SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY
AND SOCIETY
A LEARNING RESOURCE PACK FOR
FLEXIBLE LEARNING A.Y. 2021-2022

FRANCES KAREN F. MORENO, LPT

INSTRUCTOR I
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
EMAIL: [email protected]

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COURSE OUTLINE

Topic

Unit I: General Concepts and Historical Developments

Lesson 1: Introduction to Science, Technology and Society

Lesson 2: Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

Lesson 3: Intellectual Revolutions and Society

Lesson 4: Science, Technology and Nation Building

Unit II. Science, Technology Society and the Human Condition

Lesson 5: Technology as a Way of Revealing

Lesson 6: Human Flourishing in Progress and De-Development

Lesson 7: The Good Life

Lesson 8: When Technology and Humanity Cross

Lesson 9: Why the Future Does Not Need Us?

Unit III. Specific Issues in Science, Technology and Society

Lesson 10: Information Age

Lesson 11: Biodiversity and a Healthy Society

Lesson 12: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Gene Therapy

Lesson 13: The Nanoworld

Lesson 14: Climate Change and the Energy Crises

Lesson 15: Environmental Awareness

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UNIT I: GENERAL CONCEPTS AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
Lesson 1: Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

General Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a) Discuss the different scientific and technological innovations in different time periods
and well as the antecedents that enable the development of science and technology in
different historical timeframes; and
b) Enumerate various technological and scientific innovations made by some Filipino
scientists and discuss the various societal driving force that led to their inventions.

One of the key interests in the study of STS is the history of science and technology. As a
strand of STS, the history of science and technology focuses on how science and technology has
changed through time as well as the precursors or causes of these changes. An antecedent is
defined as the cause to the unfolding or existence of something (dahilan kung bakit naganap o
naimbento ang isang bagay). Thus, historical antecedents in science and technology are factors
that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological
innovations today. Knowledge on the history of science and technology is important so that we
may have the basis or the knowledge of evaluating the current technological innovations
presented to us today. By understanding how previous generations influenced and were
influenced by developments in science and technology, today’s generation can come up with
informed decisions on the proper application of science and technology to their daily
lives. Knowing how inventions affect the people of the past allows the people of the present and
the future to judge if a certain technological innovation is really for the benefit of all or will
cause more harm to the society.

The following were the most important and remarkable technological innovations during the
ancient period, middle and modern ages:

ANCIENT PERIOD

Summerian Civilization

For the purpose of transportation and easing trade, the Sumerians are able to invent the
cuneiform, one of the earliest form of writing back in 3000 BC and are also able to develop their
own number system. Moreover, the Sumerians were also credited to be inventor of the ancient
wheel shortly after 3500 BC for the purpose of further easing transportation and trading of
products. Due to immense interest in trade, the Sumerians are also able to build sailboats which
allows them to travel by sea to trade goods with other civilizations. The early sailboats were
made of planks of wood and sails made

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The Sumerians are also known for being the first astronomers and developed the
lunar calendar that became the basis for having 12 lunar months in a year by observing the
different phases of the moon and the movement of planets and stars.

Ancient Eyptian Civilization

Around 3000 BC, the Egyptians began writing in papyrus, a material similar to a thin
paper. Papyrus was made from the pith of the plant named Cyperus papyrus. Before the
invention of papyrus, writing was only done on special occasions since they have to use stone
tablets for writing. With the invention of the papyrus, writing and record keeping became more
convenient and efficient.

The shadoof was also an early tool invented by the Egyptians to irrigate the land for
agricultural purposes. The shadoof is a hand- operating device that is used to fetch water from
the Nile river. Its invention introduced the idea of lifting weights using counter weights. The
shadoof is also believed to be the starting point of the invention of more sophisticated irrigation
machineries.

Greek Civilization
The Greeks paved the way for the invention of today’s modern computer through their
invention of the antikythera back in 150 - 100 BC. The mechanisms of antikythera was believed
to be used to predict the astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological
purposes. The invention of the antikythera allows the Greeks to celebrate festivities at the right
time. The invention of odometer were also associated with the Greeks. The early odometer was
used to measure the distance covered by a vehicle and laid the foundation for the advancement
and of transportation and construction of roads. Before the invention of the odometer, the
distances were measured by means of number of steps by foot. The invention of odometer allows
accurate measurement of distances that led to the improvement of construction and
transportation.

Greek philosophy is also considered as one of the greatest contribution of the Greeks to the
Western civilization. Philosophers like Plato and Socrates were known for their and living while
scientist and mathematicians like Pythagoras and Hippocrates were known for their immense
contribution to the field of math and medicine.

