G e n e r a l E d u c a t i o n

CHED
Compliant

Science, Technology,
and Society
Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

Zona Hildegarde S. Amper

Danilo T. Dy
Estherlina S. Ginete
Daryl Y. Mendoza
Richard B. Parilla
Cherile O. Yap i
ii
 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY:
Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

Zona Hildegarde S. Amper

Danilo T. Dy
Estherlina S. Ginete
Daryl Y. Mendoza
Richard B. Parilla
Cherile O. Yap

i
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY: Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

Verbum Books is an imprint of the University of San Carlos Press.

Published by the University of San Carlos Press

University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus
Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City
© 2019 by the University of San Carlos Press

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a database or retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without the written permission of the Publisher.

Authors:
Zona Hidegarde S. Amper, Danilo T. Dy, Estherlina S. Ginete, Daryl Y. Mendoza,
Richard B. Parilla, and Cherile O. Yap

ISBN 978-971-539-141-2

Printed by ClintKAMMS Corp.

Mandaue City

ii
 Contents
Preface V

Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology 1

1.1 Overview of Society and Culture 2
1.2 Science in Society 3
1.3 Technology as Component of Culture 4
1.4 Linking Science, Technology, and Society 5

Chapter 2 Science and Technology in Everyday Life 13

2.1 Environment and Society 14
2.2 Food Technologies 18
2.3 Household Chemistry 26
2.4 Simple Machines 29
2.5 Information and Communication 33

Chapter 3 Technology and Humanity 39

3.1 Philosophical Perspective of Technology 40
3.2 Anthropological Perspective of Technology 46

Chapter 4 Evolution of Technology and Human Societies 55

4.1 Technology in Primate Societies 56
4.2 Archaeological Evidences of Pre-historic Technologies 57
4.3 Intellectual Revolutions 60
4.4 Historical Developments of Technology 64
4.5 Contemporary Modern Technologies 69

Chapter 5 Science, Technology, and National Development 75

5.1 Government Policies on Science and Technology 76
5.2 Agricultural Technological Development 79
5.3 Industrial Technological Development 81
5.4 Health Care Technologies 83
5.5 Science and Technology Education in the Philippines 84
5.6 Philippine Inventors and Inventions 87

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Chapter 6 Impact of Technological Advancements on 93
Contemporary Societies
6.1 Fossil Fuels, the Environment, and Human Health 95
6.2 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disasters 97
6.3 Impact of the Internet on Society 101

Chapter 7 Social Issues and Concerns: Technology for Whom? 107

7.1 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) 108
7.2 Gene Therapy 111
7.3 Nanotechnology 114

Chapter 8 Exploring Alternatives for a Better Future 121

8.1 Environmental Awareness and Actions 122
8.2 Appropriate Technology 125
8.3 Alternative Energy Sources 128

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 Preface
Every person belongs to a society and practices a specific culture. Over time, various
aspects of society and culture have changed—including language, symbols, rituals,
beliefs, economic and political systems, artistic expressions, and technology. As
part of culture, technology has observably changed from the distant past to the
present. From the stone tools of early human populations to digital technologies
and nanotechnology of the modern world, it has been a driver of social and
cultural change, including changes in human thought and knowledge. Given this
reality, this book looks at the interconnections between science, technology, and
society; examines various innovations over time; and analyzes issues that arise from
technological advancements.

Chapter 1 discusses how technology is part of culture and how science relates to
technology as well. It focuses on the social dimension of science and technology
and provides the basic sociological perspectives in understanding the link between
these three concepts.

Chapter 2 situates science and technology in everyday life. It looks at how the physical
environment contributes to technological development and how technological
advancements affect the physical environment. It likewise discusses the various
substances, simple machines, and communication and information technologies
used in the household and in the workplace. This chapter emphasizes the fact that
technology has always been present in modern human societies.

Chapter 3 provides philosophical and anthropological frameworks for understanding

technology in relation to human societies. The first half of the chapter is
devoted to the philosophical perspective of technology primarily explained by
Martin Heidegger, focusing on the meaning of technology. On the other hand,
anthropological perspectives of technology are discussed in the second half of the
chapter, highlighting cultural ecology, cultural evolution, and the sociotechnical
system summarized into the anthropological definition of technology.

