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science and technology… REDEFINED????

December 15, 2006 at 2:25 am (Uncategorized)

1. Definition of Science and Technology from that of the Traditional definition

Science and Technology, for most people is similar in meaning and function. Some people immediately think that when we speak of science and technology, it connotes futuristic gadgetries that are made to ease the burden of manual labor, if not the complex world of chemicals and formulas for time travel. For others, science and technology is something that only highly intellectual scientists can understand and study. Unfortunately, I think some people don’t even think of science and technolgy, taking it for granted and just waiting for some new gizmos that will be on the market, not knowing that without science and technology, none of those gizmos would have come out.

What really is science and technology?

Science in the broadest sense refers to any system of objective knowledge. In a more restricted sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific method, as well as to the organized body of knowledge humans have gained by such research. Science is derived from the latin word scientia for knowledge which in turns come from sci- I know. Traditionally, Science is systematic inquiry into nature like the explanation of things, knowledge like the natural phenomena happening arund us, human cultural activity where humans are distinct from others and a total enterprise. Science is a knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method. Such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and it’s phenomena.

Traditionally, technology is defined as a) technic b) technolgy in itself c) as a human cultural activity and d) total societal enterprise. Technology as a technic means that the term technology will refer to material products or the gadget itself. Technology will be the hardware itself, the object people are using everyday. For example, the frying pan is a technology in itself. The frying pan being an object is already considered a technology. Technology as a technology in itself refes to the complex of knowledge , methods, materials and if applicable, constituent parts used in making a technic. This means that it dos not only refer to the hardware itself but also the way it was created and all the materials or “gadgets” used in creating it. An example of technolgy as technology in itself is the creation of the cellphone. the cellphone is comprised of several technologies and thus it is not only a technology or technic but a combination of technologies. Technology as a human cultural activity means that it will be more than a hardware but can also refer to the general occupation of a person. Like law, medicine and religion, technology will also be a category in which people are actually involved as practitioners. as an example, we could say scientists and inventors are practitioners of technology. Lastly technology as a total societal enterprise means that technology is not just a hardware nor a category for an occupation but is the whole complex combination of all the things, people, facilities, knowledge involved in creating something. Technology is the conjugation of everything in the society that was used in creating a technic. A great example of this is the Japanese technology. Their creation of a single “hi-tech” gadget is made possible through the conjugation of all the resources from the society-knowledge, facilities, etc.

In my own definition, Science is a systematic study based on facts. Science is a knowledge in a sense that it is made of grouped facts and ideas. For example the theories made by several scientists. Those theories are based on facts or ideas grouped together to form a one big knowledge. To sum it up, basically science is based on facts. it cannot be a guess because it needs a corresponding scientific proof to support your hypothesis. Though a hypothesis is accepted in the scientific world, it will not be recognized until it is proven.

On the other hand, technology is an innovation, something that will improve people’s lives. It is a movement from the past to the present way of doing things and even to the futuristic way. In general, I believe that technology is composed of the new inventions. Gadgets that are futuristic and are easier to use but when you think of it, technology isn’t just the fancy gizmos but also the primitive things. Fire for instance was created way way before we were born but it is actually one the best technologies ever created. After all the readings, inquiries,etc. I believe technology is everything that is created, accidental or intentional. Primitive or futuristic, as long as it is created and has a function, it is technology.

The traditional meaning of Science is different from my own definition like in the traditional meaning, knowledge is a natural phenomena where in my own definition, knowledge is a group of ideas or facts. The traditional definition of technology differs with my definition of technology in a sense that the tradition definition is more broad and yet definite. The traditional definition considers technology as everything involved in the production of a hardware, the whole societal technology but my definition is simply takes technology as an invention with a purpose,nothing more, nothing less.

sources

Mcginn R.. Science Technology and Society. Prentice-Hall 1991. 2002