UP TALKS | Interaction of Science, Technology and Society Through Time
Summary
TLDRThis presentation explores the intricate relationship between science, technology, and society over time. It delves into the early days of science with Aristotelian philosophy, the Industrial Revolution's impact on England, and the modern challenges of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The speaker highlights how societal values, morals, and priorities shape the development and application of scientific knowledge and technology, emphasizing the importance of understanding the science behind technological advancements.
Takeaways
- 🧠 The script discusses the complex interaction of science, technology, and society through time, emphasizing the interdependence and influence among these three elements.
- 🔍 Science is described as a structured approach to understanding nature and physical phenomena, while technology is the practical application of knowledge to modify nature for societal benefit.
- 🌐 The interaction of science, technology, and society (STS) varies significantly based on factors such as geography, ethnology, and the values and priorities of society.
- 🕰 The presentation highlights three case studies to illustrate different time domains: the early days of science, the Industrial Revolution, and modern times with the example of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- 🏛 The 'birth pains' case study refers to the early days of science, characterized by Aristotelian philosophy and the influence of the church, which led to a long period of stagnated scientific growth.
- 🏭 The Industrial Revolution case study showcases the role of science and technology in powering economic and cultural shifts, particularly in England, and the resulting societal impacts, including the rise of romanticism and environmental concerns.
- 🌱 The modern case study on GMOs explores the societal concerns of food security and health risks, as well as the implications of proprietary ownership of genetically modified plants.
- 🌎 The outcomes of STS interactions are shown to be influenced by the global state of affairs, societal values, and the priorities set by different societies, which act as 'boundary conditions' for scientific development.
- 🚗 An analogy is used to compare the interaction of science, technology, and society to a man driving a car, where science is the brain, society is the body, and technology is the car.
- 📉 The script points out the historical conflict between science and religion, with Thomas Aquinas' synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and church teachings setting a precedent for this tension.
- 📈 The Industrial Revolution in England was enabled by an abundance of resources, capital, and a necessity for more efficient production methods, leading to significant economic and cultural changes.
- 🌾 The debate over GMOs reflects the ongoing tension between the potential benefits of scientific advancements for food security and the health and ethical concerns raised by society.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video script?
-The video script focuses on the complex interaction between science, technology, and society throughout history, and how these interactions have evolved and influenced each other.
How does the script define 'science' in the context of the presentation?
-In the script, 'science' is defined as a structured approach to seeking knowledge and explanations of nature and physical phenomena, with the objective of understanding.
What is the script's definition of 'technology'?
-'Technology' is described as the ability to control, alter, modify, or tamper with nature to suit practical applications that are beneficial to society.
How is 'society' characterized in the script?
-Society is characterized as a human construct composed of people with certain values, morals, prejudices, problems, and priorities, which influences and is influenced by science and technology.
What is the term 'birth pains' referring to in the script?
-The term 'birth pains' refers to the early days of science, specifically the Aristotelian philosophy, which was simple and stood for many centuries due to its alignment with the teachings of the church.
What was the impact of Thomas Aquinas on the interaction between science and religion?
-Thomas Aquinas synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with the teachings of the church, laying the foundation for the thinking that questioned science was also questioning religious teachings, leading to a long period of stagnated scientific growth.
What were the key factors that led to the Industrial Revolution happening in England?
-The key factors included an abundance of coal for power generation, capital from nobility and colonies, and the necessity for more efficient production methods due to the manual labor not being able to cope with demands.
What are the societal concerns regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) mentioned in the script?
-The societal concerns regarding GMOs include food security, health risks, and proprietary ownership issues where farmers are not allowed to replant their own seeds after a harvest.
How does the script describe the outcomes of the Industrial Revolution on England?
-The outcomes of the Industrial Revolution on England include establishing it as a major power militarily and economically, affecting its art and culture, and introducing global concerns such as pollution due to the burning of fossil fuels.
What is the analogy used in the script to describe the interaction of science, technology, and society?
-The analogy used is that of a man driving an automobile, where the brain represents science, the body of the driver represents society, and the automobile represents technology.
What does the script suggest as the role of society in shaping the outcomes of science and technology?
-The script suggests that society acts as the 'boundary condition' for science, determining which scientific knowledge and technologies are utilized and how they are applied based on societal values, priorities, and fears.
