Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM

(Science, Technology, and Society)

Lesson 1: Historical Antecedents in the Course 4. Irrigation and Dikes – brings water to
of Science and Technology farmlands and at the same time control the
flooding of the rivers.
Six (6) Major Themes of Innovation:
5. Sailboats
Transportation – allowed people to go places and 6. Wheel – made not for transportation but for
discover new horizons. People travelled in search farm work and food processing (i.e. milling
for food and better locations for settlement. of grains).
7. Plow – to dig the ground where seeds would
Communication – people needed a way to be planted.
communicate with the natives of the areas they 8. Roads – facilitates faster and easier travel.
visited to facilitate trade and prevent possible Made of sunbaked bricks laid on the ground,
conflicts. Record-keeping is also an important then poured over with bitumen – a black
aspect to document trades made, and to keep sticky substance similar to asphalt.
records of their history and culture.
Babylonian Civilization – emerged near the Tigris
Weapons and Armors – for the establishment of and Euphrates Rivers. Known as great builders and
alliances with other tribes. Developed for security architects.
and protection.
1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon – structure
Conservation of life – for the prevention and cure made up of layers of gardens that contained
of illnesses. several species of plants, trees, and vines.
Engineering – allowed men to build structures to Built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his
address their specific needs and wants. wife, Queen Amytis.

Architecture – considered as the status symbol Egyptian Civilization – emerged on North Africa,
among nations on how they advanced their along the Nile River Delta. Known for engineering,
technologies. architecture, and practical things that are still in use
today.
Ancient Times:
1. Paper/ Papyrus – addressed the issues on
Sumerian Civilization – located in the the use of clay tablets. This is a more
southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia. Known portable and stronger material for record-
for high degree of cooperation and desire for great keeping. Made from papyrus – a plant (reed)
things. that grew abundantly along the Nile River.
1. Cuneiform –first writing system that 2. Ink – created by combining soot with
utilized word pictures and triangular different chemicals to produce different
symbols carved on clay using wedge colors. Also used for record-keeping.
instruments. 3. Hieroglyphics – system of writing using
2. Uruk City – considered to be the first true symbols.
city. Used mud or clay that is mixed with 4. Cosmetics – to improve and highlight the
reeds to produce sunbaked bricks. facial features of a person, functioned as
3. The Great Ziggurat of Ur – also called the both for health and aesthetic reasons. Kohl –
mountain of god, built like the Uruk City. created by mixing soot or malachite with
Served as a sacred place for their chief god. mineral galena.

