Science, Technology, and Society

READING MATERIAL FOR CHAPTER 2: LESSON 6

TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING

LESSON OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

• Explain the concept of human condition before science and technology;

• Identify the change that happened in human condition after science and
technology; and
• Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the
human being.

INTRODUCTION:

Comparing the lives of the people before and now will make anyone
realize the changes that happened in society not just in terms of culture,
language, or rights but more importantly, changes in people’s way of life due
to the existence of science and technology.

The term “generation gap” is attributed mainly to the changes brought

about by technology. Although the original idea is for technology to help
everyone, it cannot be denied that until today, not everyone is comfortable in
using the different kinds of technologies. Mostly those who belong to the older
generation think that these technologies are too complicated to operate. They
have been used to the simple living in the past and these available
technological devices, though very appealing, are a difficult puzzle to them.

However, this gap is not something to be worried about. This does not in
any way make technology a villain. Instead, it is a challenge for people in the
field of science and technology to make these technological advancements
more accessible and less confusing for people who are not as young
anymore. This is also a challenge for the younger generation to take the older
generation to an exciting journey in science and technology. In this way,
everyone can experience what it is like to live with ease and comfort because
of the availability of modern technology.
 Even before, people are already fascinated with science and technology.
This fascination led to numerous magnificent inventions that people in the
present are able to enjoy and benefit from. Through science and technology,
people get to experience what it really means to live because it helps people
in more ways than one.

People who lived in the past and people who are living in the present all
have different views of what it means to flourish, primarily due to the kind of
environment and the period one is in. People’s ways of life and how the
society works also affect how one construes the concept of human
flourishing. The environment needs to be assessed in order to know the
possibility of human flourishing and to what extent it is possible. Since there
have been drastic changes in people’s actual human condition. These
changes were brought about by the interplay of different factors but
essentially, it was brought about by science and technology.

THE HUMAN CONDITION BEFORE COMMON ERA

Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved way for the invention of
several developments. Gifted with brains more advanced than other
creatures, humans are able to utilize abundant materials for their own ease
and comfort. As it is difficult to pinpoint the particular period where technology
is said to have started, one can say that at the very least, the motivation to
make things easier has been around since human are. Homo erectus have
been using fire to cook, through chipping one flint over the other to produce a
spark, all the while without realizing the laws of friction and heat. Tools from
stone and flints marked the era of the Stone Age. During the advent of our
very own Homo sapiens, and humans began to sharpen stones as one would
a knife; an example of this is the simple machine called wedge.

This particular period proved to be difficult for our ancestors, but in a

remarkably distinct way. There is little to no written accounts except for
several cave drawings and unearthed artifacts from various parts of the world
that narrate how their culture came to be. It then proves that there is little
capacity for our ancestors to contemplate and perceive things outside
themselves in a more reflective manner. For instance, there are several
excavations in different parts of Europe of miniature statues prevalent during
the Paleolithic period, the so-called “Venus” figure. It depicts a rudimentary
carving of a voluptuous woman out of ivory or stone. The reason behind this
is still unknown to archaeologists and anthropologists alike; they can only
infer that the humans of yesterday have a certain fixation on the female
anatomy. What did this fascination translate to? Lack of conclusive evidence
hinders us from proceeding any further.

Soon enough, people discovered minerals and began forging metalwork.

They realized that these substances are more durable, malleable, and have
more luster than the previous material. On the other hand, there are some
indicators that human in the past share the same concerns and interests,
suggesting that these inclinations persist through multitudes of generation
over several millennia. Fur clothing and animal skin are primarily used for
comfort against harsh wind---our ancestors are able to draw the connection
between their being naked and vulnerable due to some lack of fur or
protective covering which would otherwise allow them to withstand extreme
weather conditions. They begin to cover themselves up out of necessity, and
gradually, added several more to their garments. Some of those found at
excavation sites are reminiscent of early accessories, suggesting that our
ancestors have been deeply engaged in the concept of beauty. Perhaps, they
had taken a liking to a certain shiny stone, or a perfectly shaped bone, and
wanted to wear it as trophy. What does this tell of them and their
philosophies? Were they perhaps proud to show off their hunt and how good
of a hunter they were? Were they concerned with social standing and
stratification? How about the meaning of life? Were they also curious on
finding explanations to certain phenomena?

At least for the last question, it seems that they have found their answer in
the person of religion. Excavations on the latter half of the Stone Age include
several figures thought to be ceremonial, meaning that perhaps people of the
time had also painstakingly wrought and hewed said figures in honor of some
deity. This notion, as it was then and as it is now, is often people’s resort to
make sense of events happening outside their control. The initial roster of
primitive gods includes objects they encounter through their day-to-day lives,
so it is not surprising that different tribes may have different gods. Those who
might have lived alongside majestic creatures, such as elephants and
mammoths, might have been awed by their size and worshiped them as the
owner of the land, asking for blessings in their hunting ground. On the
contrary, they might have hunted the mammoths for their wooly coat and
meat, taking down the animal for the entire community to eat. In windy places
near mountains, they might have had a mountain god to explain wind currents
and ask for provisions. On the other hand, those who were near coastal area
or bodies of water might have had water gods they referred to when asking
for a good catch. However, it might be also the case that people of prior
civilizations shared several generic gods, such as the sun.