Outlines
🔬 The Complexity of Science, Technology, and Society Interaction
This paragraph introduces the intricate relationship between science, technology, and society throughout history. Science is defined as a structured approach to understanding nature, while technology is the practical application of knowledge to manipulate nature for societal benefit. Society's role is highlighted as both the creator and end-user of science and technology, as well as the entity that imposes constraints on their interaction. The paragraph sets the stage for a deeper exploration of this triad, noting that the interaction varies with factors such as geography, ethnology, and the state of global affairs.
🏛 The Birth Pains of Science and the Church's Influence
This section delves into the early days of science, specifically the Aristotelian philosophy, which was simple and long-standing due to its alignment with the teachings of the church, as synthesized by Thomas Aquinas. The conflict between science and religion is discussed, with the church's power during this era stunting the growth of scientific inquiry. The outcome of this interaction was a prolonged period of scientific stagnation, setting the stage for future conflicts between scientific discovery and societal beliefs.
⚙️ The Industrial Revolution: A Catalyst for Technological and Societal Change
The second case study focuses on the Industrial Revolution in England, a period marked by advancements in power generation, material science, and mechanics. The revolution was facilitated by an abundance of coal, capital, and a need for more efficient production methods. The outcomes included England's rise as a superpower and the introduction of new economic, cultural, and environmental challenges, such as the beginning of pollution issues due to the burning of fossil fuels.
🌱 Modern Genetics and the Societal Debate on GMOs
The third case study examines the modern science of genetics, particularly genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the societal concerns surrounding them. The potential benefits of GMOs for food security are weighed against health risks and proprietary ownership issues. The varying societal responses to GMOs, from acceptance with regulations in the U.S. to outright bans in Russia, illustrate how societal values and priorities shape the integration of scientific advancements.
🚗 The Dynamic Interplay of Science, Technology, and Society
The final paragraph synthesizes the discussion by likening the interaction of science, technology, and society to a man driving a car. Science is the brain, society the body, and technology the vehicle. The analogy emphasizes that the direction and impact of scientific and technological progress are heavily influenced by societal factors, including values, morals, and priorities. The boundary conditions set by society determine the practical applications and outcomes of scientific knowledge.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Science
💡Technology
💡Society
💡Interaction
💡STS (Science, Technology, and Society)
💡Aristotelian Philosophy
💡Industrial Revolution
💡Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
💡Case Studies
💡Differential Equation
Highlights
The complex interaction of science, technology, and society is influenced by various factors including geography, ethnology, and societal values.
Science is defined as a structured approach to understanding nature and physical phenomena.
Technology is the ability to manipulate nature for practical applications beneficial to society.
Society's role as the creator, end-user, and constraint in the interaction with science and technology.
The early days of science, characterized by Aristotelian philosophy, had a simplistic approach with four elements.
The conflict between science and religion was evident during the time of Thomas Aquinas.
The Industrial Revolution in England was marked by advancements in power generation, materials, and manufacturing.
The enabling environment in England, including abundant coal and capital, facilitated the Industrial Revolution.
The outcomes of the Industrial Revolution include England's rise as a superpower and the beginning of environmental concerns like pollution.
Genetics and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are central to modern discussions on food security and health risks.
GMOs address food security by increasing yield and resistance to pests, as well as adapting to challenging environments.
Health risks and proprietary ownership concerns are significant societal issues related to GMOs.
Different societies have varied responses to GMOs, influenced by their values, morals, and laws.
The analogy of a man driving a car illustrates the dynamic relationship between science, society, and technology.
Science is a differential equation with society providing the boundary conditions for its application.
The importance of understanding the science behind technology to move from being consumers to producers.
The impact of social media on the dissemination and understanding of scientific results.
