Science Technology and Society

LESSON 1: WHY DO WE HAVE TO STUDY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY

1. Military Power
I. The Rise Concern over Science and Technology in Society 2. Economic Strength
a. Knoxville News Sentinel (1945) – Bombing of 3. Medical well-being
Hiroshima, Japan. OTHER CONCERNS:
b. Thalidomide Birth Defects Scandal ● Human Success and Failures
II. Importance of Science and Technology in the ● Threats to Human Survival
Contemporary World. ● Nuclear Weapons
III. What is Science? ● Toxic Chemicals
IV. What is Technology? ● Ethical Dilemmas
o Thalidomide
THE RISE OF CONCERN OVER SCIENCE AND o Euthanasia
TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY? o Abortion
● Disparities in Human Well-being
KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL (1945) – BOMBING OF
● Inequality
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN.
● Social Conflicts
● The bombing of Japan led to the distraction of ● The use of laboratory animals in medical research
Hiroshima. Many lives were lost, infrastructures were
destroyed, and the environment was greatly affected. WHAT IS SCIENCE?
● Toxic and/or hazardous chemicals cannot be ● The systematic theoretical inquiry
degraded and in the long run, they can negatively
affect the lives of living creatures. 4 MEANING OF SCIENCE

THALIDOMIDE BIRTH DEFECTS SCANDAL

1. SCIENCE AS KNOWLEDGE
● It was discovered in Germany in 1950s and it was organized, well-founded body of knowledge.
used as a sedative. Example: Germ Theory
● It was used by pregnant women to ease morning 2. SCIENCE AS A FIELD OF SYSTEMATIC INQUIRY
sickness and was called a wonder drug. INTO NATURE.
● After several studies, they have discovered that it has Example: Physics, Biology, Botany, etc.
negative effect and across 46 countries, over 10000 3. SCIENCE AS A FORM OF HUMAN CULTURAL
children were born with defects. ACTIVITY
● The German company (Grunenthal Group) issued an practiced by people such as scientist and natural
apology in 2012, more than 50 years after the drug philosophers.
first went on sale. 4. SCIENCE AS A TOTAL SOCIETAL ENTERPRISE.
Example: complex, knowledge, people, skills,
Because of these cases, there are rise of concerns in organizations, and facilities.
terms of science and technological advancements: 5.
● Increase in public awareness ‘ WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY
● Raised concerns with Science and Technology and
Society issues. 4 MEANINGS OF TECHNOLOGY
● Academic World. The study of STS was believed to
help tomorrow’s decision makers to understand more
1. TECHNOLOGY AS TECHNICS
effectively with the real-life STS issues.
2. TECHNOLOGY AS TECHNOLOGY
● Twin crises of war and environment.
3. TECHNOLOGY AS A FORM OF CULTURAL
ACTIVITY.
IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN
Example: Engineering
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
3 LEADING CONCERNS OF CITIZENS AND
GOVERNMENT:

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4. TECHNOLOGY AS A TOTAL SOCIETAL

ENTERPRISE
devoted to research, production, development, and
operations of the techniques.

SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
Knowledge Technics
Field of Technology
systematic inquiry
A form of human A form of human
cultural activity cultural activity
A total societal A total societal
enterprise enterprise

DIFFERENCES
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
Theory Technics
Pursuit of Creation of
knowledge artifacts
Discoveries Invention
Desire to know Extend human
capabilities
Experimental Product design
design
Reductionism Holism