Our Lady of the Pillar College – Cauayan

Cauayan Campus (Main) l San Manuel Branch l San Agustin Branch

San Fermin, Cauayan City, Isabela l District 3, San Manuel, Isabela l Masaya Centro, San Agustin, Isabela
Tel. : (078) 652-0685; 652-3310; (078) 664-6089; Telefax : (078) 652-1748
Website: [Link]

Science, Technology
and Society

Science, Technology and Society

 Introduction
In this module we are going to deal with the interactions between
science and technology and social, cultural, political, and economic contexts that
shape and are shaped by them.

This interdisciplinary course will push you to confront the realities

brought about by science and technology in society. Such realities pervade the
personal, the public, and the global aspects of our living and are integral to
human development.

Scientific knowledge and technological development happen in the

context of society with all its socio-political, cultural, economic, and philosophical
underpinnings at play. This module seeks to instill reflective knowledge in you in
the hopes that you will be able to live the good life and display ethical decision
making in the face of scientific and technological advancement. This module also
includes mandatory topics on climate change and environmental awareness.

At the end of this module you are expected to have sufficient

knowledge on the impacts of science and technology, specifically in the Philippine
society; explain how science and technology affect society and the environment
and its role in in nation-building; analyze the human condition in order to deeply
reflect and express philosophical ramifications that are meaningful to you as a
part of society; and define and demonstrate the impact of social media on your
life and Philippine society in general.

You are also expected to creatively present the importance and

contributions of science and technology to society; examine shared concerns that
make up the good life in order to come up with innovative and creative solutions
to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards; and illustrate how the social
media and information age impact your life and your understanding of climate
change.

It is also anticipated that at the end of this module you will imbibe
the importance of science and technology in the preservation of the environment
and the development of the Filipino nation; examine shared concerns that make
up the good life in order to come up with innovative and creative solutions to
contemporary issues guided by ethical standards; and lastly, illustrate how the
social media and information age impact your life and the understanding of
climate change.

1
4

Science, Technology and Society

 Chapter 1. 2
History of Science & Technology
(Historical antecedents in which social
considerations changed the course of
science
and technology)

To merely understand the Learning Outcomes:

discoveries and inventions ➢
that scientists and Discuss the interactions
technologists have made is between S&T and society
not enough. Beyond throughout history.
scientific research, we must ➢
see its benefits and Discuss how scientific and
consequences affecting our technological developments
way of life here and now and affect society and the
in the future. Throughout environment.
history, science can be ➢
Identify the paradigm shifts
viewed as a continuous in history
expansion at the expense of
religion, philosophy and the
humanities. Hence, the ways
and processes science
undertake to produce
changes and
transformations must be
conscientiously scrutinized.

15

Science, Technology and Society

 In the World: Ancient,
Middle and Modern Ages
Prehistoric Period

• Developed complex evidences of numeric

Although recorded as the longest counting
period in the history of men, this period of • Development of metallurgy and
history is the least we know about. Time metalworking, the art and science of
and circumstances practically left no extracting mineral ores and modifying
historical evidences of how people lived here them for practical use.
and there. Because written records of any
kind began from only 5,000 years ago, • Invention of the wheel, primarily
chronological events were documented introduced in making pottery.
largely based on deductions from
archaeological findings. Therefore, anything ➢
First civilizations emerged independently
prior to the first written accounts of history along the river valleys of Mesopotamia
is prehistoric. (Tigris-Euphrates Valley), Egypt (Nile
Valley), China (Huang Ho Valley) and
India (Indus Valley)
➢
Stone Age (Paleolithic Age, Mesolithic People of the first civilizations developed
Age and Neolithic Age) – prehistoric science and technology as implements
in their search for food and other
period in which stone was widely used survival needs.
as implements for hunting. Started ➢
during the 6000 BC and ended 2000 BC. Early hominids and primitive human used
stone tools
➢
Stone Age and Metal Age
Paleolithic Age – consisted of hunter-
gatherer civilizations that utilized
primitive stone tools Metal Age
• H. erectus utilized and controlled fire. Bronze Age – characterized by the use of
It was generated through percussion copper and tin as the chief materials
method and used to produce heat for in the production of implements such as
warmth and for cooking. weapons and utensils. Wheel was used
• Evidences of clothing, painting, as implement for transportation mechanics.
sculptures and carvings/engravings
Mesolithic Age – transitional period that Iron Age – characterized by the widespread
gave way to the rise of shifting-farming use of iron and steel which was used and
civilizations modified for use such as in religious practices,
• Usage of microliths, small stone tools agricultural usage, artistic tools and weapons
made of flint used as spearheads and and armors.
• arrowheads.
• Evidences of construction such as that
of Stonehenge in England.
Neolithic Age – the first agricultural
revolution, making way for agricultural-
mining civilizations