Transcripts
[Music]
hello everyone today I'll be talking
about the interaction of science
technology and society through time the
introduction of the three science
technology and society is actually very
complex because it depends on a lot of
factors of course there are elements of
science technology and also more
complicated and extreme elements as far
as society is concerned in this context
we will be using science as for instance
a way of knowing in addition to
traditional ways of seeking knowledge
science as a structured approach in our
search for answers and explanations of
nature physical phenomena with of course
the utmost objective of arriving at an
understanding on the other hand for
technology we'll be referring to our
ability to control alter modify or
tamper with nature in order to suit a
certain practical applications that is
hopefully beneficial to society and for
society of course we are referring to
the human society calm composed of
people with certain values morals
prejudices problems and priorities and
at the end of the presentation you shall
see that the society in addition to
being the creator of Science and
Technology the society is also the
end-user and the society also poses the
greatest constraint as far as Science
and Technology interaction with society
is concerned science interruption varies
with several factors it varies with
geography and ethnology characteristic
of the society for instance the
interaction
the three the interaction of STS would
be different in a society that is for
instance highly religious it would be
different also for societies that are
highly industrialized it would be
different for societies for instance in
an English society the interaction of
science technology and society is also
glaringly different it also varies with
time because throughout our history
things change
factors change forces change so I will
be giving three case studies in this
presentation to sample different time
domains starting from the early days of
science and then followed by the early
days of technology and on to the modern
times and also the interaction of the
three varies with the state of global
affairs because the state of global
affairs sometimes dictates the
priorities of society and the priorities
of society have a very huge impact as
far as the appropriation of Science and
Technology is concerned so for the first
case let's talk about what I call the
birth pains the birth pains refer to the
early days of science which we refer to
as Aristotelian philosophy admittedly
there was no technology during this time
yet and characteristic of Aristotelian
philosophy if you notice from your
readings is that it's a very simple
science one virtue of the scientific
theory is simplicity as you know and
Aristotelian science is so simple in
fact Aristotelian chemistry enumerates
only four elements that of Earth water
air and fire and that's so simple maybe
that's the reason why or part of the
reasons why it stood for many centuries
and of course when
I'm talking about society during these
times and the major forces of society in
this era is of course the church and of
course another personality named Thomas
Aquinas so we'll talk about that
outcomes of the interaction of the three
as you know and up to this time there is
a constant conflict between science and
religion or science and the church well
historically this conflict goes as early
as when Thomas Aquinas made the
synthesis regarding Aristotelian
philosophy and the teachings of the
church as being in consonance with the
street with each other
so Aquinas actually laid the foundation
of the of the thinking that when you
attack Aristotelian philosophy you also
attacked the teachings of the church
so for a very long time nobody dared
question Aristotelian philosophy of
course there was no technology yet that
can be used to verify or falsify his
theories during these times and so what
are the outcomes of this interaction of
science and society during this time the
glaring outcome would be actually the
stagnated growth of science it took
almost two thousand years before science
can develop at least in initial baby
steps up to the state that it is now
today so this interaction during this
time soberest italian philosophy and the
great power that is the church would of
course echo up to the modern times and
it also laid the foundation of a lot of
conflicts throughout the history of
science and society as a second case
let's take the case of the Industrial
Revolution or
we refer to it as the first Industrial
Revolution according to science
historians the one that happened in
England or in Great Britain so the
science that is at play here includes
power generation the knowledge of
generating new sources of power as a
revolution or as a change or as a
departure from the use of beasts of
burden like the horses as the main or
the primary source of power
it is also during that this time that we
are learning we were learning how to use
new materials how to how to understand
the properties of these new materials
like steel also the English science as
you know during these times we already
have a knowledge of mechanics brought to
us by Isaac Newton and the science of
economics mainly by Adam Smith's in his
Adam Smith in his book Wealth of Nations
the technology involved during the first
Industrial Revolution are machines
machines that we used in mining in
manufacturing manufacturing refers to a
replacement of the putting out method
the manual labor based manufacturing to
a machine based manufacturing we also
use machines for construction
transportation particularly in the
development of the railway systems and
modern communication and of course the
society that we are referring to in this
particular era would be the English
society its economy its status as a
superpower in the world and it's art and
culture so what are the outcomes of this
of this interaction but before we talk
about the outcomes of interaction maybe
it would be beneficial also for us to
understand why the first Industrial
Revolution happened in England the short
story is it happened in England and not
everywhere else because of enabling
environment it is a collaboration of
fortunate circumstances as far as power
generation is concerned England is
blessed with abundance of coal because
coal would soon replace the the animals
or the horse as the main source of power
coal would usher in the technology of
the steam engines so resources and also
capital the English capital is enormous
as you know you have lots of nobility's