Plato - known as the maker of mathematicians and scientists

Socrates - known for his quotable quotes and life philosophies such as “the governments
primary goal is to serve the society” and “the primary goal in human life is to become happy” He
also formulate the Socratic Method.
Aristotle - also known as a great philosopher. One of his famous philosophy included “you
cannot give what you cannot have” and “loving others requires loving yourself first” also “The
Father of Biology”
Phythagoreas - famous for the establishment of the Pythagorean theorem.
Hippocrates - known as the father of medicine.

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Roman Civilization
Also known as the Hero’s engine, the aeolipile is believed to be the precursor for the
development of steam engine. The ancient Romans innovation are also attributed to their use of
concrete, known for its durability due to the volcanic ash present in the mixture. Roman
concrete was versatile as manifested in its use in the construction of buildings, roads and
aqueducts. Due to its durability, Roman cement are able to stand the test of time as manifested
by different Roman structures still standing up until today.
Galen, a Roman physician is also famous for being the first to describe and diagnose
symptoms of different diseases and their corresponding treatments. His medical books were
considered the standard for medical practice for many years. Surgical instruments such as the
rectal speculum, bone levers and cupping vessels were used by Roman physicians in the
diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Ancient Chinese Civilization

Ancient China is known to be one of the oldest and longest civilizations in the world. In
connection, it also has a very long and rich history of science and technology advancements.
Notably, China was the first to record astronomical phenomena such as solar eclipse and one of
the few to witness a guest star supernova at 1054 BC. The Chinese also also developed a
counting device called the abacus between 1000 and 500 BC. The abacus is used not only for
counting but also for basic and complex mathematical operations. They are also responsible for
introducing and developing medicinal treatments like the acupuncture which is used for
relieving pain, healing illnesses and improving the general well- being of a person.

During the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 BC), the invention of paper greatly affected the
way China recorded its history and produced literature. Together with the first movable printing
press created in 960 AD, the production of printed works flourished around the world.

Another famous inventions from the Chinese are porcelain, silk fabric and gun powder
which is originally used to make fire works, however, ironically, also used against the Chinese
civilization during the European invasion in the 1800s.

MIDDLE AGES

It is in the Middle Ages where majority of the advances of science and technology took
place. Although, the Middle Ages is known as the Dark Age or the Medieval Period, this
historical timeframe is marked by increase of new inventions, introduction of innovations in
traditional production and emergence of scientific thinking and method. Listed below are some
inventions and innovations made in the Middle Ages that brought upon huge impact in the
present society.

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Heavy Plough
The invention of the heavy plough is perhaps the most important innovation made during
the Middle Ages. Before its invention, the clay soil, although more fertile and suitable compared
to other soil types, was not used by members of the society as planting areas because of its
heavy weight. The invention of the heavy plough allows the cultivation of the clay soil which
later on provided agricultural benefits. In the Northern European countries, it was noted that the
invention of the hard plough brought in agricultural revolution and economic prosperity due to
higher agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices.

Gun Powder
It is around 850 AD when the Chinese alchemists accidentally invented the gun powder.
Prior to its invention, hand held materials such as swords and spears were used in battles and
wars. Towards the end of the 13th century, the invention make its way to the European and other
Asian countries which afterwards pave the way to more advanced warfare. From fiery arrows to
cannons and grenades, the gun powder has prompted the foundation for the functionality of
almost every weapon used in war since its
invention.

Paper Money
The first known version of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese in the 17th
century (Song Dynasty) as a result of the invention of block printing, a process similar to
stamping. Before the introduction of paper money, precious metals such as gold and silver were
used as currency for trade and service. The idea of assigning value to papers did not immediately
become popular, however, trader realized later on the huge advantage of using paper money due
to its light weight which allows for easy transport compared to the previous forms of currencies.

Mechanical Clock
Although devices for timekeeping and recording were available from the ancient times
due to inventions such as the Antikythera mechanism, it was not until the Middle Ages where
mechanical clockwork technology was developed. The invention or development of mechanical
clockwork technology paved the way for accurate time keeping and drastically changes how
people spent their time. Work patterns were also established upon the invention of mechanical
clockworks.

Spinning Wheel
Another important invention in the Middle Ages is the spinning. It was believed that the
Indians were the pioneer inventors of the spinning wheel at around 6th to 11th AD. Its invention
revolutionized the linen production especially when it was introduced in the European countries
in 13th century AD. Its invention made the time- consuming and tedious work of weaving by
hand easier, faster and more
convenient.