Science, Technology and Society

 Ancient Period

The ancient times saw the rise of the world’s first great civilizations. Science and
technology during this period have diverted from being solely for survival needs but also to
satisfy curiosity. During this period, knowledge became increasingly available due to the
creation of proper writing systems and record keeping.

Sumerian Civilization Babylonian Civilization

• Invented the world’s first writing system Babylonia was the ancient region bordering
called cuneiform; a set of word pictures Tigris and Euphrates river, which once
depicted in symbols made of triangular served as the center of commerce and
marks. religion in the valley. During the rule of
• Standardized measuring following the Nebuchadnezzar II, the Hanging Gardens of
sexagesimal (60 as base) system of Babylon (one of the 7 wonders of the
counting, e.g. 60 mins is 60 seconds. ancient world) was built.
Minoan Civilization
Situated in the Island of Crete with
Egyptian Civilization
Knossos as its capital. The Minoan’s script
• Developed the first crude and early
system was called Linear A, which has not
version of paper from the plant papyrus.
been fully deciphered.
• Writing was in the form of pictorial
symbols known as hieroglyphics.
• The Pyramids of Giza (wonder of the Greek Civilization
Ancient World) was built during the Greece served as the foundation of cultural
Golden Age of Egypt. and philosophical development in the west.
Thales of Miletus – Father of Philosophy, said
that nature was composed of or convertible to
water
Roman Civilization
Anaxagoras – argued that matter was
Emperor Hadrian designed the Pantheon.
composed of countless tiny particles
The Colosseum was built during the reign of
Empedocles – stated that nature was a
Vespasian for gladiatorial contests. mixture of earth, fire, air and water.
Vespasian also implemented a public urinal Hippocrates – Father of Greek Medicine, was
system called vespasiano. first to regard medicine as science apart from
religion.
Galen – Greek physician, made the first steps
Arabic/Islamic Civilization for the advancement of anatomy.
The Arabic cities prospered by exploiting Aristotle – regarded as Father of many
their strategic location. Muhammad sciences, pioneered and discovered
founded the religion Islam at the Holy City information on variety, structure and
of Mecca. In technology, the Arabs were the behavior of animals and plants.
first to use glass lens for magnification. Archimedes – performed experiments which
led to the discovery of the laws of levers and
pulleys that resulted in the invention of
Chinese Civilization machines thereof.
• Acupuncture was used to treat illnesses
• Royal astronomer Chang Heng invented
the earthquake weathercock (which is
now the modern-day seismograph)
• Cai Lun invent the paper and the paper-
making process.

Science, Technology and Society

MEDIEVAL ERA SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION (17th Century)