Nevertheless, it can be positively inferred that like the people of today, our
ancestors also found the need to explain things in a way that make sense to
them. They quickly realized that there are events outside of their control and
attempted to justify things as being a work of a supernatural being.
Throughout the course of history, religion remains to be the strongest
contender to science arguably due to its being the most easily grasped.
Admittedly, once people stop connecting the dots between cause and effect,
they turn to something that could possibly explain their inadequacies in
making sense of the world the people of yesterday appeared to have
acknowledged early on that they could only do and understand as much, that
perhaps other powers at play also existed alongside them. this notion
effectively humbled and perhaps grounded them, with their constant
befuddlement serving as an early reminder that they were way behind several
larger, more powerful forces in nature in terms of older of things.

THE HUMAN CONDITION IN THE COMMON ERA

For a long time, humans were content with their relationship with nature.
Earliest case of man-made extinction occurred over 12,000 years ago,
possibly brought upon by hunting and territorial disputes. The Holocene
extinction, also called the sixth extinction or more aptly Anthropocene
extinction, occurred from as early as between 100,000 to 200,000 years up to
the present. It pertains to the ongoing extinction of several species—both
flora and fauna---due to human activity. Driven by their primal need to survive
and gaining the upper hand in terms of development and adaptability,
humans were quick to find ways to drive off other megafaunas threatening a
prospective hunting spot and eventually, settling grounds. Growing population
also necessitated finding additional resources, leading to overhunting and
overfishing common prey, some of which were endemic to the area. Hunting
coupled with a changing terrain that the humans began cultivating when
agriculture emerged some 9,000 years ago, caused several species to lose
competition in territory and food resources. Formation of communities caused
humans to expand more in territory and more people to feed; large, separate
communities hailing from the same ancestors and residing in the same large
community paved way for civilizations. Even as a community, the people
realized that through they were able to find out some 5,000 years ago that
engaging in a peaceful negotiation was also a possible and less bloody
method. They realized that they could get hold of things not present in their
towns by offering something of same value present in theirs. It is in this
process that trade emerged, leading to cross-town and eventually cross-
cultural interaction as more products were exchanged and the initial needs
extended to wants.

People then had a new objective---gather as much products as possible.

They have turned to wealth as one of their goals as humans and ultimately as
civilizations, for they perceived that those who have many, live comfortably
and thus are generally happier than those who do not have sufficient wealth.

Thus, they began to hunt, farm, and produce things with prospect of profit. A
nuclear community which is initially self-sufficient has to accommodate their
growing population with depleting resources, leading them to be reliant to
other communities’ produce which keeps them surviving. In return these
communities have to make use of their current resources twice as much to
provide for their communities’ needs. Products of every kind were exchanged,
ranging from necessary ones such as crops, cattle, poultry, others of kind,
and clothing materials, up to metals, accessories, weapons, spices, literature
and entertainment. They were able to find and create niches for interests.
When they could not sell products, they used their skills and got compensated
for it----bringing forth a specialized group of artisans. Humanity became more
complex. The primary goal was not merely to survive, but to live good life.

Technology has been instrumental in all of these because in searching for

the good life, people were able to come up with creations that would make life
easier, more comfortable, and more enriching. Although the good life
envisioned before might be pale in comparison to the multifariousness of
today, it offered us the initial intricacies of how today came to be. Such
intricacies are also evident in the machines created and causes endeavored
by the people of long ago. They perceived death as, at the very least,
unpleasant and concocted potions to ward evil off from their kinsmen, often
appealing to their gods for blessings. Medicine was thus born, although it
would take a considerably long time before it part ways with potion. They
became fixated with gold and were adamant in procuring more, trying to use
incantations with mixtures of substances to turn lead in one. This ultimately
paved way for the emergence of chemistry in its primitive form, not quite
distinct from alchemy. Due to differing races, beliefs, or abundance of
resources and/or territory, wars were always being waged, leading to allocate
resources to the militia. Initially, the early leaders were those who portrayed
exceptional strength among their group---this condition carried on for
generations. Physical strength was valued at most, although there appeared
 to be as many intellectually gifted figures just the same. These innovators
were primarily the ones behind these discoveries and triumphs of these
civilizations.

Position-wise, the humans of today are much better off compared to

humans several centuries ago. Advancements in medicine, technology,
health, and education ushered in humanity’s best yet, and show no sign of
stopping. Below are some of the notable comparisons then and now:

1. Mortality rate. Due to technology, lesser women and children die

during birth, assuring robust population and strong workforce. Medical
care of premature infants allows them to survive and develop normally,
while proper material care ensures that mothers can fully recover and
remain empowered.

2. Average lifespan. Aside from the reason that people engage less in
combat and are less likely to die in treatable diseases now as opposed
to then, science is able to prolong lives by enhancing living status and
discovering different remedies to most diseases. Distribution of
medicines is also made easier and faster.

3. Literacy rate. Access to education provided to more individuals

generally creates a more informed public that could determine a more
just society.

