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Introduction on Science and Technology

1. Science-refers to a system and accurate activity of pattern and plan of knowledge about
how the universe act through observation, experimentation or both. According to the famous
American science historian, John Heilbron (2003), Modern Science is a discovery as well as
invention. He also explained that Science requires inventions to devise techniques, abstractions,
apparatuses, and organizations to describe natural regularities and law-like descriptions.
2. Technology-refers to the application of theoretical knowledge of industry and the
industrial arts to produce services, materials, tools and machines aimed at solving real-world
problems. It comes from the Greek root word techne, meaning art, skill or cunning of hand. As
what Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, explained in December 2014 during a live public
question and answer event: “A technological tool is something that takes a human’s sense or
ability and augments it and makes it more powerful.” He gave as an example that the wearing of
contact lenses or glasses is a technology that enhances human ability of vision and makes it
better.
3. Society is simply a group of people who manage to live together. They share a lot of
physical and ideological concepts, many of which have been passed down over hundreds or
thousands of years. The home is an interesting concept, expressed in our society as a box made
of wood and other materials which can contain an environmentally controlled atmosphere
suitable for human comfort. When humans occupy the house, they become familiar with it and
the people who frequent the place. It’s worth noting that homes and families are not always
healthy, despite the persons feeling attached to them. The house itself may contain toxins like
radon or black mold. People may form a “pecking order” wherein one person becomes the
scapegoat for any and all negative feelings in the family.

The interaction of this three in history are significantly high this results in progress in the modern
technologies and even new medicines thus advancing our civilization by leaps, but there are also
times where the society are a bit distance from this 2 were some disagrees with some technology
and some agrees this results in fear and misinformation among the society.

Science and technology are the main drive of the productivity but if they are used for the wrong
purpose of economy --- satisfy the evergrowing material needs and wants of evergrowing
population, they are a destructive force for the limited real value on earth and a destructive force
for human future.
Only when science and technology are used for the correct purpose --- human perpetual survival
into endless far future, they are a constructive force.
Now the science and technology are used for making money, and regardless the pollution it
caused and resources exhausted. How much science and technology are used for preventing
pollution and resources overuse? Very little, because that doesn’t make money.
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Science and technology are the tools for human purpose. It is the human that use them, decide
how science and technology affecting the society and environment.

Talk of paradigms and paradigm shifts has since become commonplace — not only in science,
but also in business, social movements and beyond. In a column at The Globe and Mail, Robert
Fulford describes paradigm as "a crossover hit: It moved nimbly from science to culture to sports
to business."

But what, exactly, is a paradigm shift? Or, for that matter, a paradigm?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers the following:

Simple Definition of paradigm:

: a model or pattern for something that may be copied
: a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about
Accordingly, a paradigm shift is defined as "an important change that happens when the usual
way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way."

Historical antecedents in which social considerations changed the course of science and
technology
Ancient Period
The beginning of ancient civilizations prepared the direction for advances in science and
technology. These advances permitted said civilizations to blossom by introducing better ways of
communication, transportation, self-organization and of living in general. Inventions and
innovations introduced during this period are the following:
1. Ancient wheel – This invention begun by Sumerians through the use of a mechanical device
called potter’s wheelwheel—a heavy flat disk made of hardened clay.
2. Paper -This invention was introduced by ancient Egyptians at around 3000 BC by writing on
Papyrus, a material similar to thick paper. Papyrus is made from the pith of the papyrus plant
cyperus papyrus .
3. Shadoof – This was an early tool invented and used by ancient
Egyptians to irrigate land. Also spelled as Shaduf which was a hand operated device utilized for
lifting water.
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4. Antikythera mechanism – This was invented by the Greeks which was discovered in 1902 and
was retrieved from the waters of Antikythera, Greece. This mechanism was implemented to
predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological considerations. The
same was invented by Greek scientist between 150-100 BC. The Antikythera mechanism is one
of the most amazing mechanical devices discovered from the ancient world.
5. Aeolipile – also known as Hero’s engine, is believed to be an ancient precursor of the steam
engine. The Aeolipile is a steam powered engine which spun when the water container was
heated.
Middle Ages
This period is characterised by an Increase of new inventions, introduction of innovations in
traditional production, and emergence of scientific thinking and method. The Middle Ages was
not as a stagnant as alternate terms such as the ‘Medieval Period’ or ‘Dark Ages’ suggest. In fact,
many medieval universities at the same time stirred scientific thinking and built infrastructures
for scientific communities to flourish.