The Middle Ages is generally known as the One legacy of the Renaissance that pushed
period between the Ancient Times and the forward the spread of scientific knowledge
Modern Times. It witnessed the rise of the was the emphasis on the supremacy of
Christian empire of Byzantium; the Islamic reason over religion. And while no conflict
empire of the Arabs; the T’ang dynasty in existed between science and religion,
China; Nara culture in Japan; and the Galileo’s defense of the Copernican Theory
Mayans in Central America. launched the Scientific Revolution.
The power of the Catholic Church served as a Francis Bacon – English statesman who
unifying force in Europe. The most notable promoted observation and experimentation
invention during the Medieval Era was the as the proper way of deductive reasoning in
Printing Press of Johannes Gutenberg in the conduct of scientific method.
Germany. It was the first movable metal type Tycho Brahe – Danish astronomer who
printing press. The Gutenberg Bible, was studied geometric calculations and
recorded as the world’s oldest mechanically mathematical precisions on celestial
printed book. observations.
Johannes Kepler – German astronomer who
RENASSAINCE ERA made the crucial discovery that orbits of
planets were not circular but elliptical,
Renaissance is the history of western Europe based on the works of Brahe.
which served as the period of rebirth. This John Napier – Scottish mathematician who
period regarded the publication of books and discovered logarithms, which shortened the
the technology of printing most impactful. laborious process of multiplying, dividing and
The rebirth began with the publication of two finding square roots.
books which shook the ancient foundations of Rene Descartes – French mathematician
knowledge. who strengthened the power of reason
Nicolaus Copernicus – Polish astronomer against the philosophy of Aristotle and
who published On the Revolutions of Ptolemy. He worked out analytical
Heavenly Spheres. It challenged the geometry.
centuries-old geocentric universe of Ptolemy. Isaac Newton – English physicist who
Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory arrived at theories on revolutionary
of the universe, which was not readily hypotheses on astronomy and physics.
accepted and actually rejected by the Catholic Invented calculus. Explained the properties
Church. of light in the book The Optiks.
Andreas Vesalius – recognized as the founder Gottfried von Leibniz – simultaneously and invented calculus with

of modern medicine, surgeon and anatomist independently

Vesalius published On the Fabric of the Newton.
Human Body. Vesalius laid out in detail the Christian Huygens – Dutch physicist who
first scientifically accurate description of started the use of pendulum as time-
human anatomy. controller in clocks.
Leonardo da Vinci – was a great Italian artist Hans Lippershey – improved the
and inventor. He anticipated and drew up magnification of telescopes.
plans of future inventions such as the Jan Swammerdam – invented microscope
helicopter, submarine, machine gun and and discovered red blood corpuscles.
motor car. Anthony van Leeuwenhoek – invented
Galileo Galilei – was a major scientist microscope and discovered animalcules.
prosecuted by the Church for heavily William Harvey – published diagrams of
supporting the heliocentric system. He human circulatory system.
conducted scientific experiments on gravity Robert Hooke – discovered cells, a term that
and falling objects, improved the telescope he used to refer to thin layers of cork under
and discovered celestial bodies. his microscope.

Science, Technology and Society

Evangelista Toricelli – Italian Guglielmo Marconi – adapted Hertz’s works
mathematician who invented the and created a system of radiotelegraphy,
barometer. which became basis of the modern radio.
George Stephenson – developed the first
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (18th steam-powered locomotive.
Century)
From the dawn of history, people relied on 19TH CENTURY
physical labor, either directly or with tools 19th century witnessed the rise of modern
held or with animals guided by human industry. An unending stream of new
hands. Gradually, power of production was products drove the emerging world. This
supplied by human muscle with assistance century was considered as the age of machine
from simple machines. The phenomenal tools.
process of doing work from human muscles John Dalton – published the atomic theory.
to machines was aptly called Industrial Louis Pasteur – developed pasteurization, a
Revolution. method of food preservation by killing
James Watt – Scottish engineer who bacteria.
invented the first satisfactory condensing Dmitri Mendeleev – formulated the Periodic
steam engine. Table of Elements
Benjamin Franklin – American statesman Hermann von Helmholtz – invented the
who experimented on electricy. ophthalmoscope.
Luigi Galvani – pioneered Henri Becquerel – discovered radioactivity.
bioelectromagnetic by putting two Marie Curie & Pierre Curie – discovered the
different metals in contact with frog element radium.
muscle. Joseph Thomson – discovered electron. Karl
Alessandro Volta – Italian physicist who Benz – made the first automobile. Rudolf
successfully invented electric battery. Diesel – developed the first diesel engine.
Michael Faraday – British physicist who
conducted experiments on 20TH CENTURY
electromagnetism and in accordance with 20th century is one of the most noticeable in
Oersted and Ampere’s works, eventually history in terms of technological
inventing the first dynamo. advancements and scientific discoveries. With
Hans Oersted – Danish scientist who extensive use of the scientific method and
confirmed and expanded Faraday’s works research funding, science and technology
leading to the invention of electric motor. progressed rapidly. The Space Race between
Andre Ampere – French physicist who USA and Soviet Union proved that the sky is
explained magnetic effects. not the limit, with expeditions of men
Samuel Morse – used electromagnets and reaching as far as the moon.
practically produced the first telegraph
and developed the Morse Code system of Astronomy
signals. Big Bang and Steady State Theory –
Alexander Graham Bell – invented the explained the origin and evolution of the
telephone and carried out the first universe.
telephone conversation. Space probes closely observed the planets
Thomas Edison – invented the and moons of the solar system.
incandescent light bulb, phonograph, Sputnik 1 – the first orbiting space probe
motion picture equipment among others. launched by the Soviet Union in 1957
Heinrich Hertz – produced Yuri Gagarin – the first man to journey in
electromagnetic waves through space and outer space
utilized them to broadcast and receive Neil Armstrong – first human to walk in
radio waves. another celestial body, the moon, through the
Apollo 11 mission.