4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although not an indicator of an

average person’s lifestyle in a certain country, it is often used to
determine the value of the country’s goods and services produced
within the territory given a certain time period. Higher country income is
brought upon by high productivity, often an indicator of presence of
technology.

THE ESSENCE OF TECHNOLOGY

Humanity has indeed come a long way from our primitive ways, and as a
general rule, it is said that we are more “developed” than we were before. Above
data are few indicators of the route that we have come to take as species, and
there are no signs of stopping. Modern humans are reliant on technology in their
search for the good life. We see ways and means from nature to utilize and
achieve growth-a goal that we believe would bring forth betterment.
 In retrospect, this view of technology proves to be goal-oriented. It
assumes that it is instrumental in achieving a goal in mind, that it is a purposeful,
deliberate craft humans steer in order to reach some greater good. In the advent
of postmodernism, however, the deterministic view appended to technology
crumbled as people began to question if anything is deterministic at all. Apart
from its purpose, what is technology? Was the history of technology brought
purposeful choices for man in his search for the ultimate good? Some tried to
redefine technology away from its purpose. One philosopher by the name of
Martin Heidegger argued that its essence, or purpose, and being are different
from each other. He was able to expound on this point upon identifying that
technology can either be perceived as first, a means to achieve man’s end and
second, that which constitutes human activity. The second perspective paints
technology in such a way that each period reveals a particular character
regarding man’s being. A characteristics design, or flaw, unfolds based on the
repercussions brought upon by immersing ourselves with a piece of new
technology. In effect, through technology, a myriad of new questions begins to
mount. Rather than thinking that humans have a clear idea of what to expect in a
good life, it can be stated that technology allows humans to confront the
unknown and see how they would react.

This is not a good thing altogether though, for technological revelation is

but one of the many ways to perceive the world. However, as long as humans
are invested in growth and development, we cannot distance ourselves from this
perspective. In the name of growth, we view the world as a field of resources,
vent on attributing monetary value on seemingly priceless entities. We begin to
categorize nature as renewable and nonrenewable instead of seeing it as it is.
Humans are reduced into the mount of productivity they are able to render during
their lifetime, and our current mindset is geared toward which would utilize our
own skills. A good life is one which is practical in essence; a life which makes
use of our labor and which we get compensated fairly upon. It is no wonder that
the sciences are one of the most sought after courses, for the opportunities are
plenty and the resources are bountiful. Since humans appear not to really know
what they are seeking for, the search continues. It is a looming fear, however,
that the path we are treading will not take us to the right direction, leading us in
endless circles instead in our pursuit of the good life.

This is the danger presented by too much reliance on technology. Humans

lose track of things that matter, reducing their surroundings to their economic
value. As this presents strong backing by the sciences whose reverence is also
brought upon by our deluded enchantment with technology, it will prove to be a
herculean task to distance ourselves from this perspective and consider
alternatives. After all, it was science and technology that gave us explanations,
which worked for us and benefited us. Rejecting a working, tried and tested
process seems foolish, more so, knowing that there are no options of equal
value. It will be absurd to venture the dark and the unknown, but it should be
done in order for us to retrace our steps to be able to achieve the Good.

BACKTRACKING THE HUMAN CONDITION

Technology’s initial promises proved to be true, regardless of its

ramifications. All in all the human condition improved, only if by improving we
measure the level of comfort, various scientific breakthroughs, and improved
lifestyle of those who had the luxury to afford to do so. Different machineries aid
in prolonging lives-assisting those with disabilities, honing efficiency in industrial
workplaces, and even exploring the universe for places we can thrive once all the
Earth’s resources are depleted. As to the initial aims, it appears that things really
did not much differ. Some places in the world are still battling for their daily
survival-diseases, tribe wars, lack of habitable territories, and competitions on
resources the several factors contributing to such. People still wage wars on the
basis of races, belief, and abundance of resources and/or territory; except that
now, they are able to inflict such in a global scale. A lot of people still subscribe
to religion in explaining things that they do not know. For those who have ceased
to do so, they have turned their worships to reverence of science. Whether
science or religion, these people are still bent on trying to make sense of the
events happening in the world on the basis of either of these two paradigms.
They are still trying to discover and rediscover things that would give meaning to
their lives—whether it be honor, strength, or merit. People are still trying to make
sense of their existence in the world, and technology does little to aid them in
their pursuit of life’s meaning.

It seems that the human condition, although more sophisticated, is nothing

but a rehashed version of its former self. Nothing much has changed since then,
and it appears that nothing will change in the times to come if we fail to shift our
view elsewhere. while it is true that technology offered us one compelling notion
of the truth and the good, we should be staunch in our resolve if we want to know
the real one. for starters, we might begin with considering other concepts, which
corresponds to the Good, such as Aristotle’s conception of human flourishing.
His notion entertains the idea of holistic enrichment of a person situated in his
society. A notable distinction on Aristotle’s idea is his subscription on evaluative
concepts called virtues and their role in achieving the good life. Technological
advancements are seemingly occurring in a rapid pace that our morality cannot
quite keep up; no such consideration was given in this approach in achieving the
good life. This will further be discussed in the following chapters.

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