NAME: KIM G.

VERGARA SECTION: II-9 BECED

“SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY”

Science, Technology and Society refers to the interaction between science and
technology and social cultural and how social, political and cultural values affect the
scientific research and technological innovation.

“HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN WHICH SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS CHANGED

THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY”

IN THE WORLD ANCIENT,

No one exactly knows where and when science and technology began. However, the
earliest known technology are the stone stools like scrapers, hammers and more used
by humans during the stone age.

Later, early hunters, gathers and foragers developed skills and techniques to use tools
and make weapons, to use fire, and to identify edible plants and animals. The
knowledge and practice spread as they migrated across continents. Nearly 10,000
years ago, as the population grew and naturally available food sources declined, human
started to domesticate plants and animals. This preceded the Agricultural Revolution
which started somewhere in the Middle East.
 Early Babylonian Plough

Agricultural Revolution led to the development of towns. New plants and animals were
being grown for consumption. In this period, humans started to develop sun-dried
bricks, ceramics, mortars and even metal products. The first known metal used by man
is copped (6500 BCE).
By the end of the Agricultural Revolution, many products made from copper, bronze and
iron have been developed. Development of ceramics also prospered. Wheels were
developed for transportation and writing was invented.
After the Agricultural Revolution, scientific knowledge and technological advancements
led to the rise of civilizations. These civilizations paved the way for more advancements
in science and technology. Evidences of these are the many infrastructures built such
as irrigations, roads and bridges.
Classical Antiquity
The most notable Greek philosophers of this period are Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
Socrates (470-399 BC) – is known for his method of inquiry called elenchus. Using this
method, a problem must be broken down into series of questions that need to be
answered. This is the basis of the current concept of making hypothesis for a specific
research problem.
Plato (427-347 BC) – is a student of Socrates. He believed that all substances are
made up of earth, air, water and fire. He always emphasized the concept of proof and
insisted on having concrete and clear hypothesis in understanding nature.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) – is a student of Plato. He is known for his deductive method of
scientific inquiry. He believed that natural principles can be identified through careful
observation, which is another foundational component of the scientific method.
IN THE MIDDLE AGES,
Around 530 AD, the development of science and technology declined as it was affected
by wars, famine, diseases, piracy and poverty which were rampant at the time.
The rise of Christianity in Europe was also considered as a factor in the decline of
science. The Church questioned many teachings and ideas of early philosophers and
scientist. In addition, the Roman Empire from 530 AD to 1000 AD seemed less
interested with theoretical science.
As science seemed to decline in Europe, the field of medicine remained and grew due
to an important need. The deadly plague ravaged Europe and Christians felt the need to
further their knowledge in medicine in order to develop a cure.
From Europe, the center of science and technology shifted to China and nearby areas.
In India, mathematics, medicine and astronomy were well-advance. One of their
greatest discovery is the importance of zero in mathematics, which prior to that time is
not well-understood.
The science of Islamic civilization was also well-developed. They developed
astronomical tables, new chemicals such as borax, and new techniques. In medicine,
they led the development of new instruments and human treatments. However, they
failed to advance further their study of anatomy as Islam prohibits body autopsy at that
time.
Science was revived in Europe by Emperor Charlemagne. He ordered the
establishment of schools which became centers of knowledge and discovery. The
Middle Ages brought many advancements such as the utilization of water and wind as
source of energy and the development of moving objects and clocks.
IN THE MODERN AGE,
At the later part of the Middle Ages, the Age of Discovery and Exploration started. The
explorations were made possible by advancements in science and technology. The two
most important were the development of ships that can withstand long voyages and the
invention of the compass. Advancements in geography and cartography also helped
significantly.
After the Black Death, the societies in Europe became much smaller and disarrayed.
Hence, people must find new ways to live. This led to the development of new tools,
new techniques and discoveries. The revived Europe became more conductive for
science and technology. This marked the end of the Middle Age and the start of the
Modern Age.
The states in Europe encouraged technological advancements, primarily for defense
and trade. Technology was taught in universities. Many artists also became scientist
such as Leonardo da Vinci. This period is known as Renaissance. Renaissance is a
cultural movement that is based on humanism, a system of thought that gives more
importance to humans than supernatural powers.
In the latter part of Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution emerged. It started at the
same time as the foundation of England’s Royal Society which paved the way for a
more organized scientific community. Sir Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin are two
notable members of the society.
At the beginning of the Revolution, the invention of the telescope advanced the field of
astronomy. Among the astronomers, Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) became the
center of controversy due to his heliocentric view of the Universe, an idea that was
opposed by the church. This marked the so-called Copernican Revolution, which was a
shift from the geocentric view of the universe.
Another technology that significantly advance science during the Renaissance is the
microscope. The invention of the microscope paved the way for the understanding of
microorganism and the many types of diseases associated with them.
The leading figure of the Scientific Revolution is Galileo Galilei (1564-1642). He
introduced experimentation using the scientific method. He also developed many
mathematical explanations to many natural concepts. He invented many equipment and
devices. His works led to the development of modern science.
From 17th to 18th century, science and technology further developed. Another period
emerged starting from the publication of Carolus Linnaeus works on biological
classification. This period is also known as the Enlightenment, which emphasized logic
and reasoning. It was a shift from the Renaissance which was dominated by the
teachings of the church and of the early Greek and Roman Philosophers.
The leading figure of the Enlightenment is Isaac Newton (1643-1727). His work,
Principia, established the foundation of modern-day physics. He also led the use of
scientific method in the understanding of the natural world. He developed theories from
observations and experiments and used them to predict other phenomena.
Due to society’s demand to make things more efficient and faster, machines were
developed. The most revolutionary of them is steam engine. It was invented by James
Watt (1736-1819) in 1765. The steam engine made many industrial processes possible.
This is part of the Industrial Revolution.