Science, Technology and Society

Biology
DNA Structure – the double helix was Technology
determined and elucidated by the Rosalind Computers were developed and improved
Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, James Watson from the classical abacus.
and Francis Crick. Intel developed a microprocessor that
Vaccine – the first vaccine was developed made computers smaller, cheaper, and
by Jonas Salk for polio. more user-friendly.
Spanish Flu – killed an approximate of 20 Bill Gates founded Microsoft, which would
to 100 million people from 1918-1919. eventually turn out to be one of the
HIV – a viral disease which arose in Africa biggest corporations in techno-science.
and results in AIDS Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak introduced
Apple in 1976.
Engineering and Production Internet was created for defense-related
Home appliances increased dramatically research known as ARPANet or Advanced
due to the availability of electricity. Research Projects Agency Network.
Washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, Tim Berners Lee invented the World Wide
electric stoves and vacuum cleaners Web.
became popular. Cassette tapes, transistor Henry Ford devised a system of mass
radio, CDs, VCRs and VHS were made. production for Model T in 1908 which
New materials such as stainless steel, made cars available and affordable to the
Velcro, silicone, Teflon, polyethylene, masses.
nylon, PVC became widespread in Artificial Intelligence was invented that
application. Thousands of chemicals were gave computers the capacity to perform
developed for industry and home human-like intellectual processes. Modern
application. AI features specifically designed
computers that can respond similarly to
Physics and Chemistry humans.
Albert Einstein – explained physical
phenomena and published his Theory of
Relativity.
Wolfgang Pauli – developed the Pauli
Exclusion principle, explaining the state of
electrons in an atom in quantum state.
Werner Heisenberg – key creator of
quantum mechanics and published
Uncertainty Principle
Gilbert Lewis – suggested that a chemical
bond is a pair of electrons shared by two
atoms. Lewis Structures.
Niels Bohr – proposed the Bohr model of
the atom.

Social Sciences
Ivan Pavlov – proposed the theory of
Classical Conditioning.

