Aguila, John David C.

Arc – 4205
Science, Technology And Society (STS)

What is Science, Technology and Society?

Science comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning “knowledge.” It refers to a
systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe
behaves through observation, experimentation, or both. Involves solving problems through the
scientific method. Science is an evolving body of knowledge that is based on theoretical
expositions and experimental and empirical activities that generates universal truths.
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to produce
services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems. These are things
that fulfil our needs and desires, or perform certain functions that involves creating and inventing
things.
Society is the sum total of our interactions as humans, including the interactions that we
engage in to understand the nature of things and to create things. It is also defined as a group of
individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same
geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant
cultural expectations (Science Daily).
Science, technology and society generally applies methods drawn from history,
philosophy, and sociology to study the nature of science and technology and ultimately judge their
value and place in the society. It seeks to bridge the gap between two traditionally exclusive
cultures – humanities (interpretative) and natural sciences (rational) – so that humans will be able
to confront the moral, ethical, and existential dilemmas brought about by continued developments
in science and technology. It is also the study of how society, politics, and culture affect scientific
research and technological innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture.
Science and Technology and Society is an interdisciplinary course intended to be inspect the
manners in which that science and innovation shape, and are formed by, our general public,
governmental issues, and culture. It investigates the circumstances under which creation,
conveyance and usage of logical information and innovative frameworks happen; and the impacts
of these cycles upon the whole society.
Science seeks to improve due to the demand of what society needs and to create an
innovation for a new technology as it was the demand of technology. Technology makes works
easier and faster as the society benefits from it. Human values, social organization, environmental
concerns, economic resources, political decisions, and a myriad of other factors are the problems
in modern society.
Historical Antecedents in the World
Advancement in technology and innovations were driven by different factors which include
concerns in transportation, communication, food production agriculture and industry, military
conservation of life and engineering and architecture as well as aesthetics, power and energy.
Science also gave emphasize to organized observational methods and measurement.
Ancient Period. The rise of ancient civilization paved the way for advances in science
and technology. These advances during the ancient period allowed civilizations to flourish by
looking for better ways to communicate, transport, self-organize, and enhance their way of life, in
general.
Middle Ages. Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and the
colonial expansion of Western Europe in the late 15th century AD, major advances in scientificand
technological development took place. These include the steady increase of new inventions,
introduction of innovations in traditional production, and the emergence scientific thinking and the
scientific method.
Modern Ages. As the world population steadily increased, people of the Modern Ages
realized the utmost importance of increasing the efficiency of transportation, communication and
production. Industrialization took place with greater risks in human health, food safety and
environment which had to be addressed as scientific and technological progress unfolded at an
unimaginable speed.

From Ancient Times to 600 BC

Science during antiquated times included useful expressions like healing practices and
metal tradition. The ancient Egyptians already had reasonably sophisticated medical practices.
Most historians agree that the heart of Egyptian medicine was trial and error. The Egyptian
medicine was considered advanced as compared with other ancient nations because of one of
the early inventions of Egyptian civilization – the papyrus. The papyrus is an ancient form of paper,
made from the papyrus plant, took thin slices of the stem of the papyrus plant, laid them crosswise
on top of each other, moistened them, and then pressed and dried them. Egyptian writings
became easy to store and transport. As a result, the knowledge of one scholar could be easily
transferred to other scholars. Before papyrus, Egyptians, Sumerians, and other races wrote on
clay tablets or smooth rocks called cuneiform.
Around the time that papyrus was first being used in Egypt, the Mesopotamians were
making pottery using the first known potter’s wheel. Not long after, horse-drawn chariots were
being used. 6 As early as 1,000 years before Christ, the Chinese were using compasses to aid
themselves in their travels. The ancient world, then, was filled with inventions that, although they
sound commonplace today, revolutionized life during those times. These inventions are history’s
first inklings of science.
The Advent of Science

Humankind has always been inquisitive, needing to understand why things behave in a
certain way, and trying to link observation with prediction. For example, since prehistoric times
we have observed the heavens and tried to make sense of the seasonal changes in the position
of the sun, moon and stars. In about 4000 BC, the Mesopotamians tried to explain their
observations by suggesting that the Earth was at the center of the Universe, and that the other
heavenly bodies moved around it. Humans have always been interested in the nature and origins
of this Universe.

