HISTORY OF SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Summary

This video delves into the history of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) in the Philippines, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of STS and its impact on society's evolution. It traces the development of STS from Spanish colonization, characterized by religious influence and economic dislocation, to the American regime, which saw rapid advancements in education and research. Despite progress, the economy remained agriculturally focused, delaying industrialization and affecting the growth of physical sciences. The video aims to provide new insights into STS's role in shaping the Philippines' socio-economic landscape.

Takeaways

• 📚 Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that examines the production, distribution, and utilization of scientific knowledge and technological systems, as well as their impact on society.
• 🌐 STS draws from various disciplines including history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, policy studies, and cultural studies to analyze the interplay between science, technology, and society.
• 🏛 The history of STS in the Philippines is deeply rooted in the country's colonial past, with the Spanish regime initiating the development of modern science and technology through the establishment of schools and hospitals.
• 🏛️ The direction of science and technology in the Philippines was influenced by religious orders and colonial economic policies, leading to an imbalance in technological development and a reliance on foreign capital and technology.
• 🌾 The Philippines evolved into a primary agricultural exporter during the Spanish regime, with limited support for research and development in native industries, contributing to their eventual decline.
• 🎓 The American regime saw rapid advancements in science and technology in the Philippines, facilitated by government support for public education, higher education scholarships, and the establishment of research agencies and science-based public services.
• 🏫 The University of the Philippines was established during the American regime, offering higher education in various fields and gradually replacing foreign faculty with Filipino professionals trained abroad.
• 🔬 The American regime prioritized medical and agricultural sciences over industrial research, which may have contributed to the underdevelopment of physical sciences and delayed industrialization in the Philippines.
• 🌐 The Philippine economy became heavily tied to the United States due to free trade relations, resulting in the country remaining primarily an exporter of agricultural products and an importer of American manufactured goods.
• 🤔 STS raises important questions about how scientific knowledge and practice are influenced by economic, political, religious, and philosophical factors, and how societies allocate resources for scientific research and policies.
• 🌱 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding the history and development of science and technology in the Philippines to appreciate its current state and potential future trajectories.

Q & A

What is the interdisciplinary field of Science, Technology, and Society (STS)?

Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that studies the conditions under which the production, distribution, and utilization of scientific knowledge and technological systems occur, and the consequences of this on different groups of people. It builds on the history and philosophy of science and technology, sociology, anthropology, policy studies, and cultural literary studies.

How is STS divided into principal areas?

STS is divided into three principal areas: histories of science and technology, philosophy of science and technology, and social science approaches to technology and science.

What are some of the topics covered in STS courses?

STH courses cover topics such as the effects of science and technology in society and culture, the politics of social technical systems, science policy in national and international contexts, and the social and environmental risks versus benefits of technological and scientific advancement.

What are some of the questions STS seeks to answer?

STS asks questions such as how science works, how to understand scientific controversies, how scientific knowledge and practice are affected by economic, political, religious, or philosophical currents, and how societies and governments allocate resources for scientific research and science-based policies.

Why has the development of a country's science and technology been recognized as important?

The development of a country's science and technology is recognized as important for social and economic progress, especially since the post-war years, as it is closely tied to the integrity of their political sovereignty and economic reliance.

What was the impact of the Spanish regime on the beginnings of modern science and technology in the Philippines?

The Spanish regime established schools, hospitals, and started scientific research, which had important consequences for the rise of the country's professions. However, the direction and pace of development were greatly shaped by the role of the religious orders and the economic and trade policies of the colonial government.

How did the American regime influence the advancement of science and technology in the Philippines?

The American regime advanced science and technology in the Philippines through government encouragement and support for an extensive public education system, the granting of scholarships for higher education in science and engineering, and the establishment of science research agencies and science-based public services.

What was the policy adopted by the colonial authorities for the promotion of higher education in the sciences during the American regime?

The colonial authorities adopted a coordinated policy for the promotion of higher education in the sciences and government research, leading to the establishment of the University of the Philippines and other professional and technical schools.

How did the American regime's educational and science policy impact the Philippine economy?

The educational and science policy during the American regime was not coordinated with colonial economic policy, resulting in the Philippine economy remaining primarily agricultural and tied to the U.S. economy, which delayed Philippine industrialization.

What were some of the outcomes of the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Philippines?

The Spanish conquest and colonization led to the creation of towns, the foundation of the present systems of local government, and serious economic dislocation, including a decline in agricultural production and traditional crafts.

How did the reduction policy during the Spanish regime affect the Filipino people?

The reduction policy consolidated scattered communities into fewer, larger settlements, which took people away from their traditional sources of livelihood and subjected them to economic exactions by the colonial government, leading to resistance and population movement towards cities like Manila.