20

Science, Technology and Society

 History of STS in the
Philippines

PRECOLONIAL S&T
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD (1521-1898)
There is a very little reliable written
information about Philippine society, In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan discovered
culture and technology before the arrival of the Philippines for Spain. The colonization
the Spaniards in 1521. The early Filipinos has largely contributed to the development
had attained a generally simple level of of S&T in the country. The beginnings of
technological development, compared with modern science and technology in the
those of the Chinese and Japanese, but Philippines can be traced to the Spanish
this was sufficient for their needs at that regime. The Spaniards established schools,
period of time. hospitals and started scientific research
Archaeological findings indicate that and these had important consequences for
modern men from the Asian mainland first the rise of the country’s professions. Several
came over-land and across narrow expeditions from Mexico have been sent for
channels to live in Palawan and Batangas religious conversion. In 1571, Manila was
around 50,000 years ago. For about 40,000 established as the capital of the central
years, they made simple tools or weapons government of the Governor-general.
of stone flakes but eventually developed There was very little development in
techniques for sawing, drilling and Philippine agriculture and industry during
polishing hard stones. the first two centuries of Spanish rule. This
Filipinos had also learned to build boats for was largely due to the dependence of the
the coastal trade. By the tenth century Spanish colonizers on the profits from the
A.D., this had become a highly developed Galleon or Manila-Acapulco trade, which
technology. In fact, the early Spanish lasted from 1565 to 1813.
chroniclers took note of the refined plank- Roads for horses and coaches were built to
built warship called caracoa. These boats connect provinces and towns. Stone
were well suited for inter-island trade raids. churches were built as religious centers.
By the tenth century A.D., the inhabitants Stone walls and fortifications were also
of Butuan were trading with Champa built.
(Vietnam); those of Ma-i (Mindoro) with San Lazaro Hospital in Manila is
China. These indicate that regular trade considered the oldest in the Far East,
relations and barter between the two established in 1578 and still exists today. In
countries had been well established during 1602, Roman alphabet was introduced and
the tenth to the fifteenth centuries. Spanish and Tagalog texts were published.
By the time the Spaniards came to colonies Academic institutions were mandated to be
the Philippines in 1565; they found many built, and this sparked the progress of
scattered, autonomous village communities science in the country. The first educational
(called barangays) all over the archipelago. institutions offering courses above primary
These were kinship groups or social units levels were:
rather than political units. Colegio de San Ildefonso (University of
On the whole, the pre-colonial Filipinos San Carlos) 1595, Colegio de Nuestra
were still highly superstitious. The Senora del Rosario (University of Santo
Spaniards found no temples or places of Tomas) 1611, Colegio de San Juan de
worship. Although the Filipinos knew how Letran 1706, Ateneo Municipal de Manila
to read and write in their own system of 1859
baybayin, this was mainly used for In 1802, Escuela de Nautica was organized
messages and letters. They seem not to and offered courses in navigation,
have developed a written literary tradition meteorology and cosmology.
at that time.

Science, Technology and Society

Throughout the Spanish regime, the royal AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
and pontifical University of Santo Tomas
remained as the highest institution of S&T in the Philippines advanced rapidly during
learning. Run by the Dominicans, it was the American regime. This was made possible
established as a college in 1611 by Fray by the simultaneous government
Miguel de Benavides. It initially granted encouragement and support for an extensive
degrees in theology, philosophy and public education system.
humanities.
In 1876, the UST granted the bachelor's The Americans introduced a system of
degree in pharmacy to its first six graduates secularized public school education as soon as
in the school of pharmacy. Among them was civil government was set up in the islands. On
Leon Ma. Guerrero, who is usually referred to 21 January 1901, the Philippine Commission,
as the "Father of Philippine Pharmacy" which acted as the executive and legislative
because of his extensive work on the body for the Philippines until 1907,
medicinal plants of the Philippines and their promulgated Act No. 74 creating a Department
uses. Higher education during the Spanish of Public Instruction in the Philippines. It
regime was generally viewed with suspicion provided for the establishment of schools that
and feared by the colonial authorities as would give free primary education, with English
encouraging conspiracy and rebellion among as the medium of instruction. Subsequent
the native Filipinos. For this reason, only the establishment of public educational institutions
more daring and persevering students were eventually led to the creation of the first state
able to undertake advantaged studies. university in the country, University of the
The prosperity that resulted from increased Philippines.
commerce between the Philippines and the Act in 1933 creating the National Research
rest of the world through the Suez Canal Council of the Philippine Islands (NRCP). Aside
enabled Filipino students to go to Europe for from working for the promotion of scientific
professional advanced studies. These included research, the NRCP actively participated in the
Jose Rizal who was able to pursue studies in deliberations and drafting of provisions
Medicine and specialize in ophthalmology in affecting science and industry in the 1934
Spain and Germany; Graciano Apacible who Constitutional Convention.
studied medicine in Madrid; Antonio Luna
who obtained his Ph.D. in pharmacy in COMMONWEALTH ERA
Madrid and later worked with renowned In 1935, the Philippine Commonwealth was
scientists in Ghent and Paris; Jose inaugurated and ushered in a period of
Alejandrino who took up engineering in transition to political independence. The
Belgium, and others. Constitution acknowledged the importance of
Meteorological studies were promoted by promoting scientific development for the
Jesuits who founded the Manila Observatory economic development by incorporating a
in 1865. The Observatory collected and made provision (Article XIII, Section 4) "The State
available typhoon and climatological shall promote scientific research and invention,
observations. These observations grew in Arts and Letters shall be under its patronage..."
number and importance so that by 1879, it The government, which was by this time
became possible for Fr. Federico Faura to completely under Filipino management,
issue the first public typhoon warning. In continued to expand its public school system to
1901, the Observatory was made a central accommodate the increasing number of
station of the Philippine Weather Bureau schoolchildren.
which was set up by the American colonial On the whole, higher education was provided
authorities. mainly by the private sector. By 1936, there
were 425 private schools recognized by the
government, 64 of which we institutions at the
College level and 7 were universities. These
were Centro Escolar University, Far Easter
University, National University,