Metallurgy. But they weren't only interested in astronomy. The extraction of iron, which
led to the Iron Age, is a chemical process which early metallurgists developed without
understanding any of the science involved. Nevertheless, they were still able to optimise the
extraction by trial and error. Before this, copper and tin were extracted (which led to the Bronze
Age) and later, zinc. Exactly how each of these processes was discovered is lost in the mists of
time, but it is likely that they were developed using observation and experiment in a similar way
to that used by today's scientists.

Medicine. Early humankind also observed that certain plants could be used to treat
sickness and disease, and herbal medicines were developed, some of which are still used by
modern pharmaceutical companies to provide leads for new synthetic drugs.

The Greeks. The first people to try and develop the theory behind their observations were
the Greeks: people such as Pythagoras, who concentrated on a mathematical view of the world.
Similarly, Aristotle and Plato developed logical methods for examining the world around them. It
was the Greeks who first suggested that matter was made up of atoms — fundamental particles
that could not be broken down further.

But it wasn't only the Greeks who moved science on. Science was also being developed
in India, China, the Middle East and South America. Despite having their own cultural view of the
world, they each independently developed materials such as gunpowder, soap and paper.

The Birth of Modern Science. It was in the 17th century that modern science was really
born, and the world began to be examined more closely, using instruments such as the telescope,
microscope, clock and barometer. It was also at this time that scientific laws started to be put
forward for such phenomena as gravity and the way that the volume, pressure and temperature
of a gas are related. In the 18th century much of basic biology and chemistry was developed as
part of the Age of Enlightenment.

The 19th century saw some of the great names of science: people like the chemist John
Dalton, who developed the atomic theory of matter, Michael Faraday and James Maxwell who
both put forward theories concerning electricity and magnetism, and Charles Darwin, who
proposed the (still) controversial theory of evolution. Each of these developments forced scientists
radically to re-examine their views of the way in which the world worked.

The last century brought discoveries such as relativity and quantum mechanics, which,
again, required scientists to look at things in a completely different way. It makes you wonder
what the iconoclastic discoveries of this century will be.
Islamic Golden Age

Science and technology advanced during the Islamic Golden Age for many reasons. First,
the pursuit of knowledge was encouraged both by the Islamic religion and the Islamic government.
Scholars were respected by the people and sponsored by the government. At the same time,
paper technology was introduced from China, allowing for the production of books. Large libraries
were built in cities throughout the Muslim empire helping technology and knowledge to be shared
between scholars. The Islamic Golden Age was a period of cultural, economic and scientific
flourishing in the history of Islam.

Mathematics . Islamic scholars studied the mathematics of earlier civilizations in Greece,

India, and China. They then made advances in many areas including geometry and trigonometry.
Perhaps the most important mathematical advancement was in the area of algebra. Two great
Islamic mathematicians, al-Khwarizmi and Omar Khayyam, helped develop algebra into a
separate field of mathematics. In fact, the name "algebra" comes from the Arabic "al-jabr", which
means "reunion of broken parts."

Astronomy. Astronomy was an important part of Islamic science. It was used for
navigation, determining an accurate calendar, and for religious purposes (determining the
direction of Mecca and prayer times). Islamic astronomers built large observatories for viewing
the stars. They also designed detailed celestial globes showing the positions of the stars and
planets in relation to the Earth. New tools were developed including the quadrant and the
astrolabe.
Medicine. Islamic medicine was well-advanced for this period of time. Doctors were
required to attend medical school where they studied the works of the Ancient Greeks and Indians.
Islamic scholars added to this work with new medical theories and ideas. Most major cities had a
large hospital where anyone could go to seek healthcare. One of the largest hospitals in Cairo,
Egypt was said to help 4,000 patients a day. One of the most lasting influences of Islamic medicine
was a medical book written by Ibn Sina called The Canon of Medicine. This book was used as
the standard medical textbook both in the Islamic world and throughout Europe for hundreds of
years.
Engineering. Due to the scarceness and importance of water in the Middle East, much
of the efforts of Islamic engineers went into ways to store and move water. They built dams,
irrigation canals, waterwheels, pumps, aqueducts, and cisterns. They also invented various ways
to measure water and control the flow of water. Islamic engineers also made significant
contributions in the areas of optics, mechanics, clocks, wind power, and chemistry.