1
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
5. Wig – worn for health and wellness rather Mayan Civilization
than aesthetic reasons. Protected the bald
1. Looms – a device used to create fabrics
heads from sun’s rays.
from fibers.
6. Water Clock/Clepsydra – utilizes gravity
2. Rubber Products – utilized the sap of
to use for time-keeping.
rubber trees (latex).
Greek Civilization – emerged in an archipelago in
Incan Civilization
the southeastern part of Europe. Birthplace of
Philosophy, Democracy and Mathematics. 1. Quipu – a system of knotted ropes to keep
records that only experts can interpret.
1. Alarm Clock – designed by Plato to signal
the start of his lectures. Aztec Civilization
2. Water Mill – used the flow of water to
propel mills used in milling grains for food. 1. Chinampa – agricultural technology in
Minimized the need for raising of livestock which the land is divided into rectangular
used for milling. areas surrounded by canals.
2. Chocolates
Roman Civilization – perceived to be the strongest 3. Canoe
political and social entity in the West.
Indian Civilization
1. Newspaper – known as gazettes. This
contained announcements of the Roman 1. Ayurveda – a system of traditional
Empire to the people. medicine.
2. Bound Books/ Codex – stacked papers 2. Hindu-Arabic Numerals
bound by wax, at first, then animal skin. Middle East
3. Architecture – considered to be a
continuation of the Greek Architecture. 1. Al-jabr – Arabic term that is considered to
4. Roman Numerals - standardized the be the origin of the word Algebra.
counting method to meet the increasing need Africa
for communication and trade concerns.
1. Lebombo Bone – a mathematical tool found
Chinese Civilization – considered to be the oldest between the mountains of Swaziland and
civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as South Africa.
the Middle Kingdom.
Other Antiquity Inventions:
1. Silk – developed the technology to harvest
silk. 1. Shadoof/ Shaduf – a tool used by ancient
2. Tea – beverage produced by pouring hot or Egyptians to irrigate the land. Used the concept of
boiling water over crushed or shredded dried counterweights.
tea leaves. 2. Antikythera Mechanism – ancient world’s first
3. Great Wall of China analog orrery/device. Used by the Greeks to display
4. Gunpowder – a mix of charcoal, sulfur, and celestial time, predict astronomical positions and
potassium nitrate. Initially thought by the eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes. The
Chinese to be an elixir (a potion for eternal earliest known antecedent to modern clockwork.
life).
3. Aeolipile/ Hero’s Engine – a steam-powered
turbine which spun when the water container at its
2
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
center was heated. The earliest antecedent to Producing different products from crude oil
modern steam engines. During its time, it served no through refining/ distilling.
practical purpose. 3. Telephone – allowed for real-time
communication using telephone wires via a
Medieval/ Middle Ages
switchboard. Invented by Alexander
1. Printing Press – invented by Johann Graham Bell.
Gutenberg. Used fruit juices as ink, and 4. Calculator – allowed for the faster
metal impression of letters (negative) to computation of complex equations.
produce an impression on paper (positive). 5. Jacquard Loom – lessened the demand for
2. Microscope – a device that could magnify labor while it also increased the complexity
things invisible to the naked eye. Zacharias of designs of fabrics. Used punch cards to
Janssen invented the first compound mass produce fabrics with complex designs.
microscope. 6. Engine-Powered Plane – by American
3. Telescope – an optical instrument that helps brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The
in the observation of remote objects. first engine-powered aircraft was launched
4. War Weapons – long range weapons like in 1903, and it spurred the age of powered
cannons, arrows, trebuchets and catapults. flights.
Defensive tools/infrastructure like armors, 7. Television – by John Logie Baird. A device
chainmail, walls, fortresses and citadels. capable of projecting images to a screen.
5. Heavy Plough – gave the Europeans the
Philippine Inventions
ability to turn clay soils to arable land,
increasing their food production. Led to an 1. Salamander Amphibious Tricycle
agricultural revolution. 2. SALt Lamp – invented by Aisa Mijeno.
6. Paper Money – developed first by the Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt)
Chinese. Used the concept of assigning Lamp.
value to a marked piece of paper in place of 3. Medical Incubator – invented by Dr. Fe
using precious metals as currency. Del Mundo. Used two native laundry
7. Mechanical Clock – paved the way for a baskets heated by hot water bottles to allow
more accurate time-keeping. Changed the premature babies to further develop.
way people spent their days and work 4. Mosquito Ovicidal/ Larvicidal Trap
patterns. System
8. Spinning Wheel – a machine used for 5. E-Jeepney – an innovation to the existing
transforming fiber into thread or yarn, and Filipino invention jeepneys. It uses electric
eventually is woven into a cloth using a motors instead of internal-combustion
loom. Increased the production of thread by engines to lessen pollution.
a factor of 10 to 100 times. 6. Erythromycin – an antibiotic out of a strain
of Streptomyces erytheus developed by
Modern Times
Abelardo Aguilar.
1. Pasteurization – invented by Louis Pasteur. 7. Mole Remover – developed by Rolando
The process of heating dairy products to kill Dela Cruz. Used cashew extract to remove
the harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil moles and warts from the skin without an
faster. operation.
2. Petroleum Refinery – Samuel M. Kier 8. Banana Ketchup – by Maria Orosa. Due to
invented kerosene by refining petroleum. a shortage in tomato supply due to the
3
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
World War II, Orosa used mashed bananas, flourishes and finds meaning in the world he
vinegar, sugar, and spices to develop the builds.
banana ketchup. Red colorants were used to Martin Heidegger – a German philosopher who
resemble the tomato ketchup color. was a part of the Continental tradition of
philosophy. He focused on Ontology, or the study
of ‘being,’ or dasein in German.
Lesson 2: Intellectual Revolutions The Essence of Technology
Copernican Revolution – Nicolaus Copernicus  Science and technology are responsible for
introduced the concept of Heliocentrism (the Sun is the ways of society is continuously being
the center of the Solar System, and not the Earth). modernized.
This challenged Claudius Ptolemy’s Geocentrism  The omnipresence of science and
(the Earth is the center). technology must not eclipse the basic tenets
Darwinian Revolution – Charles Darwin’s book of ethics and morality.
On the Origin of Species, he introduced the Theory  It should allow the human person to flourish
of Evolution (populations pass through a process of alongside scientific progress and
natural selection where only the fittest would technological development.
survive). Under Heidegger’s “The Question Concerning
Freudian Revolution – by Sigmund Freud’s Technology,” there are two definitions of
Theory of Psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is the technology:
study that explains human behavior. 1. Instrumental – “Technology is a means to
an end.” Technology is not an end in itself,
but a means to an end. Technology is a tool
Lesson 3: Science, Technology, and Nation- available to people that desire to make an
Building impact to society. All in all, technology is an
instrument aimed at getting things done.
Pre-Colonial Period – early Filipinos used certain
plants and herbs as medicines. Banaue Rice 2. Anthropological – “Technology is a human
Terraces was made by hand and primitive tools. activity.” To achieve an end, and to produce
and use a means to an end is, by itself, a
Colonial Period – the Spaniards introduced modern human activity. The production and
engineering skills and tools. Bureau of Science was invention of technological equipment, tools,
established by the Americans. machines, devices, etc., and the functions
Post-Colonial Period – Pres. Marcos established and purpose these serve are what is defining
and strengthen several scientific agencies, like technology.
PAG-ASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical  Both definitions are correct but are lacking
and Astronomical Services Administration). since it does not tackle the essence of
technology. “Whenever there is an effect,
there is a causality.”
Lesson 4 – Human Flourishing: The Four Causes:
 The human person is both the bearer and  Martin Heidegger used the metaphor of a
beneficiary of science and technology, and he silver chalice to present The Four Causes.