While the Industrial Revolution led to progress, it also marked the beginning of the rapid
destruction of the environment. Many forests were destroyed to obtain wood, minerals
and other resources. Rivers and other bodies of water were being polluted by the
industrial wastes.
During this period, the science community and the society had some conflicts and
controversies. One specific controversial theory was the Theory of Evolution proposed
by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace. It was opposed by the Church, and the general
public at that time. However, the theory is considered as a milestone in the field of
biology.
From 19th century, science advanced at a much rapid rate than any other period before.
Science also emerged as a communal effort, wherein more collaborations among
scientist occurred. More inventions and discoveries happened in this century. Scientific
and technological advancements heavily impacted to the society. New lifestyle, hobbies
and habits emerged due to advancements in communication, clothing technology,
transportation and entertainment. Demand for more technologies grew. Many people
migrated to cities. More skilled and knowledgeable workers emerged.
Scientific and technological advancements paved the way for the invention of atomic
bombs, dynamites, and other explosives and weapons. In Germany, laboratories were
dedicated to the development of weapons in preparation for the World War. These
developments led to more casualties in the wars to come.
Plastics were also invented in 1940s and 1950s. This led to the development of new
appliances, materials and product. However, in the recent times, plastic pose a problem
to the environment due to its very low biodegradability. It is now one of the main
environmental pollutants.

The structure of the DNA was discovered in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick
with the aid from studies of other scientist such as Rosalind Franklin. This discovery
further advanced the field of genetics and molecular biology leading to the development
of gene therapy, genetic engineering, among others.
The development of computers, internet, software and other digital technologies paved
the way for the Digital Revolution or Information Age. These technologies also paved
the way for e-commerce, cyber warfare, distance learning and crowdsourcing. The
Digital Revolution was greatly affected the society. Nowadays many people are hooked
to electronic games, social media and selfies.
IN THE PHILIPPINES,
The history of science and technology in the Philippines has no clear beginning. Based
on archaeological findings, prehistoric Filipinos have simpler technology compared to
neighboring countries such as China and Japan. They used simple stone and metal
tools. Later, they developed potteries, ceramics, weavings and the other tools.
By 1000 AD, Filipinos have developed good shipbuilding technology. They used these
ships for fishing, trade and transportation, given that early societies were located new
bodies of water.

By 16th century, Spaniards observed that some Filipino communities know artillery. They
have many good weapons such as bows, spears, and swords. Agricultural practices
such as rice farming, livestock raising and fishing were also existing.
The beginning of modern science and technology in the Philippines was brought by the
Spaniards. They established schools, hospitals and research facilities that were usually
controlled by religious orders. Science as profession was established. However, the
researches and technologies that time were for the benefits of the colonial government
and Spain, not for Filipinos.
There were only few science courses available for the Filipinos during the Spanish time.
Usually, the Filipinos who became scientist went to Europe for training and study. Some
of those scientists were Analecto del Rosario, Leon Ma. Guerrero and Trinidad Pardo
de Tavera. The profession of science did not grow well as the colonial government
preferred Spanish scientists over Filipinos. The church, whose influence is dominant,
discouraged the study of natural and material sciences.
As the Spanish regime ended, only two science professions were relatively more
developed medicine and pharmacy. The Philippines became a predominantly
agricultural country. Due to the entry of foreign technology and investments, some
sectors such as the sugarcane and tobacco industry were modernized. Other sectors
such as weaving declined because of the lack of support.
After the First Republic, science and technology in the Philippines rapidly advanced due
to the Americans. Secularized public schools were established. Universities such as
University of the Philippines and the Philippine Normal College were established. The
early educators were predominantly Americans. They brought with them rich scientific
knowledge and many technological advancements.
In 1905, the Bureau of Science was established, It was the main research facility in the
country until World War ii. Most of the researches done were on leprosy, cholera,
dengue and malaria which at that time were the most dominant diseases among
Filipinos. In 1906, the Philippine Journal of Science was established to report scientific
findings and observations.
In 1933, the Philippine Legislature passed an Act establishing the National Research
Council of the Philippines, which was tasked to promote scientific research. Despite the
increase in the number of scientist and engineers, the Philippines still relied heavily on
agriculture. During the Commonwealth, more industries were established with
government support. Scientific productivity increase. Many Filipinos were sent abroad to
do post- graduate studies. However, scientific and technological development stopped
during World War II.
After the War, scientific and technological development was revived. More higher
education institutions were established which paved the way for more scientist, scientific
researches and scientific organizations. In 1947, the Bureau of Science was replaced
by the Institute of Science. In 1952, the Science Foundation of the Philippines was
established to promote science among Filipinos.
In 1957, a study was done to determine the sudden decline of science and technology
in the Philippines. The report showed four key reasons.
1. There is lack of government support.
2. Many excellent scientists have died or went abroad.
3. There is low morale among local scientist.
4. The general public has low awareness about science.
Science and technology in the country further developed due to increased government
support and higher public awareness. However, Philippines still lagged behind it’s
neighboring Asian countries in terms of scientific productivity and technological outputs.
Also the mass performance of Filipinos in science and mathematics is generally poor.