Ancient China

The history of science and technology in China is both long and rich with science and
technological contribution. ancient Chinese philosophers made significant advances in science,
technology, mathematics, and astronomy. The first recorded observations of comets, solar
eclipses, and supernovae were made in China. Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture
and herbal medicine were also practiced. Among the earliest inventions were the abacus, the
"shadow clock," and the first flying machines such as kites and Kongming lanterns. One of the
oldest longstanding contributions of the ancient Chinese are in Traditional Chinese medicine,
including acupuncture and herbal medicine.
The Four Great Inventions of Ancient China. The "Four Great Inventions of ancient
China" are the compass, gunpowder, papermaking, and printing. These four discoveries had an
enormous impact on the development of Chinese civilization and a far-ranging global impact.
Printing, gunpowder and the compass: These three have changed the whole face and state of
things throughout the world; the first in literature, the second in warfare, the third in navigation;
whence have followed innumerable changes, in so much that no empire, no sect, no star seems
to have exerted greater power and influence in human affairs than these mechanical discoveries.
Science and technology in the People's Republic of China is growing rapidly. As the
People's Republic of China has become better connected to the global economy, the government
has placed more emphasis on science and technology. This has led to increases in funding,
improved scientific structure, and more money for research. These factors have led to
advancements in agriculture, medicine, genetics, and global change.

The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and
economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages which was considered by many as the Golden Age
of Science. Intense interest in and learning about classical antiquity was "reborn" after the Middle
Ages, in which classical philosophy was largely ignored or forgotten. Many historians prefer to
think of the Renaissance as primarily an intellectual and cultural movement rather than a historical
period. During this time, interest in classical antiquity and philosophy grew, with some
Renaissance thinkers using it as a way to revitalize their culture. They expanded and interpreted
these Classical ideas, creating their own style of art, philosophy and scientific inquiry. Some major
developments of the Renaissance include developments in astronomy, humanist philosophy, the
printing press, vernacular language in writing, painting and sculpture technique, world exploration.
Peter Dear has argued for a two-phase model of early modern science: a Scientific
Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries, focused on the restoration of the natural knowledge
of the ancients; and a Scientific Revolution of the 17th century, when scientists shifted from
recovery to innovation.
A cultural movement called humanism began to gain momentum in Italy that promotes the
idea that man was the center of his own universe, and people should embrace human
achievements in education, classical arts, literature and science. The development and growth of
the printing press, developed by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440, was perhaps the most important
technical achievement of the Renaissance. It allowed Bibles, secular books, printed music and
more to be made in larger quantities and reach more people. The most prevalent societal change
during the Renaissance was the fall of feudalism and the rise of a capitalist market economy.
Workers could demand wages and good living conditions, and so serfdom ended. Rulers began
to realize having money became more important than your allegiances.
One of the major scientific discoveries of the Renaissance came from Polish
mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. In the 1530s, he published his theory of a
heliocentric solar system. Empiricism began to take hold of scientific thought wherein scientists
were guided by experience and experiment and began to investigate the natural world through
observation. Galileo improved the telescope, discovered new celestial bodies and found support
for a heliocentric solar system. He conducted motion experiments on pendulums and falling
objects that paved the way for Isaac Newton's discoveries about gravity.
The Renaissance was a time of transition from the ancient world to the modern and
provided the foundation for the birth of the Age of Enlightenment. The developments in science,
art, philosophy and trade, as well as technological advancements like the printing press, left
lasting impressions on society and set the stage for many elements of our modern culture.

The Enlightenment Period

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and cultural
movement in the eighteenth century that emphasized reason over superstition and science over
blind faith. Using the power of the press, Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, Isaac Newton,
and Voltaire questioned accepted knowledge and spread new ideas about openness,
investigation, and religious tolerance throughout Europe and the Americas. This period produced
numerous books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars and revolutions. The
advancement of the natural sciences is regarded as the main exemplification of, and fuel for, such
progress. Several ideas dominated Enlightenment thought, including rationalism, empiricism,
progressivism, and cosmopolitanism.
Rationalism is the idea that humans are capable of using their faculty of reason to gain
knowledge. This was a sharp turn away from the prevailing idea that people needed to rely on
scripture or church authorities for knowledge. Empiricism promotes the idea that knowledge
comes from experience and observation of the world. Progressivism is the belief that through their
powers of reason and observation, humans can make unlimited, linear progress over time; this
belief was especially important as a response to the carnage and upheaval of the English Civil
Wars in the 17th century.

Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution occurred from the 1880s to the mid-1940s, and it was a period
of great innovation and discoveries that launched society forward. It began in Great Britain and
many of the inventions during this time period were created by British inventors as Britain was the
world’s leading commercial nation. Not only was it a time of great innovation, but it was also a
time of great growth with an unprecedented rise in the world’s population. Industrial Revolution is
the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated
by industry and machine manufacturing. These technological changes introduced novel ways of
working and living and fundamentally transformed society.
The main features involved in the Industrial Revolution were technological,
socioeconomic, and cultural. The technological changes included the following: (1) the use of new
basic materials, chiefly iron and steel, (2) the use of new energy sources, (3) the invention of new
machines, (4) a new organization of work known as the factory system, (5) important
developments in transportation and communication. These technological changes made possible
a tremendously increased use of natural resources and the mass production of manufactured
goods.
There were also many new developments in nonindustrial spheres, including the following:
(1) agricultural improvements that made possible the provision of food for a larger nonagricultural
population, (2) economic changes that resulted in a wider distribution of wealth, the decline
of land as a source of wealth in the face of rising industrial production, and increased international
trade, (3) political changes reflecting the shift in economic power, as well as new state policies
corresponding to the needs of an industrialized society, (4) sweeping social changes, including
the growth of cities, the development of working-class movements, and the emergence of new
patterns of authority, and (5) cultural transformations of a broad order. Workers acquired new and
distinctive skills, and their relation to their tasks shifted; instead of being craftsmen working
with hand tools, they became machine operators, subject to factory discipline. Finally, there was
a psychological change: confidence in the ability to use resources and to master nature was
heightened.
The first industrial revolution began in the 18th century through the use of steam power
and mechanization of production. The second revolution began in the 19th century through the
discovery of the electricity and assembly line production. The third was began in the ‘70s in the
20th century through partial automation using memory-programmable controls and computers.
The fourth one is characterized by the application of information and communication technologies
to industry.

20th Century Science

The 20th century produced knowledge in all areas of research that deals with the
complexity of the real world. There were new and radical developments in
the physical, life and human sciences, building on the progress made in the 19th century.
Advances in biology led to large increases in food production, as well as the elimination of
diseases such as polio. A massive amount of new technologies were developed in the 20th
century. The development of the television and computers caused massive changes in the
dissemination of information. The common denominator of the sciences is the notion of discovery,
and discovery is an organised mode of observing nature.
Modern physics grew in the 20th into a primary discipline. Physics has enabled us to
understand the basic components of matter as well as biology with the discovery of DNA and the
development of genetics. Information technology and the digital processing of information have
transformed our lifestyle and our way of communicating in the space of very few decades.
Scientific research not only gives expression to the strength of rationality in explaining the world
and the way in which this is done. The application of scientific knowledge can induce changes of
environmental and thus living conditions.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Fourth Industrial Revolution is a fusion of leading-edge production techniques and smart
systems that integrate with organisations and people. It creates a world in which virtual and
physical systems of manufacturing cooperate with each other in a flexible way at the global level.
This revolution is unlike anything humankind has experienced before because of Its speed, scope
and unprecedented impact. In addition to that, in this revolution there is an increased productivity,
efficiency and quality in processes, greater safety for workers by reducing jobs in dangerous
environments, enhanced decision making with data-based tools, improved competitiveness by
developing customized products that satisfy consumers' needs, etc.
Artificial Intelligence is set to be one of the key technologies in the sweeping
transformation of the economy, society and the labor market. Internet of things technology, which
is designed to establish a connection between the physical and digital worlds, has revolutionized
numerous sectors. And there are billions of devices are already interconnected and more and
more devices are becoming smart. Robotics optimize production and save employees from doing
monotonous and dangerous tasks. Augmented reality and virtual reality, technologies that
combine the real world and the digital world using computer science, enrich the visual experience
of both users and consumers by generating immersive experiences. The full-blown Fourth
Industrial Revolution will allow us to change data into information. Big data allows massive data
management and interpretation for business purposes, which is particularly relevant when
devising business strategies or making decisions. These days we have the means to develop
prototypes - or products for sale - quickly, accurately and economically with 3D and 4D printing.
This technology is becoming increasingly important in design, architecture, engineering, etc.
References:

Module1. Historical Antecedents in Which Social Considerations Changed The Course of Science
and Technology | PDF | Sumer | Mesopotamia (scribd.com)

History of science and technology in China - New World Encyclopedia

The Renaissance: The 'Rebirth' of Science & Culture | Live Science

Renaissance Period: Timeline, Art & Facts - HISTORY

The Enlightenment period (article) | Khan Academy

Industrial Revolution | Definition, History, Dates, Summary, & Facts | Britannica

20th century in science - Wikipedia

What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its technologies - Iberdrola

Industrial Revolution - From Industry 1.0 to Industry 4.0 - Desoutter Industrial Tools
(desouttertools.com)

Science, Technology, and Society Studies | Encyclopedia.com