Science, Technology and Society

Philippine Women's University, Silliman Science Education Institutions (SEI) was
created to accomplish the task of administering
University, University of Manila and the scholarships, awards and grants in S&T and
University of Santo Tomas. Together with formulating plans for the promotion and
the University of the Philippines these had a development of S&T.
total of 19,575 college students in all Science and Technology Information
universities in the country. Institute was created to establish and
In spite of all these efforts, the develop a S&T databank and library.
Commonwealth government was unable to Philippine Council for Advanced Science
achieve its goal of economic self-reliance. and Technology Research and
This was primarily because foreign trade and Development was a sectoral council of the
tariff policies remained under the control of DOST tasked for the coordination of a
the American government. Moreover, the national system of advance S&T.
Pacific War broke out in 1941 and the Philippine Atmosphere Geophysical and
Philippines was occupied by Japanese Astronaut Services Administration was
troops. established to give environmental protection
The occupation of the Philippines by the and utilize scientific information to ensure
Japanese during the War brought safety of the nation.
educational and scientific activities
practically to a halt as able bodied citizens CURRENT STATE OF S&T IN THE
joined the resistance movement. Manila, PHILIPPINES
which was the center of all educational and
scientific activities, was razed to the ground, According to the Technology Index of
destroying everything that had been built up 1982, the S&T in the Philippines is defined
before. It was in this condition that the to be -0.1 compared to the U.S., the world's
Philippines became an independent state. technology leader, which is 100. The
technology index is defined as the average
SINCE INDEPENDENCE of the sum of the number of patents and
registration of new designs, technology
The Science Act created the National trade, value added in manufacturing and
Science Development Board (NSDB) to the export of technology-intensive goods.
formulate policies for the development of The Philippines also ranks low in terms of
science and coordinate the work of science technological capacity. This is seen in the
agencies. In 1982, NSDB was further shortage of scientists and engineers doing
reorganized into a National Science and R&D (research and development), and of the
Technology Authority (NSTA) composed of inadequate national resources and budget
four research and Development Councils; devoted to R&D. All these factors translate
Philippine Council for Agriculture and to the minimal patents granted in the
Resources Research and Development; Philippines, which likewise indicates little or
Philippine Council for Industry and Energy no economic significance.
Research Development; Philippine Council With regards to the type of basic
for Health Research and Development and technologies--Materials Technology,
the NRCP. In 1987, under Aquino’s Equipment Technology, Energy
administration, the NSTA was reorganized Technologies, Information Technologies, Life
into the Department of Science and Technologies and Management
Technology (DOST). DOST is a central Technologies, the Philippines has only a pre-
agency mandated to provide direction, operative capability in the third-wave of
leadership and coordination of all scientific development in these technologies.
and technological activities in the country.

23

Science, Technology and Society

Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading

Goddard, J. (2010). Concise history and inventions: An illustrated Timeline. Washington DC.,
USA:National Geographic Society.
Moistero, A.P. (2006). Science, technology and society. Manila: Educational Publishing
House Scribd. (2010), History of science and technology in the Philippines, Retrieved from:
[Link] History-of-Science and Technology- in-the
Philippines

References
Goddard, J. (2010). Concise history and inventions: An illustrated Timeline. Washington
DC.,USA: National Geographic Society.
Help me. (n.d.) History of science and technology. Retrieved from
[Link] [Link]?id=158842
Moistero, A.P. (2006). Science, technology and society. Manila: Educational Publishing
House
Scribd. (2010), History of science and technology in the Philippines, Retrieved from:
[Link] History-of-Science an
Technology- in-the Philippines
Scribd. (2009), Science, technology and society. Retrieved from [Link]
com/doc/23367406/LECTURE-NOTES ON-INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY AND-SOCIETY

Science, Technology and Society