1. Heavy Plough – This is one of the most important technological innovations during the middle
ages. Clay soil despite being more fertile than lighter types of soil, was not cultivated because of
its heavy weight. Professor Thomas Bernebeck Andersen of the University of Southern Denmark
succinctly describes the impact of the invention of heavy plough. The heavy plough stirred an
agricultural revolution in Northern Europe marked by higher and healthier agricultural yields and
more efficient agricultural practices.
2. Gun Powder – The discovery was around 850 AD, Chinese alchemists accidentally invented
black powder or gunpowder. Since its invention, the gunpowder has allowed for more advanced
warfare. From fiery arrows to cannons and grenades, the gunpowder has prompted foundation
for the functionality of almost every new weapon used in war since its invention. It is ushered as
an unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages.
3. Paper Money – the first known versions of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese
in 17thcentury AD as an offshoot of the invention of block printing, which is similar to stamping.
Before the introduction of paper money, precious metals, such as gold and silver were used as
currency. The idea of assigning value to a marked piece of paper did not immediately become
popular. When the Mongol’s attempted to introduce paper money into the Middle East market in
the 13th century, it did not gain immediate success. Traders and Merchants eventually realized
the huge advantage of using paper money because it was easier to transport around compared to
the previous forms of currencies.
4. Mechanical Clock – The development of mechanical clocks paved the way for accurately
keeping track of time. The sophistication of clockwork technology of the mechanical track
drastically changed the way days were spent. Work patterns were established, particularly in the
more advanced Middle Age cities.
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5. Spinning Wheel – This is a machine used for transforming fiber into thread or yarn and
eventually woven into cloth on a loom. Although no consensus could be made regarding the
origin of the spinning wheel, it is theorized that the Indians invented the spinning wheel between
6th and 11th century AD. According to White (1974), the invention of the spinning wheel sped
up the rate at which fiber could be spun by a factor of 10 to 100 times. Thus, White argued that
this invention ushered in a breakthrough in linen production when it was introduced in Europe in
13th century AD.
They would quickly replace the more traditional method of hand spinning and were a
prerequisite to the later innovations made during the Industrial Revolution like the Spinning
Jenny and spinning frame.
Spinning wheels appear to have their origin in India sometime between the 5th and 10th Century
AD. They eventually reached Europe later in the Middle Ages thanks to the Silk road. They
quickly replaced the more traditional method of hand spinning and were a pre-requisite to the
later innovations made during the Industrial Revolution like the Spinning Jenny and spinning
frame. The spinning wheel can, therefore, be argued to have helped lay the foundations for the
modern world -as unlikely as that might seem at first.
Modern Ages
A period of increased efficiency in transportation, communication and production brought about
by a steady increase in world population. This is also the time when industrialization took place.
1. Compound Microscope – A Dutch spectacle maker named Zacharias Jansen is credited for the
invention of the first compound microscope in 1590. Together with his father Hans, Zacharias
began experimenting with lenses by putting together several lenses on a tube. This led to an
amazing discovery that an object, when placed near the end of the tube, can be magnified far
larger than what a simple magnifying lens can do. Today, the compound microscope is an
important instrument in many scientific studies, such as in the areas of medicine, forensic
studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies and genetics.
2. Telescope – It was Galileo Galilei who invented the telescope, the single, most important
technological invention in the study of astronomy during Modern Ages. It could magnify objects
20 times larger than the Dutch perspective glasses. It was Galileo who first used the telescope
skyward and made important astronomical discoveries, and identified the presence of craters and
mountains on the moon. For the first time, it became clear that the universe is far larger than
previously imagined and the earth far smaller compared to the entire universe.
3. Jacquard Loom – This is one of the most critical drivers of the revolution. Built by French
weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard, the Jacquard loom simplifies textile manufacturing. Prior to the
invention of the Jacquard loom, a drawloom was used which required two individuals to operate
—the weaver and a “drawboy”—if figured designs on textile were needed. The Jacquard loom is
also important antecedent of modern computer technology as it demonstrated the use of punched
cards to instruct a machine to carry out complex tasks, i.e., making different textile patterns.
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4. Engine – Powered Airplane – These were invented by the Wright Brothers, Orville and
Wilbur, with an original flying machine patent (US patent NO. 821393) and referred to as
airoplanes. The Wright Brothers were brilliant scientist who prepared the path for modern
aircraft technology.
5. Television – was invented by the Scottish Engineer John Loggy Beird paving the way to the
invention of the modern television.
Filipino Scientists Inventions
Filipinos are responsible for developing many scientific and technological innovations focused
on navigation, traditional shipbuilding, textiles, food processing, indigenous arts and techniques,
and even cultural inventions. The following are some of the most important inventions by
Filipino scientists:

1. Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney) – The e-jeepney is the inventive response to criticisms to the
traditional jeepney that belched smoke, directly causing air pollution which made it
unsustainable and uneconomical. E – jeepney are designed to be environment-friendly,
eliminating noise and air pollution as they run on electricity They are also more economical for
electricity is far cheaper than ordinary diesel, allowing jeepney drivers to earn more profit.
2. Erythromycin-This is an antibiotic out of a strain of bacterium called Streptomycin erythreus,
invented by the Ilonggo Scientist Abelardo Aguilar. Probably, this is one of the most important
inventions in field of medicine.
3. Medical Incubator-This was invented by world renown Filipino pediatrician and national
scientist Fe Delmundo. This device is intended to regulate body temperature of new born babies
in the rural areas.
4. Mole Remover-This is a local invention in 2000 that had the ability to easily remove mole and
wart of the skin without any surgical procedure was invented by Rolando dela Cruz. This was
made out of the extracts of cashew nuts (Annacardium occidentale), very common in the
Philippines.
5. Banana Catsup-This is invented by a Filipino food technologist, Maria Orosa. This catsup
made use of mashed banana and combined with sugar, vinegar and spices.
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Referrences

 Lou, M. (n.d.). How does scientific and technology development affect the society and the

environment?.

Https://www.Quora.com/. https://www.quora.com/How-does-scientific-and-technology-

development-affect-the-society-and-the-environment

 LOMBROZO, T. (n.d.). What Is A Paradigm Shift, Anyway? Https://www.npr.org.

https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/07/18/486487713/what-is-a-paradigm-shift-

anyway

 Echanes, K. L. A. (2021, February 2). MODULE 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS and

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS. Https://www.Studocu.com. Retrieved February 1,

2023, from https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/new-era-university/philippine-

history-1/module-1-general-concepts-and-historical-developments/13322074