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MODERN AGES
As the population increased in the Modern Ages, the era of industrialization took over
and resulted in the need for more reliable transportation, communication and production
schemes. In addition, concerns regarding human health, food and environmental safety also
resurfaced as fast technological and scientific breakthroughs took over.

Listed below are some of the most notable scientific and technological innovations that happened
in the Modern Ages:

Compound Microscope
Zacharias Janssen was credited as the inventor of the compound microscope. This
invention paved the way to the discovery that objects observed under the microscope can be
magnified three to ten times their usual size. Today, the compound microscope is an important
instrument in many scientific field of studies especially in the areas of medicine, genetics,
microbiology, forensic and histology.

Telescope
Galileo Galilei invented the telescope which is regarded as the single most important
technological invention in the field of astronomy. Telescopes are able to magnify objects 20
times its usual size and this invention allowed Galilei to observed celestial bodies like the moon
and its craters. Galileo’s remarkable contribution changed the way astronomers study of space
and celestial bodies. Moreover, this has made the society realized that the universe is far larger
than what was previously imagined and the Earth was just a small faction of the universe.

Jacquard Loom
As the Industrial Revolution reached its peak, the Jacquard loom, invented by Joseph
Marie Jacquard, was considered as one of the critical contributors of the revolution. Before its
invention, the drawloom, a textile making machine, requires two people for operation and
immense manual labor and effort had to be exerted to produced complex textile designs. With
the invention of Jacquard loom (1801), creating complex designs and mass production of
textiles were made easy. This became possible with the 10 use of installed series of cards with
punched holes which automatically creates the desired designs. The Jacquard loom is also an
important precursor of the modern computer technology as it showed the use of punched cards
to instruct machines to carry out complex tasks.

Engine- powered Airplane

Orville Wright and Wilbur Write, famously known as the Wright brothers, were credited
for designing and successfully operationalizing the first engine - powered aircraft. Their
pioneering success paved the way for modern aircraft technology.

Television
The Scottish engineer John Logie Baird is largely credited for the invention of the
modern television. Baird successfully televised objects in outline in 1924, recognizable human
faces in 1925, moving objects in 1926 and projected colored images in 1928.

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Telegraph and wireless communication
Alexander Graham Bell filed a patent in 1876 for the first telephone that enables the
exchange of messages in real time through the use of electric current. This invention eases the
need for faster communication and solved issues on distant messaging.

Other notable personalities with their respective science contribution and other famous and
important technological innovations in the 20th century are also listed below:

Max Planck - quantum theory

Albert Einstein - Theory of Relativity
Erwin Schrodinger - quantum mechanics
Robert Goddard - launched the first successful rocket
James Chadwick - discovery of neutron
Oswald Avery - discovered that genes and chromosomes are made up of DNA.
Francis Crick and James Watson - proposed the structural model of DNA
Alexander Fleming - discovered penicillin
Jonas Salk - developed the polio vaccine
Albert Sabin - developed the oral polio vaccine
Luc Montagnier and Robert Gallo - discovered the HIV (human immunodeficiency) virus
which causes AIDS (autoimmune deficiency syndrome)
Dolly - the first product of cloning (sheep)
Sputnik - the first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957
Apollo 11 mission (1969) - man first set foot on the moon
Vinton Cerf and Bob Khan - inventor of the internet

INVENTIONS MADE BY FILIPINO SCIENTIST

Filipinos are known for their ingenuity which also allowed them to bring scientific and
technological contributions to the society. Listed below are some of the famous Filipino
scientists and their unique inventions:

Abelardo Aguilar - an Ilonggo scientist who is credited for his discovery of erythromycin drug
from the microorganism Streptomyces erythreus.

Fe Del Mundo - a world- renowned Filipino doctor who is credited for inventing the incubator.
Literatures proposed that her first incubator was made up of two native laundry baskets with
different sizes and is placed inside another and is surrounded by bottles containing hot water.
Her invention addressed the need of health facilities in the Philippines that are usually lacking
faculties and has no electricity.
Rolando Dela Cruz - he is created for his invention of a skin product that as the ability to
remove moles and skin warts without undergoing surgical procedure. His product is made from
cashew nuts (Annacardium occidentale).

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Maria Orosa - she is known to be the inventor of the famous banana ketchup. Literatures
revealed that the invention of the banana ketchup was due to the shortage of tomato fruit during
the second World War.
Edwardo San Juan - he is famous for his Moon Buggy or Lunar Rover, the car used by Neil
Armstrong and other astronauts on their exploration of the moon in 1969.

-End-

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