Chapter 4 traces the evolution of technology from non-human primate societies

to early human societies until modern times. This chapter likewise discusses the
intellectual revolutions alongside technological development, focusing on evolving
world views over time. It emphasizes that technology developed in the context of

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social and cultural changes and technology also contributed to the dynamics of
society and culture.

Chapter 5 focuses its attention to the Philippine context of technology in relation

to national development. It discusses political, educational, and economic aspects
of Philippine society that either strengthened or hindered the flourishing of science
and technology in the country. It highlights the need for the government to support
inventions and innovations by Filipino scientists to ignite national development.

Chapter 6 tackles the impact of technological advancements on contemporary

societies. The chapter underlines the fact that globalization has facilitated the
spread of modern technologies all over the world regardless of income class. Thus,
the impact of such cuts across all nationalities, ethnicities, social classes, genders,
ages, and groups. It discusses the effects of fossil fuels on the environment and
health as well as the effects of the internet on social relationships. It emphasizes that
although technologies have been created to make life more convenient for human
populations, they also have negative consequences on the environment, health, and
social relationships if they are left unregulated.

Chapter 7 identifies various social issues that have stemmed out as a result of
technological advancements. Specifically, it examines new technologies on
genetically modified organisms (GMOs), gene therapy, and nanotechnology. Such
modern technologies are heavily debated as to their pros and cons. Various issues
related to these are tackled in this chapter.

Chapter 8 explores alternative technologies for a better future. It emphasizes the

need for environmental awareness, appropriate community-based technologies,
and the use of renewable energy sources. Specific examples are provided. This
chapter ends with the hope that future technological advancements would be more
environment-friendly and culturally appropriate.

Given all the discussions in this book, learners are expected to be more aware of
what is happening in the world around them; be able to critically analyze the various
social issues brought about by technological advancements; and provide alternative
solutions and actions for the development of appropriate technologies aligned with
society’s needs as well as to mitigate their impacts to the environment, society, and
culture.

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CHAPTER
1 The Social Dimension of
Science and Technology

Overview
In this chapter, we shall situate science and technology within the
larger society in which we live. We shall look into various aspects of society
and culture that have contributed to the development of science and
technology over time. Parallel to this, we shall also look at how science
and technology have contributed to society. This chapter provides the
framework to be utilized in the succeeding chapters as we examine the
diversity of science and technology across cultures – those of the past and
the present; and in different places of the world.

Objectives
At the end of the chapter, students shall have been able to:

1. Define the basic concepts of society, culture, science, and technology.

2. Utilize various frameworks in explaining the relationship of science
and technology to society and culture.
3. Describe the diversity of science and technology across cultures in
different places at different periods of time.

All individuals belong to a society which practices culture. Societies and cultures
are dynamic and have undergone many changes over time. Societies of the present
are different from societies of the past in terms of structure, practices, beliefs, world
views, and economies. Various aspects of culture have changed. One major driver
of social and cultural change is technology—the ways in which humans modify and
harness the physical environment to respond to the needs of the population in a given
context. Technology is one aspect of culture which has changed over time and has
led to changes in other aspects of society and culture as well. In the Senior High
School curriculum, the basics of society, culture and politics have been presented
and discussed. These concepts shall be reviewed and linked with the dynamics
of science and technology. This highlights the social dimension of science and
technology, which is basically the focus of this entire book.

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Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology

Bridging Learning Opportunities

1. On a 1/8 sheet of paper, write five nouns that would describe who or what
you are.
2. State at least one noun you have written.
3. Classify the nouns based on social groups that you belong to (example: son,
daughter, cousin are grouped together because these are all related to
family; while student, classmate are grouped together because they are all
related to school, etc.)
4. Identify the groups to which these “nouns” belong to.
5. Summarize the relationship between an individual and society.

1.1 Overview of Society and Culture

Humans, as do
some animals, belong to
specific groups in society.
Individuals belong to a
family, neighborhood,
school, church, peer
groups, work groups,
among others. In general,

Wikimedia Commons.
the term society refers
to an autonomous group
of people interacting
with others in a distinct
geographic territory and Hawan Rituals at Hinglaj Mata (Rani ki Mandir) During Yanglaj Yatra
2017 in Pakistan.
sharing a common culture.
Different groups to which individuals belong are part of society. The ways in which
people in specific societies are expected and are taught to behave largely depends on
culture.
Cultures are diverse and thus vary across different places. How children are
nurtured in one culture may not be the same in another culture. Child rearing
practices vary across cultures. Types of families, how people marry, what people
believe in, the rituals and practices associated with beliefs, what people wear, the
types of food, language, symbols, among others vary across cultures.

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 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY: Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

There are a number of factors contributing to such diversity including the

physical environment and how people manage to utilize what is found in their
immediate environment in order to respond to their needs. These processes of
harnessing resources in order to respond to society’s needs are collectively referred to as
technology. The knowledge utilized to harness such resources is referred to as science.
These processes and knowledges also vary across cultures as they are exposed to
different natural and social contexts. Thus, the material aspect of culture are those
objects produced as a result of technology. But how these were produced and what are
the processes and functions involved form part of the non-material aspect of culture,
which also includes the knowledge utilized to create the technology which created
the objects or artifacts utilized by people in society.

Fun Fact
The Philippines is a culturally diverse country with an estimated
14-17 million Indigenous Peoples (IPs) belonging to 110 ethno-
linguistic groups. They are mainly concentrated in Northern Luzon
(Cordillera Administrative Region, 33%) and Mindanao (61%), with
some groups in the Visayas area. (Source: www.ph.undp.org)

Bridging Learning Opportunities

Identify the different sciences that you know of. Classify whether these are
natural sciences or social sciences. What is the focus of study of each of these
sciences?

1.2 Science in Society

The term science refers to the body of knowledge utilized to understand the world.
Generally, the term science is used to refer to understanding natural phenomena
including the world of plants and animals, geological formations, how life began,
composition of substances, among others. These are the foci of the natural sciences
such as biology, physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and others.
However, as society became more complex, rational thinkers began to scrutinize
society itself trying to understand its various processes and components. Early
social thinkers utilized the methods of the natural sciences to understand the social

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Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology

world. These sciences are now known as the social sciences including sociology,
anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and others.
Science has been instrumental in the development of technologies. Even
during pre-historic times, the knowledge of early humans has been utilized to
harness available resources in the environment. Fire, for example, is a product of the
knowledge of early humans utilized to produce something that could respond to
their needs. In recent times, science has been
utilized to develop more advanced technologies
to make life more convenient. A lot of electronic
gadgets now flood contemporary human
societies. These shall be discussed in more
detail in the succeeding chapters.
By the term science we do not only mean
the formal natural and social sciences, but also
the knowledges of specific cultures regarding
natural and social phenomena. How different

Zona Amper
cultures make sense of their world and how
they act accordingly to achieve desirable
outcomes are likewise encompassed in this A local healer preparing various
broad definition of science. medicinal plant parts for healing.

Bridging Learning Opportunity

1. Get one object that you have which represents technology (exclude
gadgets, laptops, and other electronic devices).
2. Explain why you think this object represents technology. Emphasize how
the object was produced and what is its use/function.
3. Summarize what technology is.

1.3 Technology as Component of Culture

In sociology and anthropology, technology is considered as a component of
culture. Technology includes the various processes which a group of people use
to harness the environment to produce objects and systems that could be utilized to
respond to human needs in society. The objects produced by technology are referred
to as artifacts or material culture.
With this definition, technology is not confined to the so-called modern
technology involving machines and computers. The stone tool technology of

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 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY: Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

early humans is also “technology.” Even the use of plants for healing purposes by
indigenous peoples is also a technology based on local knowledge. The early
inventions are also technologies that have produced a number of artifacts and entire
systems of harnessing natural resources. Irrigation systems have been developed to
utilize water from rivers to provide water for crops. It has been observed by some
theorists that most of the early civilizations developed along river banks.
In a sociological and anthropological sense, technology is one aspect of culture
from the distant past until the present, based on the existing knowledge systems,
now referred to as “science”, of specific societies. As an aspect of culture, it is related
to other aspects including economic systems, political systems, and even belief
systems. The succeeding chapters will utilize this perspective in looking at science
and technology in society.
Bridging Learning Opportunity

Watch the film, “Fern Gully.” Answer the following questions based on the film:
1. What objects had different meanings to the humans and the fairies? Identify
the objects and their corresponding meanings to humans and fairies.
2. What are the effects of the logging operations on the community of fairies,
other living organisms, and the environment?
3. Who benefits from the logging operations—the humans or the fairies? Who
are exploited in the process of reaping profits from logging?

1.4 Linking Science, Technology, and Society

In general, sociology provides various theoretical
perspectives to the analysis of society and culture.
The major perspectives are symbolic interactionism,
structural functionalism and conflict.
Symbolic interactionism focuses on the social
interactions among individuals in society using symbols.
Such symbols have meanings for people in society
based on their respective cultures. For example, a piece
of wood is just a piece of wood, but if two pieces of
Wikimedia Commons.

wood are intersected with each other forming a cross,

the meaning of this symbol for Christians is their belief
in Jesus Christ. For non-Christians, it remains as a piece
of wood which for them means nothing but firewood
maybe.
Wood formed into a cross.

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Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology

Structural functionalists view society

from a more macro-level perspective as it
focuses on the interconnection between systems
in society which have functions that maintain
the functioning of the whole society. One social
institution affects all other institutions, thus if
there is a dysfunction in one aspect, the entire
system is affected. For example if the economy

Wikimedia Commons.
is in crisis, it affects the political institution,
education and all other social institutions.
Just like a car engine, if there is one part that is
not functional, it cannot function as a whole.
Similarly, the conflict perspective views Workers in a factory.
society from a macro-level perspective but
instead of focusing on functions, it focuses on unequal relationships among groups
or categories of people to explain what is happening in society. For example, it views
poverty as a result of exploitation of the lower class (workers) by the powerful class
(capitalists). These sociological perspectives shall be utilized in analyzing science
and technology in society.
Bridging Learning Opportunity
Form three groups. Assign each group to do a role play on the following:
1. Human societies making and using technology
2. How technology affects social relationships and social institutions (family,
economy, health, etc.)
3. The role of social institutions in the development of technologies.

Specific views on the relationship between science and technology with

society and culture have emerged—Technological Somnambulism, Technological
Determinism, and the Social Construction of Technology. Although all these look at
the relationship between technology and society, they have different views of this
relationship.
The first view, although we shall not utilize this in our discussion and analysis,
is called Technological Somnambulism which, as explained by Langdon Winner, a
political scientist, denies the various ways by which technology provides structure
and meaning for human life. This perspective contends that human relationship to
technology consists of merely “making” and “using” technology. In this view, technology
is considered neutral in the moral and ethical sense—neither is technology good

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 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY: Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

nor bad. In other words.

Technology’s impact on society
depends on how it is utilized.
Generally, this view ignores
how technology can shape
social structure; and how social
structure shapes technology.
Thus, technologies are seen to

Wikimedia Commons.
operate beyond the control of
humans and seem to be results
of automatic, unavoidable
processes. This is in contrast
to the two other perspectives Machinery in the water treatment plant of an abandoned
discussed in the succeeding steel factory in Oupeye, Belgium.
paragraphs.

Wikimedia Commons.

Different technologies utilized for farming.

Technological Determinism generally contends that a society’s technology

largely determines its social structure and culture. The term “technological determinism”
was coined by Thorstein Veblen, an American sociologist and economist. Technology
is viewed as the main determinant of a society’s history and the driving force of
its culture. This view posits that the introduction of newer technologies leads to
changes in society and culture which may lead to the loss of existing knowledge
and technologies as well. For example, the mechanization of agriculture has led
to the loss of traditional farming methods. The same is true with communication
technologies. People nowadays communicate through the internet by sending

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Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology

emails and no longer through handwritten letters sent via the post office. Over the
course of human history, there are a number of examples that could be cited, such
as the invention of irrigation systems, the wheel and gunpowder. For every new
discovery or invention, there is a corresponding transition or change in society. The
discovery of steam power, for example, led to the development of industrial society;
while the invention of computers ushered in the information age in contemporary
societies. This shall be discussed in more detail in the next chapters.

Wikimedia Commons.

Scientists Testing a Laser Beacon for the Gemini Project.

The Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) perspective arose as a

contrasting view to technological determinism introduced by Wiebe Bijker and
Trevor Pinch in 1984. It emphasizes the importance of social context in the development
of new technologies viewed as a product of social processes involving several social
groups. SCOT argues that technological innovation is a complex process wherein
both technology and society negotiate the meaning of new technologies; then
make changes to technology through resistance; and lastly construct social and
technological frameworks, actions and practices. For example, the social context of
science and technology in third world countries like the Philippines is different from
that of first world countries like the United States and Japan. Thus, the development
of new technologies in first world countries is more rapid compared to those in the
third world. There are differences in terms of government support, financial support,
and educational system in these countries. On the other hand, specific situations in

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 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY: Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

different societies also lead to the development of different types of technologies

that are appropriate to the given context.
In this book, students shall exercise critical thinking skills using the various
perspectives in linking science and technology with society and culture. The next
chapter shall look at science and technology in our everyday lives, including the
physical environment, food, household utilities, simple machines, communication,
information and transportation.

Fun Fact
During the last half of the twentieth century, the
world’s irrigated area expanded from close to 250m
acres (100m hectares) in 1950 to roughly 700m in 2000.
But since then the growth in irrigation has come to a
near standstill, expanding only 10% between 2000 and
2010. (Source: www.theguardian.com)

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Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology

References
Amper, ZHS, JER Bersales and FA Nolasco. (2016). Knowing our Social World: A
Worktext in Understanding Culture, Society and Politics for Senior High School.
Cebu: Soline Publishing Company Inc. ISBN 978-971-539-090-3

Macionis, John. 2012. Sociology 14th edition. USA: Pearson. ISBN 978-0-205-11671-3

Pfaffenberger, Bryan. Fetishised Objects and Humanised Nature: Towards an

Anthropology of Technology. Man, New Series, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Jun., 1988), pp.
236-252

Supplementary Learning Resources

1. Salehan, Mohammad, Dan J. Kim, Jae-Nam Lee (2018). Are there any
relationships between technology and cultural values? A country-level
trend study of the association between information communication
technology and cultural values. Information & Management 55 (6): 725-745.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378720616302580)
2. Cravens, Amanda. (2003). The Dynamic Relationship between Technology
and Culture. (http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2003/Amanda/
Paper2technologyculture.htm)

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY: Interconnections, Innovations, and Issues

Exercises
I. Analyze the following statements and identify whether the perspective used
is Technological Determinism (TD) or Social Construction of Technology
(SCOT). Write the corresponding answers on the space provided before each
number:
________1. Children who play online games for over four hours a day become
emerged in violence as depicted in the games they play on the
computer. This violent behavior may be manifested in their
interactions with others.
________2. The idea of hydro-powered cars was developed by a Filipino inventor
in the 1970s but there was not enough support from the Philippine
government due to a number of factors. Over time, this idea is now
being explored by car manufacturers in Japan, China, Europe and
the U.S. But people have not adopted such technology since they
are not sure if hydro-powered cars are really safe for the riding
public.
________3. The problem on water quality especially in highly urbanized areas
prompted water distributors to develop technologies for water
treatment and purification.
________4. Changes in some physical traits of early humans, including increased
brain size and prehensile hands, are directly associated with more
sophisticated tool making and utilization.
________5. Anti-mining and anti-coal power plant rallies and demonstrations
have been staged by various environmental groups since the 1990s
until the present. These have prompted the Philippine Congress to
enact laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Mining
Act to regulate companies engaged in such activities. These have
led to the development of so-called green technologies for power
generation as well as responsible mining.

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Chapter 1 The Social Dimension of Science and Technology

II. Identify, illustrate and describe at least three different ways societies
have utilized to get water from the ground. Explain the diversity of such
technologies. Use the spaces provided below.

Explanation:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

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