4
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
1. Causa Materialis – the not directly a poiesis, but as challenging
matter/material used to produce the forth (it makes people think how to do
object (the silver as a raw material). things faster, more effectively, and with less
2. Causa Formalis – the effort).
logos/form/shape the object assumes  Standing Reserve prompts people into
upon creation (the shape of the dominating and enframing the natural
chalice). resources of the planet.
3. Causa Efficiens – the person, process, Enframing as Modern Technology’s Way of
or idea that brought upon the change Revealing
(the silversmith). In the way of enframing (a way of ordering nature
4. Causa Finalis – “Why the object was to better manipulate it), there are two ways of
made in the first place?” The final looking at the world:
effect of the object created (the chalice 1. Calculative Thinking – humans desire to put
being used for the sacrificial rite). an order to nature to better understand and
control it.
Technology as a Way of Revealing
2. Meditative Thinking – humans allow nature
 According to Heidegger, the “true” can only
to reveal itself to them without the use of force
be pursued through the “correct.” Simply
or violence.
put, what is correct leads to what is true.
 Humans have the constant desire for security,
Technology is a way of revealing – a mode
people put all of nature as a Standing Reserve
of “bringing forth.”
(Gestell) – always ready for exploitation.
The Dangers of Technology
Martin Heidegger’s Ancient Greek Concepts
 The dangers lie on how people let
(technology is a poiesis that reveals the truth):
themselves be consumed by technology.
1. Aletheia – unhiddenness, unclosedneds,
truth or disclosure.
Lesson 5 – The Good Life:
2. Poiesis – bringing forth. The act of bringing
Eudaimonia – literally “good spirited,” a term
something out of concealment. By bringing
coined by Aristotle, based on his Nichomachean
out of concealment, the truth of such thing is
Ethics, to describe the pinnacle happiness attainable
revealed.
to humans. From the Greek words eu, meaning
 For Heidegger, technology is a form of
“good” and daimon, meaning “spirit.”
Poeisis – a way of revealing that
unconceals aletheia or the truth. Arete – excellence or virtue.
3. Techne – root word of technology, meaning
Happiness – the ultimate end of human action. It
skill, art, or craft. Encompasses knowledge
comes from living a life of virtue (arete), a life of
and understanding not only of the craft, but
excellence.
also of other acts of the mind.

Does Modern Technology Bring Forth or Types of Virtue:

Challenge Forth? 1. Intellectual – owes its birth and growth to
 Under Heidegger’s concept of the Standing teaching (for which reason it requires
Reserve, it becomes clear that technology is experience, education and time).
5
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
2. Moral – comes about as a result of habitual his own laws, free from the shackles of God
practice. As example, moral virtues are that monitors and controls. Man is literally
courage, patience, etc. the captain of his own ship.
John Stuart Mill – “The Greatest Happiness
Lesson 6 – Human Flourishing in Progress and
Principle” – based on Jeremy Bentham’s Felicific
De-Development
Calculus. It posits that if an action benefits the
“Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to
greatest number of people, it is deemed ethical.
‘de-develop’ rich countries” by Jason Hickel:
There is no need to attain the happiness of everyone
 Growth and development for the past 70
as people have different sources of happiness.
years are not working. Since 1980, the
Schools of Thought which Aim the Good and global economy has grown by 380%, but the
Happy Life: number of people living in poverty on less
1. Materialism – only material things could than $5/day has increased by more than 1.1
bring happiness. No need to posit immaterial billion. “Trickle-down economy” is
things (abstract ideas) as a source of ineffective.
purpose. The Atomists like Democritus and  Orthodox economists insist that all that is
Leucippus proposed that the world is made needed is more growth. More progressive
up of and is controlled by tiny, indivisible types tell us that we need to shift some of
units called atomos, or seeds. the yields of growth from the richer
2. Hedonism – the end goal of life is in segments of the population to the poorer
acquiring pleasure. Life is about obtaining ones. Neither are adequate. People are
and indulging in pleasure as life is limited. overshooting the planet’s biocapacity by
Their mantra is “eat, drink, and be merry – more than 50% each year (July 29, 2019 is
for tomorrow we die.” the World’s Overshoot Day, earliest in
3. Stoicism – to generate happiness, one must history). Overshoot refers to the rate of
learn to distance himself and be apathetic consumption by humanity has exceeded the
(came from the word apatheia, or Earth’s natural capacity to regenerate.
indifference). Happiness can only be  The planet has enough resources for each
attained in the careful practice of apathy. person to consume 1.8 global hectares
There are things outside of our control (like annually (global hectares is a standardized
other peoples’ feelings) and the sooner we unit that measures resource use and
realize this, the happier we become. waste). United States and Canada consumes
4. Theism – people find happiness if they use about 8 hectares/person, Europeans consume
God as the fulcrum of their lives (putting 4.7 hectares/person.
God in the center of their lives). People base  According Economist Peter Edward, instead
their life goals on beliefs that is hinged on of pushing poorer countries to “catch up”
some form of supernatural reality called with rich ones, we should be thinking of
Heaven. The ultimate basis of happiness is ways to get rich countries to “catch down”
the communion with God. to more appropriate level of development.
5. Humanism – this espouses the freedom of USA Cuba
man to carve his own destiny and to legislate Life Expectancy 79 years 78 years

6
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
GDP per capita $53,000 $6,000 2. Risks of disinformation (due to fake news)
Global Hectare 8 hectares 1.9 hectares
consumption Robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Robots – an actuated mechanism programmable in
 Cuba has achieved a relatively same two or more axes with a degree of autonomy,
development as the USA (except GDP per moving within its environment, to perform intended
capita), therefore as Edward said, rich tasks.
countries should “catch down.” Types of Robots:
1. Service Robot – performs useful tasks for
Lesson 7 – When Technology and Humanity humans or equipment.
Crosses 2. Personal Service Robot – used for non-
Technology – came from the Greek words techne commercial tasks by ordinary people like
(art) and logos (words). Means a discourse on automated wheelchairs.
(applied) arts. During the 17th Century, it shifted its 3. Professional Service Robot – for
focus from the arts to concepts of machines and professional use or commercial tasks like
tools. surgery robots.
 Technology keeps on progressing due to not
only the changing times and environment, Benefits of Using Robots:
but also to the ever-progressing mind of 1. Eases the workload of humans
mankind. 2. Can perform repetitive tasks

Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Detriments of Using Robots:

proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 1. Sentiency of robots – focus on Artificial
December 10, 1948 as the global standard of Intelligence (What if robots will have
fundamental rights for human recognition and emotions)
protection. It has 30 Articles. (Article 4 – provides a 2. Unemployment – robots will take the place
ban on slavery or servitude) of humans in the labor force

Types of Technology We Commonly Use Today: Lesson 8 – Why the Future Does Not Need Us?
 Imagining a future without humans is
1. Television
synonymous to the end of the world.
2. Mobile Phones
3. Laptops, Computers  A dystopian society void of human presence
is the subject of many works in literature
Benefits of Using Technology: and film.
William Nelson Joy – an American computer
1. Access to information scientist and the chief scientist of Sun
2. Tool for communication Microsystems.
 Wrote an article for Wired Magazine
entitled “Why the future does not need us?”
Detriments of Using Technology:
 21st century technologies (genetic
1. Leads to an unhealthy lifestyle engineering, nanotechnology, and robotics,

7
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science, Technology, and Society)
collectively called as GNR) are becoming
too powerful that they can potentially bring
about new classes of accidents, threats, and
abuses.
 These dangers are even more pressing as it
does not require large facilities or even rare
raw materials – knowledge alone can be
harmful to humans.
 The GNR pose much greater threats than
previous technological development.
 Nanobots – the ability of nanobots to
replicate could quickly get out of control –
leading to a “gray goo.”
 Overdependence on machines – if
machines are given the capacity on their
own (sentiency), it will be impossible to
predict how they might behave in the future
– the fate of mankind would be at the mercy
of machines.
 Rapid increase of computer power –
computers will eventually become more
intelligent than humans.

Murphy’s Law – “Anything that can go wrong,

will go wrong.”

8
Prepared by: Mr. Justin Paul D. Gallano
Faculty Member – College of Arts, T.I.P. Manila © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE