or consistently describe natural
phenomena.

Source:
https://www.reference.com/world-view/scientific-concept-
caef376d0876a789 Retrieved: February 19, 2023
Natural Science

-any of the sciences (such as physics, chemistry, or biology) that deal with
matter, energy, and their interrelations and transformations
Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20science
Retrieved: February 19, 2023

Applied Science

Applied science is a discipline that is used to apply existing scientific

knowledge to develop more practical applications, for example: technology
or inventions.
Source:
https://www.internationalstudent.com/study-applied-
sciences/#:~:text=What%20is%20Applied%20Science%3F,phenom
ena%20in%20the%20natural%20world.
Retrieved: February 19, 2023

Technology

- the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of
technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the
environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts,
engineering, applied science, and pure science.

- the application of this knowledge for practical ends.

- the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature.

- a scientific or industrial process, invention, method, or the like.

- the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with
the material objects of their civilization.

Source:
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/technology
Retrieved: September 5, 2021

Discoveries

Invenntions

Society

- an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have

developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with
one another

- a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common

traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests

Source:
 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/society
Retrieved: September 5, 2021

MeasuringTtechnological Progress

Three (3) Stages of Social Evolution by Lewis H. Morgan

1. Savagery (the quality of being fierce or cruel)

2. Barbarism (absence of culture and civilization)
3. Civilization (the stage of human social and cultural
development and organization that is considered
most advanced)

Within these three it could be divided into technological milestones.

- Savagery was fire, the bow and arrow and pottery.

- Barbarism was the domestication of animals, agriculture and
metalworking
- Cililization was the alphabet and writing

Source:
https://exchange.telstra.com.au/technology-savagery-barbarism-and-civilization/
Retrieved: September 5, 2021

For White, “the primary function of culture” is to “harness and control energy.”

Five (5) Stages of Human Development by Leslie White

First Stage: - people use the energy of their own muscles.

Second Stage: - they use the energy of domesticated animals.
Third Stage: - they use the energy of plants (agricultural revolution).
Fourth Stage: - they learn to use the energy of natural resources: coal,
oil, gas.
Fifth Stage: - they harness nuclear energy.

Gerhard Lenski’s approach focuses on information. The more information and

knowledge a given society has, the more advanced it is. Based on advances in
the history of communication:

Four (4) Stages of Human Development by Gerhard Lenski

First Stage: - information is passed by genes.

Second Stage: - when humans gain sentience, they can learn and pass
information through experience.
*sentience = is the ability to experience sensations.

Third Stage: - the humans start using signs and develop logic.
Fourth Stage: - they can create symbols, develop language and writing.

Advancements in communications technology translate into advancements in

the:
1. economic system and political system,
2. distribution of wealth,
3. social inequality and
 4. other spheres of social life.

Societies based on their Level Of Technology, Communication,

and Economy by Gerhard Lenski’s

1. hunter-gatherer
2. simple agricultural
3. advanced agricultural
4. Industrial
5. special (such as fishing societies)

Source:
https://kirusuf.wordpress.com/2019/07/18/measuring-technological-progress/
Retrieved: September 5, 2021

Major Fields of Technology

1. Applied Science Artificial Intelligence, Ceramic Engineering,

Computing Technology, Electronics, Energy,
Energy Storage, Engineering Physics,
Environmental Technology, Fisheries Science,
Material Science and Engineering,
Microtechnology, Nanotechnology, Nuclear
Technology, Optics, Zoography

2. Information Communication, Graphics, Music Technology,

Speech Recognition, Visual Technology

3. Industry Construction, Financial Engineering,

Manufacturing, Machinery, Mining, Business
Informatics

4. Military Ammunition, Bombs, Guns, Military Technology

and Equipment, Naval Engineering

5. Domestic Educational Technology, Domestic Appliances,

Domestic Technology, Food Technology

6. Engineering Aerospace, Agricultural, Architectural, Audio,

Automotive, Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical,
Broadcast, Ceramic, Chemical, Civil, Computer,
Construction, Cryogenic, Electrical, Electronic,
Environmental, Food, Industrial, Materials,
Mechanical, Mechatronics, Metallurgical, Mining,
Naval, Nuclear, Optical, Petroleum, Software,
Structural, Systems, Textile, Tissue, Transport
 7. Health and Safety Biomedical Engineering, Bioinformatics,
Biotechnology, Cheminformatics, Fire Protection
Engineering, Health Technologies, Nutrition,
Pharmaceuticals, Safety Engineering, Sanitary
Engineering

8. Transport Aerospace, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive

Engineering, Marine Engineering, Motor Vehicles,
Space Technology

Source:
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Technology
Retrieved: September 5, 2021