in there also English the the English
colonies all over the world from Africa
to Asia to South America and so in
addition that there are all natural
resources they can all see also simply
source resources from their colonies
thomas forest canada and australia and
finally of course all these science and
technology are born out of necessity the
english society had realized that the
manual form of production cannot cope up
with the demands so it started with the
clothing industry actually we have lots
of cotton coming from india but they
cannot cope up as far as converting this
cotton into usable pieces of clothing so
the outcome of this case study is the
person's Estoril revolution will also
echo until our times today
it put England as the major power
militarily economically and so on during
this time this interruption also
affected not only England's economy but
its art and culture this is the rise of
romantic
and of course this is also the starting
point for a problem that would occupy us
until today it's a global concern this
is the problem of pollution when we
started burning fossil fuels
during the first Industrial Revolution
the carbon dioxide level in our
atmosphere also began to shoot up and as
a third case study I will take you to
the modern times the science that is
involved here is the science of genetics
our understanding of the genes the the
code that dictates everything from from
scenes up to the adult stages of plants
and animals the technology I will be
referring to specifically for
genetically modified organisms as food
source and of course what are the
societal concerns as far as GMOs are
involved well the two major concerns
would be food security and health
concerns or health risks as far as food
security is concerned some experts claim
that GMOs is one of the possible answers
towards addressing the stability or the
security as far as food supply is
concerned why because GMOs GMOs are
genetically modified plants as food
source I'm not talking about the animals
yet which are pest resistant okay in
other words we can minimize wastage
during the growth process and this
results into an increased yield during
harvest time
so aside from being resistant to pests
we can also genetically modify plants
like what they did
China to be able to grow certain species
of rice in salt water or in brackish
water and that's a very important step
because particularly in our country we
have limited times as far as rice
production is concerned or rice culture
is concerned because we are heavily
dependent on rains but we do have a lot
of salt water we are surrounded by salt
water so if we can adopt this technology
or if we can replicate this technology
this rice the breed of rice that
survives in salt water then it would
mean a lot as far as food security in
our country is concerned the second
societal concern with GMOs would be
health risks some people are claiming
that GMOs are hazardous to your health
that why would I eat a gym or corn for
instance when even the insects would
refuse to eat it something like that
of course this emanates this concerns
emanate from the lack of science or the
lack of understanding of science or the
lack of studies that would point towards
whether or not gym or food really pose
health risks to people so and the other
concern as far as society is concerned
also in these GMOs would be the
proprietary ownership of the genetically
modified plant because farmers are not
allowed to to plant their own seeds
after a particular harvest they are
required to buy a new batch from the
owners of the technology so there is
also this concern and particularly this
concern is among
our farmers so what are the outcomes the
outcomes depends on the Society for
science-based society of course for
example the American Society allowed the
consumption of GMOs with certain
requirements according to rigor to their
law such as the full disclosure that a
certain food product contains GMOs
Russia doesn't allow GMOs to be part of
the food supply for its population in
the Philippines of course well we all
know what happened to the beet it along
it has been discontinued so as you can
see the response of society to science
and to the emerging technology worries
not only according to the natural
characteristic of that society its
values its morals but also it varies
with time today is the time where in
scientific results can easily be
accessed by people through social media
of course mostly in lemon ice form so
that is both a good news and a bad news
because more and more people would be
educated as far as scientific results
are concerned because the case is we
usefully are aware only of the
technology but we don't care about the
science behind the technology in other
words we are consumers we are not
producers we are not producers of
technologies we simply appropriate this
technology for our benefits so as a
summary I would like to compare the
interaction of science technology and
society to this image here the image of
a man driving an automobile depending on
the society that you are in
I would like science to be the brain of
this driver
so the brain is science the body of the
driver is society and the automobile is
the technology and this analogy I
believe is particularly true for the
industrialized society the science-based
society because in other regions of the
world in other society the brain is the
society it's the society that dictates
which science and which technology to
operate it's the society that dictates
how we utilize a scientific knowledge
for good or for bad
and these decisions of course are based
on the priorities of the society as I
said at the start of this lecture the
natural characteristic of the society
its geography its priorities its
problems its fears and everything about
it will ultimately become the whole
strength to science and technology I
don't remember the author who said this
but he said that science is a
differential equation and religion or
society in general is the boundary
condition in other words science can
give us a lot of things an infinite
number of things good or bad that's what
a differential equation is it has
infinite number of solutions but to
arrive at a particular solution you need
boundary conditions and these boundary
conditions are supplied by society so in
other words science has to satisfy the
needs the priorities the fears and
everything of the society in order to
yield certain results that are useful
also for the society thank you
[Music]
you
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