Science, Technology, and Society Study Notes, Study notes of History of Science and Technology

Download Science, Technology, and Society Study Notes and more Study notes History of Science and Technology in PDF only on Docsity! SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY | FIRST SEMESTER INDIGENOUS SCIENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES INDIGENOUS SCIENCE Definition and Scope - Indigenous science can be defined as a complex network of knowledge, skills, and philosophies about the natural world that have been developed by indigenous populations over thousands of years. - Embodies a deeply empirical and observational approach to understanding the world. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) - Underlines its roots in long-standing practices that are both cultural and scientific. - Comprised of - Cultural practices - Spiritual beliefs - Social obligations Scope - Vast and multi-disciplinary - Ifugao - Sustainable agricultural practices - Terracing methods optimize crop yields and contribute to preventing soil erosion - Other tribes - Repository of medicinal knowledge - Identifying various plant species with healing properties that have influenced modern pharmacology - Resource management - Traditional fishing methods is based on a comprehensive understanding of local marine ecosystems - Social sciences - Indigenous governance systems and community laws emphasize collective well-being and equitable resource distribution - Indigenous cosmologies - Incorporates philosophical viewpoints into daily practices and ceremonies INTRICACIES OF INDIGENOUS SCIENCE - Intricacies lie in its deeply localized, community-oriented nature - Tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of a community and its environment - Forms an interconnected web of knowledge that is tied together by a holistic world view - Includes a spiritual or cosmological aspect - Acknowledges a relationship between human and non-human - The living and non-living METHODOLOGIES OF INDIGENOUS SCIENCE Common features: - Oral transmission of knowledge through storytelling, song, and ritual - Serve as repositories of complex environmental data, ethical guidelines, and social norms - Employ a participatory and observational approach - Elders take on the role of educators APPLICATIONS OF INDIGENOUS SCIENCE - Provides highly sustainable, eco-friendly solutions to a range of problems Kaingin System - When practiced sustainably, shows a sophisticated understanding of local soil health, nutrient cycles, and plant diversity Traditional Architecture of Ivatan People in Batanes - Offers valuable insights into constructing buildings that are resilient to typhoons and earthquakes Medicinal knowledge - Local herbs and plant species are now being studied for their potential in modern healthcare Tagbanua community in Palawan - Employs traditional methods to manage their fisheries sustainably HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Understanding its historical context is crucial for appreciating its depth and relevance Pre-colonial Era - Indigenous communities had a highly developed system of science and technology SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY | FIRST SEMESTER - Rice terracing methods in Ifugao - Complex navigation techniques of the Badjao sea nomads Colonial periods - Brought about significant disruptions - Indigenous practices were marginalized or completely erased OBJECTIVES OF STUDYING INDIGENOUS SCIENCE 1. Preservation of knowledge that is in danger of disappearing due to various forms of cultural erosions - Urgent task for ethnographers, anthropologists, and researchers to document 2. Immense scope for innovation by harnessing indigenous wisdom for modern applications in various sectors - Agriculture, healthcare and sustainable development 3. Cultural relevance and social justice COMPARISON BETWEEN WESTERN AND INDIGENOUS SCIENCE - Key differences emerge in methodologies, worldviews, and community involvement Western Science - Employs scientific method - Quantification, experimentation, and peer review - Adopts a reductionist approach - Breaking down systems into smaller components Indigenous Science - Uses qualitative methods - Observation, experience, and community consensus - Holistic approach - Interconnectedness of life forms and elements in the ecosystem IMPORTANCE IN MODERN SOCIETY - Eco-friendly solutions based on deep knowledge of local ecosystems make it indispensable for sustainable development - Can provide invaluable insights for disaster risk reduction and management - Significant cultural aspect ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN STUDYING INDIGENOUS SCIENCE - Indigenous knowledge has often been appropriated without proper attribution or benefit-sharing - “Biopiracy” robs communities of intellectual property and threatens livelihoods and cultural heritage - Must be approached with a framework that respects both the knowledge and the rights of the people that hold it - Informed consent and participatory research methodologies are essential THE ROLE OF POLICY AND LEGISLATION - Governmental policies and international laws can significantly influence the status of indigenous science - The role of policy extends to educational systems Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing - Provide guidelines for equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including traditional knowledge Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act - Groundwork for the recognition and protection of indigenous cultural heritage FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND POTENTIAL COLLABORATIONS 1. Interdisciplinary collaboration - Between indigenous communities, researchers, policymakers, and industry 2. Technology - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) could be employed to map and document traditional land use patterns - Advances in data analytics could be used to codify and analyze oral traditions 3. Partnerships with indigenous communities - Could lead to the co-development of products and services that honor traditional knowledge while meeting modern needs SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY | FIRST SEMESTER Symbolism and Social Significance - Serves as a language in themselves, narrating history, traditions, beliefs, and social norms T’boli - T’nalak weave is inspired by dreams Maranao and Maguindanao - Malong: versatile tube skirt - Indicates the wearer’s village, social status, and personal experiences Panay Bukidnon - Bayok poetry tells tales of heroism, love, and social norms 5. Folk Architecture and Engineering Vernacular Building Materials - Selection of materials like bamboo, cogon grass, and palm leaves is a testament to a sophisticated understanding of local resources Bamboo - Load-bearing structures Cogon grass - Used for roofing and thermal insulation Palm leaves - Thatching roofs Construction Techniques - Bahay kubo - Ivatan houses in Batanes Environmental Adaptation - Large windows and high ceilings for ventilation - Orientation of the house for wind direction - Thicker walls made of wood or stone as insulators - Resilience to natural disasters Cultural and Social Aspects - Communal spaces for gatherings and ceremonies - Act of building a home is a communal activity 6. Indigenous Astronomy and Timekeeping Celestial Bodies and Orientation - Use constellations as guides for seafaring - Used for decision about agricultural activities - Lunar cycle for optimizing fishing and planting Seasonal Calendar - Guides for agricultural planning, fishing, and social ceremonies Tidal and Lunar Cycles - For coastal and island communities, the relationship between the moon, tides, and marine life is crucial for their livelihood Rituals and Cosmology - Rituals and ceremonies often incorporate celestial phenomena INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION DEFINITION - Signifying profound shifts in thought, culture, and societal structures - Lay the groundwork for new paradigms that shape the trajectory of civilizations for generations - Significant transformation in collective understanding or worldview - Fueled by groundbreaking theories. Novel technologies, or discoveries Enlightenment - Closely associated with intellectual revolution - Period from the late 17th to the 18th century - Emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority COMMON NOTIONS AND MISCONCEPTIONS 1. Speed of Change - Gradual processes that reshape society over extended periods 2. Linearity and Progression - Complex interplay between new and old thoughts, often resulting in a synthesis rather than a replacement 3. Unidisciplinary Impact - Effects are usually interdisciplinary 4. Inevitability 5. Uniformly Beneficial Outcomes - Can also yield unintended or negative outcomes 6. Periodization Misconception - Complex, multi-layered phenomenon that often transcends specific areas SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY | FIRST SEMESTER ENLIGHTENMENT - Emerged against the backdrop of religious strife, feudal systems, and burgeoning scientific discoveries - Emphasis on empirical investigation and challenging traditional doctrines - Ideas of reason, individualism, and a critical questioning of established authority - Rise of print culture WHY THE ENLIGHTENMENT IS AN INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION Challenging existing paradigms - Questioned frameworks and feudal system - Critiqued the church and state paving the way for modern democracy, human rights, and secularism Introduction of New Methodologies - Broadened the scope of empirical inquiry to include social and political spheres Interdisciplinary Impact - Its principles influenced a multitude of fields Lasting Legacy - Laid philosophical foundations for democratic governance and inspired revolutions that led to the creation of modern nation-states SEMINAL INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION The Scientific Method - Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton - Focus on observation, hypothesis, and experimentation Democratic Ideals - Montesquieu “The Spirit of Laws” and Rousseau “The Social Contract” - Critiqued absolute monarchy and articulated principles of separation of powers and social contracts Human Rights and Individualism - John Locke “Two Treatises of Government” and Voltaire - The concept of human rights as universal and inalienable emerged from these writings Secularism and Religious Tolerance - Challenged the hegemony of the church - Voltaire “Treatises on Tolerance” advocated for freedom of thought and expression Economic Theories - Adam Smith “The Wealth of Nations” - Laid the foundation for modern economics COPERNICAN REVOLUTION - Altered the way humanity viewed the universe and its place within it - Old geocentric model: earth was the center of the universe - Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century) - New heliocentric model - Nicolaus Copernicus IMPACT ON SCIENCE Foundation for Modern Astronomy - Simplified complex mathematics required to predict celestial motions under the geocentric model Kepler’s Law - Johannes Kepler - Laws of planetary motion - Fundamental in understanding celestial mechanics Galilean Discoveries - Galileo Galilei’s telescopic observations of the moons of Jupiter, phases of Venus, and sunspots provided empirical evidence supporting the Copernican model PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS Humanity’s Place in the Universe - Heliocentric model lead to philosophical and existential questioning Rise of Empiricism - Reinforced the importance of observation and experimentation CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS REPERCUSSIONS Resistance from the Church - Copernican model contradicted biblical passages Reconciliation and Modernity - Religious institutions began to reinterpret scriptures and reconcile their teachings with scientific understanding LEGACY AND CONTINUATION Newtonian Physics - Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation was built upon the heliocentric model Modern Astrophysics SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY | FIRST SEMESTER - Core principles of Copernican Revolution remain fundamental in modern astrophysics DARWINIAN REVOLUTION - Propelled by Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection - Introduced in the 19th century - Provided a framework for understanding the diversity and interconnectedness of life on earth IMPACT ON SCIENCE Unifying Framework for Biology - Served as a comprehensive explanation for biological diversity Medical Research - Understanding evolutionary processes had practical applications Influence on Geology and Paleontology - Helped scientists understand the deep time scales involved in geological formations and the fossil record PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS Human Nature and Existence - Confronted the special creationist view compelling reevaluation Materialism and Determinism - Bolstered materialist philosophies, suggesting that life’s diversity could be explained through natural processes without invoking the supernatural Ethical Consideration - Led to debated about the moral implications of natural selection CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT Social Darwinism - Theories justified social and economic inequalities Religious Debates - Ignited theological controversies particularly among christian communities Public Education - Teachings has been a point of contention especially in countries with strong religious communities LEGACY AND CONTINUATION Modern Evolutionary Synthesis - The 20th-century reconciliation of Darwinian evolution and Mendelian genetics led to a more robust and comprehensive theory of evolution Evolutionary Psychology - Understanding human behavior through the lens of evolutionary processes Bioethics and Biotechnology - Relevant in ethical discussion in modern biotechnology FREUDIAN REVOLUTION - Sigmund Freud - Late 19th century to early 20th century - Led to profound changes in the understanding of human psychology and behavior IMPACT ON SCIENCE Birth of Psychoanalysis - Gave rise to new therapeutic approach to mental disorders and treatments Influence on Psychiatry - Understanding of neuroses and the role of early childhood experiences Interdisciplinary Influence - Impacting the analysis of human behavior across disciplines PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS Conceptions of the Unconscious - Freud’s model of the mind challenged enlightenment ideals that celebrated human rationality and conscious thought Ethical Quandaries - Brought to the fore ethical questions about human responsibility Philosophy of the Mind - Spurred interest in topics like desire, repressions, and subjectivity CULTURAL IMPACT - Art and Literature - Everyday language - Popular understanding of Psychology LEGACY AND CONTINUATION - Psychoanalytic schools - Criticisms and revisions - Clinical practice