STSFinals
anditsphenomena
DefiningScience,Technology,Society
WhatisSTS?
- Analysesofthepast,presentandfutureofscience
andtechnologyinsociety
- Includingnature,scope,roleandfunction
- Analysesofthesocial,cultural,political,economic
andenvironmentalfactorsaffectingthe
developmentofscienceandtechnology
- withemphasisonthePhilippinesetting
- 21stcenturyisdeeplyinfluencedbyscienceand
technologyandsocietyisconstructedaswellas,
constructstechnology
- capstoneGEoffering:asaninterdisciplinaryfieldit
bringsthestudentstoafullcircleofexploringand
appreciating,seeingdiverseperspectivesandbeing
abletomakeconnections,andcriticalthinkingand
ethicalactingonthemultidimensionalways
scienceandtechnologyshapevalues,culture,and
institutions,andviceversa
- makegooduseoflocalandpracticalexamplesto
dissectandillustratethetwo-wayinfluenceof
scienceandtechnologywithsociety
- aninterdisciplinaryapproachtounderstandingthe
roleofscienceandtechnologyincontemporary
andhistoricalsocieties
- STSpractitionerscomefromdiverseacademic
backgrounds:chemists,physicists,biologists,
anthropologists,sociologists,philosophers,
geologists,economists,historians
DefiningScience
- Etymology
- Latin:scire,scientia-toknow
- Middleenglish-science-knowledge
- Boththeactofseekingknowledgeandthebodyof
knowledgeitself
- Merriamwebster
- Stateofknowing:knowledgeas
distinguishedfromignoranceor
misunderstanding
- Adepartmentofsystematizedknowledge
asanobjectofstudye.g.scienceof
theology
- Something(likeasportora
technique)thatmaybelearned
likesystematizedknowledgee.g.
haveitdowntoascience
- Knowledgeorasystemofknowledge
coveringgeneraltruthsortheoperationof
generallawsespeciallyasobtainedand
testedthroughscientificmethod
- Naturalscience:suchknowledge
orsuchasystemofknowledge
concernedwiththephysicalworld
- Asystemormethodreconcilingpractical
endswithscientificlaws<cookingisbotha
scienceandanart>
DefiningTechnology
- Rootword:techne(greek),meaningtool
- Oftenperceivesasthevisiblemanifestationof
science,inotherwords,theapplicationofscientific
research,butinfactthisisnotalwaysthecase
- Historically,technologyprecededscientificinquiry
- Earlypioneersinscienceswerealso
engineersandartistssuchasArchimedes,
LeonardoDaVinci,etc.
- Includesthehistoryandmeaningsoftheobjects
andapplicationsofscience
- Ex.aknifeisatechnologicalitembutit
also:
- Hasahistory:whenandwhere
wasitmade
- Whythisparticularshape?
- Whoaretheusersofthistool?
- Whatarethespecialmeanings
embeddedinthistool?
Society,Culture
- Societyisaninterdependentgroupofpeople,
interactingwitheachothermorefrequently
- definitionsofsocietyoftenincludepeopleliving
togetherinadefinedgeographicalterritorybutin
todayssetting,territoriescanbevirtualaswellas
physical
Scienceascultureandculturalactivity
- Definitionofculture
- Sharedandlearnedbehavior
characteristicofaparticularcommunityin
spaceandtime
- Featureofculture
- Sharedallculturalbehaviorisformedin
acommunity
- Learnedcultureisnonbiological,itis
learnedfromothersinacommunity
- Symboliccultureisbaseduponsymbols,
thingsthatstandforotherthings
- Evolvingcultureandculturalbehaviors
changeandevolveovertime
- Contestedthecontentofcultureand
eventhedefinitionofcultureitselfcanbe
contestedbydifferentparties.
Sciencefrommultipleangles
- Scienceas:
- abodyofknowledgederivedfrom
observationandexperimentation
 - anactivitywhatscientistsdo
- symbolswhatmeaningsareevokedby
objectsandsymbolsassociatedwith
science
- culturalform;andacultureofscience
- apoliticalactivity
Scienceasculturalandhistoricalactivity
- Scienceas:
- asharedbodyofknowledge
- ameansofinquiryintotheworld
- acommunity
- aguidetolivingintheworldsharesall
thesefeaturesofculture
- Itissymbolic,inthatitisshapedbysymbols,the
meaningsofwhichcanbecontestedandcan
changeovertime
- Constantlyevolving
ScienceacrossSpaceandTime
Historicalroots,multiplesoils
- Scienceasanactivityofinquiryintotheworld
beginswiththeearlyphilosophersfromdifferent
seekingtounderstandthenatureoftheworld
- Babylon,Greece,China,India,Arabia
(encompassingmostoftheArab-speaking
worldatthetime),Persia
- historyofscienceisnotnecessarilya
straightforwardlinearmovementoraccumulation
ofknowledge
- scientificworkistheproductofscholarsinmany
differentcultures,acrossdifferenttimeframes
- beginningsofsciencecanbeframedthisway:
- Sciencebeginswheninquiryintothe
universebecomesnecessaryforvarious
reasons,manyofwhichhadtodowiththe
survivalofcommunities
- Thus,youhavetheinductiveapproach
beginningfromobservations,discerning
orinferringpatternsandcomingtoa
conclusion;andthedeductiveapproach
creatingahypothesisandtestingit
- Incontemporarytimes,via
experimentationorelsefield
research;inthecaseoftheGreek
philosophers,usingthepowerof
reasoning
Theusesofscienceinancienttimes
- inmanycases,thesewereutilizedineitherthe
serviceofthestate(warfareforexample);for
agricultureandotherproductionactivities;for
personalusesuchascomputinginheritances;
trade;andevenentertainment
- Exceptforthedevelopmentandcontinuous
sophisticationofscientificknowledgeandthe
applicationtotechnology,thereisverylittlethat
distinguishesthesefromtheusesofsciencein
contemporarytimes
Seeingthehistory,philosophyandcultureofscience
- Youhavescienceitself,thebodyofknowledgebuilt
uponempiricalunderstandingoftheworld,using
techniquesandmethodsthatinterfacewiththe
naturalworld
- Thenthereisthesocialconstructionofscience
themeaningsscientistsattributetotheirwork,the
meaningsnon-scientistsattributetoscience,the
materialobjectsofscienceandwhattheystandfor
Sciencebeforescience
- Inquiryintothenatureoftheuniversebeginning
withempiricalobservationsandsystematizing
theseintodatathatcouldbearchived
- Ex.astronomy
- Mostastronomicalworkwasinsupportofthe
needsofthestateandofthecommunity
- Inagricultureirrigation,harvest
- Inconductingwarfare
Mathematics
- hasitsrootsinseveralculturesacrosstime,such
asMesopotamia,Egypt,Arabia,China,India,
Greece,MesoamericaandEurope
- algebraandothermathematicalmethods
developedindifferentwaysacrossthevarious
cultures
- Mostformsofmathematicswerebasedonthe
locallanguages,withsomeusingwhatisknownas
prosemathematics,inwhichproblemsarewritten
outforsolutioninsteadofusingnotations
- zerodeservesspecialmention
- developedinIndia,ittraveledacrossAsia
toArabia
- useofthezeroinmathwasatonetime
forbiddeninEurope,sinceitsymbolized
nothingnessandthereforewasthework
ofthedevil
Astronomyandcosmology
- Culturalcommunitieseverywhereengagedwith
theworldthroughastronomy,theobservationand
classificationofstars,planetsandotherheavenly
phenomena
- Whatthesewerefor:
- Navigation:thinkMoana
- Agriculturalandfishingactivities
- Indigenousastronomyfor
creatingandmaintaining
calendars;differentnamesfor
 constellations,starsandplanets:
Oceania:Maiana universeburstsfrom
Jocano(1968),Ambrosio(2010) swellingongod'shead
- Maintainingcosmologicalunities
- Affirmationofindigenousidentities Oceania:Tahiti universeformedfrom
- Writtenastronomies shells
- intextualformondifferentmediasuchas
Oceania:Mangaia universegrowsfrom
claytablets,papyri,parchments,paper coconutroot
- Babylon,Egypt,China,Greece,Europe
(medievalperiodonwards) MayanMesoamerica godstakefourtriesto
- Monumentalastronomies createtheuniverse
- physicalre-presentationoftheuniversein
buildingsandcompounds - Bigbang:startfromafinitepoint
- Babylon,Egypt,China,Europe, - Plasma:fromprimordialchaos
Mesoamerica - Steadystate:universewithoutbeginningorend
- Oraltraditions - Alternatinguniverses:cyclesofcreationand
- Philippineindigenouscommunities destruction
- Differingnamesforfamiliar
constellations - Primalearthorwatermotherwhocreatesthe
- Thebeliefincosmicforces universefromherbody;
manifestedasanimalforms - Thesolemaleprogenitorcommandingthe
universeintoexistence;
Comparativecosmologies - Theworldeggfromwhichallofcreationishatched,
Culture TypeofUniverse closelyparalleltothecontemporarybigbang
model
Mesopotamia:Sumer Plasma - Theworldtreewhichgivesforthcreation

Mesopotamia:Babylonia Plasmaandbigbang Cosmologyandthenaturalworld
- Whatdoesourcosmologydoforus?
India:Hindu Alternatinguniverse
- Discussionsofcosmologymayseem
bigbang,plasma remotefromourdailylives,butinfact
howweseetheworldshapesthewaywe
India:Jainist Steadystate liveinitandinteractwithit.
- ConsidertheBatakofPalawan
Oceania:Maiana Bigbag,inflationary
- JamesEderdocumentedthe
Oceania:Tahiti Plasma deculturalizationofthisindigenousgroup,
astheylosttheirtraditionaldomainsto
Oceania:Mangaia Bigbang,inflationary outsiders,mostnotablylargescale
commercialloggers
MayanMesoamerica Alternatinguniverses,
- Theresulthasbeen,sincethattimealoss
manyworldshypothesis
ofmeaninginlifeformanyBatak
- landprovidedaspatialorientationtothe
universe,onefilledwithmeaningsthat
Culture CreationMyth werealivetothem
- Withoutthese,theBatakfellintoanomie,
Mesopotamia:Sumer universesplitfromprimal thatstateofmeaninglessexistence;and
watersofmothergoddess fromtherefrustrationandanger
expressedthemselvesininternalviolence
Mesopotamia:Babylonia universeformedfrom
corpseofmothergoddess,
killedbygrandson Cosmologysconsequences
- Aculturescosmologyoftenshapesotherareasof
India:Hindu universesdreamedin(and culturalactivity,suchasmatteranditsstates
out)ofexistence
(physics),thenatureoftheearth(geology),

universehatchedfrom transformationofphysicalandmetaphysical
goldenegg substances(alchemyandchemistry)andthe
applicationofknowledgethroughmaterialmeans
India:Jainist universealwaysexisted (technology)

LudwikFleckonThoughtCollectivesandThoughtStyles
Thecontextoforthodoxy
- LudwikFleck-theconceptofathoughtcollective
- Ideasandmodelsoftheworldareneverformedin
avacuumbutareoftenbestseeninacontext
- howisinformationinterpretedandwhodoesthe
interpreting?
Thoughtcollectivesandthoughtstyles
Thoughtcollectives
- Communitiesofpersonsmutuallyexchanging
ideasormaintainingintellectualinteraction
- Minimum:2
- Allofuscanbelongtoseveralthoughtcollectives
atonce
Thoughtstyles
- Specialcarrierforthehistoricaldevelopmentof
anyfieldthought,aswellasforthegivenstockof
knowledgeandlevelofculture
- Byimplication,wecandoseveralthoughtstyles
Thoughtcollectives
- Thoughtstyleascharacteristicofathought
collective-acommunityofthought
- Thoughtstyleasareadinessfordirected
perceptionofwhathasbeenthoughtcollectives
can
- Accept
- Resist
- Inthiscontext,truthis:
- Inhistoricalperspective,aneventinthe
historyof
- thought
- Incontemporaryperspective,stylized
thoughtconstraints
- Factsare
- Inlinewiththeinterestsofthethought
collective
- Resistancetofree,arbitrarythinkingmust
beeffectivewithinthethoughtcollective;it
mustbbroughthometoeachmemberas
aconstraintandasaformtobedirectly
experienced
- Expressedinthestyleofthethought
collective
- Cognition
- ascertainingthoseresultswhichmust
followgivencertainpreconditions
- Threeelements
- Theindividual
- Thecollective
- Objectivereality-whatistobe
known
- Allthreeandtheirrelationshipstoeach
othercanbeinvestigated
OnScientificRevolutions
Scienceasscience:originsandapproaches
- Theinfluenceofplatoandaristotle
- Plato
- Conceivedoftheworldasreflectionsof
idealessencesorForms
- ReflectedinhisTheatetusandinThe
Republic
- Aristotle
- Insistedonunderstandingtheworld
throughitsimmediaterealityhereand
now
- Reflectedinhisworksonbiology,physics,
meteorology,optics
- Metaphysics,ethics,politics
- Platospositionthatthattheworldwasareflection
ofidealessencesspurredwhatwecallidealism;this
worldisnotreal,onlyareflectionofwhatisReal
- Incontrast,Aristotlesinsistenceonstudying
phenomenaastheyactuallyhappened,wasa
guidingforceinthedevelopmentofscienceaswe
knowittoday
Ofdoctrines
- Platonicandaristotelianphilosophyhadamajor
impactonEuropeanthought,asfilteredthrough
Arabicthinkers
- Inparticular,Aristotlesmethodofclassification;
thecreationofcategories;andtheperfectionofall
naturalphenomena,especiallytheheavens
- Aristotlesworkontheheavensandonphysical
phenomenabecamestandard,somuchsothatthe
contrarywereviewedwithsuspicionasbeing
fraudulent
- Aristotelianclassificationwasintegratedintothe
doctrinalteachingsoftheRomanCatholicChurch:
- Thiswastheresultofalongprocessby
whichtherediscoveredwritingsofthe
ancientGreekphilosophers,including
PlatoandespeciallyAristotlewere
graduallyassimilatedandChristianizedso
tospeakaspartofthereceivedwisdom
andtraditionsoftheCatholicchurch.
- Example:ThomasAquinas
- Notableexamples:
- Copernicusheliocentricmodelofthesolar
system,inwhichheproposedthatthesun
wasatthecenterofthesolarsystemand
thattheearthandotherplanetsmoved
aroundit;incontrasttotheprevailing
 geocentricview,whichheldthattheearth
wasatthecenter.
- Galileosinsistenceonexperimentationand
empiricalobservationasthemeansto
understandthenaturalworldaswellas
theuseofmathematicstodescribethe
observedphenomena,ascontrastedto
theprevailingqualitativedescriptionsinthe
standardtextsofthetime.Therecording
ofhisobservationsoftheplanetsandof
themooncastdoubtonthepredominant
Aristotelianviewoftheperfectionofthe
heavens,andthistogetherwithhis
advocacyoftheCopernicanviewofthe
universeledtochargesofheresyaswell
asfraud.
Whatdoesittaketorevolutionizethinking?
- Copernicussworkbringsustothenatureof
scientificrevolutions,asmodeledbyThomasKuhn
- Stagesofascientificrevolution
- Ideaorworkacceptedasstandard
doctrine
- Articulationofmodeltoaddressnew
problems
- Dissatisfactionwithpresentmodelwhenit
proves
- unabletomeetcurrentneeds
- Creationofnewmodelwhichinturn
becomesstandard
CopernicusandGalileoassubversives
- CopernicusandGalileosworkbringsustothe
thirdandfourthstagesofKuhnsscientific
revolutions:
- Dissatisfactionwithcurrentmodels
- Creatingnewones,whichinturnbecome
currentstandards
- Nonewideaispromotedinavacuum:newideas
areoftencontestedandinsomecasessuppressed,
thoughnotsuccessfully
The4thRevolution:TheInfosphere
Summaryofthethreerevolutions
FirstRevolution:theCopernicanrevolution
- takenoteoftheGalileodocumentaryandthe
lectureontheshiftfromgeocentrismto
heliocentrism
- CopernicusworkDeRevolutionibusOrbium
Celestium(OnTheRevolutionsofCelestialBodies)
- Impact:displacementoftheEarthfromthecenter
ofEuropeancosmology.Thisforcedarethinkingof
theplaceofhumanityinthecosmos,arevisionof
cosmologyasitwere
SecondRevolution:Darwinianrevolution
- Impact:displacementfromcentralpositionin
biologicalkingdom.Byreadjustingperceptionto
seehumansasbiologicalorganisms,thewaywas
pavedforcontemporaryresearchintohuman
populations,medicine,etc.Evolutionacquireda
newdefinitionasaresultofDarwinsinsightintoits
mechanism
ThirdRevolution:Freudianrevolution
- PriortoFreud,theprevailingconceptof
consciousnesswasCartesianinnature:following
DescartesdictumIthinkthereforeIam,itwas
heldthatwearecapableoffullselfconscious
reflection,i.e.,rationality.
- Freudshowedthatmuchofwhatwedois
unconsciousandweconstructnarrativestojustify
ouractionsafterwards;andthatourmindsalso
createdefensemechanismstoprotectourselves
fromthreats
Thefourthrevolution:theinfosphere(Florini2014)
- Historically,inallhumancultures,informationflow
andmanagementhasbeenaconstant,fromthe
timeofthefirstpaintingsallthewaythroughtothe
ageoftheInternet
- keydifferenceinthetimeoftheInfosphereisthat
muchofthisinformationflowandmanagementis
nowmediatedbydevicesofincreasingcomplexity
- Thesedevices(computers)replicateseveral
thoughtprocessessuchaslogicalandfuzzy
reasoning,complexcalculations,etc.autonomously
Historicalnoteonthecomputer
- Earlydefinitionofthecomputer:apersonwho
performscalculations(late19thcenturyuntilearly
20thcentury
- USCivilServiceexamforpositionof
computer(1890)includedthefollowing:
orthography,penmanship,copying,letter
writing,algebra,geometry,logarithms,and
trigonometry
- Contemporarycomputer:adevicethatcan
performcomplexcalculationsandothertasks
autonomously(exceptforself-consciousness)
Impactofthefourthrevolution
- Shiftinperceptionofhumanity
- inadditiontobiologicalorganism,an
informationalorganismorinforgmutually
connectedinaninformational
environment(theinfosphere)
- Delegationofseveraltaskstodigital
agents,includingmemories
- Awarenessoflivingourlivesdigitally;
transitionsfromofflinetoonlinelives
(notetheimpactinternetoutagehashad
onoperationsintheUniversity)
 - De-individualizedbecomingakindof
- Re-identifiedacrossingpointofmanykindsof
- Personalizationandcustomization:lookatyour
socialmediapages
- Revisionofprivacy
- Physicalprivacyfreedomfromintrusion
andinterference
- Mentalprivacyfreedomfrom
psychologicalintrusionandinterference
- Decisionalprivacyfreedomfrom
proceduralinterferenceandintrusion
- Informationalprivacyfreedomfrom
interferenceandintrusion
- Fromprivacytotransparency:howmuch
informationisgivenaway,willinglyandunwillingly
- Privacyisafunctionofinformationalfriction:the
forcesthatopposetheflowofinformation:the
greaterthefrictionthemoreprivacytobehad
- Changeinconceptofanonymity(theunavailability
ofcertainkindsofinformation)
- Empowerment
- Inclusivity?
- Improvementinqualityandquantityof
choices
- OurcultureshereinthePhilippinesputapremium
oninterpersonalrelationships(Tagalog:makatao,
pakikipagkapwa)
- Howhastheinfospherereshapedormodifiedthe
kindsofrelationshipsthathavebeentraditionally
passedonthroughface-to-faceinteraction?
- Considerthatstartingfromthe90sonwards,the
cellphoneisoneofthemostubiquitousfeaturesof
dailyFilipinolife:andthatintermsofvolumeof
texting,PhilippinesisnexttoMalaysia
ScienceinPopularCulture
Scienceanditssymbols
- Scienceisbothathinginitself(amethodof
inquiry)andaculturalactivity
- Asaculturalactivity,scienceisladenwithsymbols
thatmeandifferentthingstodifferentpeople.
- Thepictureoftheflasks,beakersandother
containersareassociatedwithlaboratorywork,
itselfapopularsymbolofscientificactivity.
- Theseitemsthemselvesevokeasenseofmystery
andwonder:whatarethesesubstancesandwhat
dotheydo?
Powerandfear
- Oneofthepopularassociationswithscienceisthat
ofpoweroverlifeanddeath.
- Dr.VictorFrankensteinandhisassistantIgor
- BaseduponthenovelFrankenstein,thestory
revolvesaroundthethemesoffear,powerand
arroganceandthecosttothehumansoul
- Dr.FrankensteindaredtoplaytheroleofGodas
Creator
- Scienceasadisciplineseekstomakeknownwhat
isunknown;andyet,thisveryqualityisnotfully
understoodonthegenerallevel
- Thismysteriousqualityisrenderedfearsomein
somegenresofpopularculture,suchasdystopian
andhorrormoviesandliterature
Goodandevil
- Itisscientiststhatbringthequestionsofgoodand
evilintotheactofdoingscience
- notalloftheso-calledevilormadscientistswere
actuallythatwayinthebeginning
- SuperboyandLexLuthor
- Supermanishimselfdepictedasa
scientist,maintainingandworkingina
laboratoryinhisFortressofSolitude
- Sciencebecomesatoolforhismissionof
protectingtheweakandbringingdowntheevil
- Kal-El(SupermansKryptonianidentity)
preservedwhathisfatherhadsentwith
himofKryptonianscienceandtechnology
andusesthisinhisongoingmissionto
protecthisfosterhome
Betweenbeastandman
- ambivalentattitudetowardsscienceis(respectfor
itsproducts,fearofthedangers)iscapturedintwo
classicfictionalcharacters,Mr.Hyde(TheStrange
CaseofDr.JekyllandMr.HydebyRobertLouis
Stevenson)andTheIncredibleHulk(Marvel
Comics)
- Dr.JekyllandMr.Hyde
- Dr.Jekylldrinksapotionthattransforms
himintoMr.Hyde,abeastlycharacter
capableofgreatdestruction
- TheIncredibleHulk
- Dr.BruceBannerissaturatedwithgamma
radiationwhensavingthelifeofa
teenagerduringthetestofaprototype
nuclearweapon
- Hulk,abrutishoversizedhumanoidfigure
characterizedbyincrediblestrengthand
agilitybuthavinglittleofBruceBanners
personalityresidingwithin.Banner
transformsintotheHulkduringperiodsof
emotionalstress
- similarthemesbeastandman,goodandevil,risk
andresponsibility
- Attheirheartisthepowerofscienceandscientific
knowledgetotransformfromonetotheother
TheLaboratory
- iconicrepresentationofscienceatworkisthe
laboratory
 - placewherestrangeandwonderfulthingshappen
- arenawherethebattleagainstignoranceandthe
struggletopushforwardagainsttheunknownare
playedout
The(slightly)madscientists
- rebootofGhostbusters
- remakesthethemeofthemad/eccentric
scientist,alsoknownasthenutty
professor
- featurescienceandscientistsassaviorsof
theworld
Theevil(andcapitalistic)scientist
- DespicableMe
- evilscientisttropeisfurtheraccentuated
bythebarelycompetentsidekicks,asin
thecaseoftheMinions
- depictstheevilscientistashavingaheart
ofgold
Realscientistsandmoviescientists
- Realscienceismoremundaneandpedestrian,
althoughnotwithoutitsmoredramaticmoments
TheBodyinCulture,ScienceandTechnology
Introduction
- introducestheculturaldefinitionsofanatomy(aka
folkanatomy),bodyimageandphysiology
- todemonstratehowconceptsofthebodyandits
functioningareactuallybasedonculturalwaysof
knowing,ascontrastedwithmedicalknowledge
Fundamentalpremise
- Thebodyisnotsolelyabiologicalartifact
- Itisalsomediatedbyculture:weinterpretour
bodiesthroughculture
Whatisculture?
- setofbeliefs,rulesofbehaviorandcustomary
behaviorsmaintained,practicedandtransmittedin
agivensociety
- Differentculturesmaybefoundinasocietyasa
wholeorinitssegmentsforexample,initsethnic
groupsorsocialclasses
- asetofguidelines(bothexplicitandimplicit)that
individualsinheritasmembersofaparticular
society,andthattellthemhowtoviewtheworld,
howtoexperienceitemotionally,andhowto
behaveinitinrelationtootherpeople,to
supernaturalforcesorgods,andtothenatural
environment
- alsoprovidesthemwithawayoftransmitting
theseguidelinestothenextgenerationbytheuse
ofsymbols,language,artandritual
- culturecanbeseenasaninheritedlensthrough
whichtheindividualperceivesandunderstandsthe
worldthatheinhabitsandlearnshowtolivewithin
it
- Ingeneral,cultureaccountsformeanings:the
interpretationofpersonalexperiencesthrough
culturallenses.
- includeshowpeopleseeandfeelaboutthebody
withintheirculturalframeworks
Philippineculturalthemes
- Personalistic
- Familistic
- Paternalistic
Therelevanceofculturalknowledge
- Inbiologyandinrelateddisciplinessuchas
medicine,thereisatendencytoseethehuman
bodyfromtheperspectiveoftechnology,as
machineormechanism
- Inreality,thisviewisoneamongvariouscultural
modelsofthebodythatwillbeexplored
Folkanatomy
- referstothelocalknowledgeandunderstandingof
thebody,itspartsandthegeneralfunctioningof
thebody,includinganideologyorbeliefsystem
aboutwhatthebodyisandwhatitdoes
- includesthelocaldefinitionsofoptimalshapes,
sizes,surfaces,limbproportion,bodyboundaries
andclothing,thebodysinnerstructureandhow
thebodyfunctions
- Thesedefinitionscommunicateinformationabout
theindividualsage,gender,socialstatusandeven
economiccapability
Helmansmodel
- Beliefsabouttheoptimalshapeandsizeofthe
body,includingclothinganddecorationofits
surface
- Beliefsabouttheboundariesofthebody
- Beliefsaboutthebodysinnerstructure
- Beliefsabouthowthebodyfunctions
Imagesofthebody
- basedonarelationshipbetweentheindividual
body(thebody-self)andthesocialbodythat
providestheframeworkforinterpretationand
controlofallaspectsoftheindividualbody
Individualbody
 - individualbody(katawan)iswhatweallhave:our
senseofbeingcorporeal;whatweidentify
immediatelywithoursenseofphysicalself
Socialbody
- Onanindividuallevel,thesociallyinterpreted
body:theassociatedimages,symbolsand
meaningsintimatelylinkedbothwithourimageof
thebodyandwithitsvariousparts.(MaryDouglas)
Examplesofbodyimages
- Tobemalusogistobehealthy.
- Malusogcanmeanable-bodied(malusogang
katawan),ingoodcondition(mabutiang
katawan)orbeingsoundphysically,emotionally
andmentally(matipunoangkatawan).
- Butmalusogcanalsobeaslangtermforbeingfat
orobese.
Limbproportions
- shapeandproportionofthelimbsnotonlyindicate
apersonsgeneralconditionbutalsoaesthetic
appreciationofthebodyanditsappearance
- Mahabaangkamay(thief);maikliangkamay;
walangkamay;
- Daliringhubog-kandila;
- Bintingdalaga;bintingdalag;bintingtikling;binting
purodiyes;sakang;piki
- Magpantayangpaa(carriedoutdead);paangluya;
baporangpaa.
Clothingandthebody
- formsapartofthelocalbeliefsabouthealth,
illnessandthebody
- hasmultiplemeanings:ononehand,itcanserve
asanindicatorofsocialstatus,andontheother
hand,itplaysaroleinthebeliefsystem
- Ex.wetclothing(fromtherainorfrom
perspiration)cancausecolds
Alteringthebody
- bodyalterationhavesocialfunctions:theycan
indicatemembershipinasocialclass,transitionin
lifestages,conformityorrejection,andsoon
- Filingandcarvingofteeth(Mindanao)
- Tattooing(Cordillera,urbanareas)
- Maleandfemalecircumcision
- Dietandexercise(Urbanareas)
Thebodybeautiful
- Culturalstandardsofbeautyvarygreatlyamong
cultures
- Westerncountries:forfemalesslim,
hourglass-shapedbody,ovalface;formales,
V-shapedbody,slimhips,highcheekbones
- hasspreadtomanynon-Westerncountries,
includingthePhilippines
- InPilipino,therootwordofbeautyisganda.Tobe
beautifulistobemaganda.
- Magandaforwomeninvolveslonghair,clearand
fairskin,well-proportionedlimbsandface.
- Magandanglalakiconnotesmuscularity,being
well-proportioned,dynamism,strength,vitality,as
alsocapturedinthetermsmatipuno,makisig,
matikas
Philippinemythologyandthebodybeautiful
- fullofimagerydepictingthisveryidealizedformof
thehumanbody
- Womenhaveextraordinarilylonghair,reachingto
theirankles;menhavehairuptotheirshoulders.
- Womenhavefairskinwhilemenaresupposedto
bedarker
- Ex.MariangMakiling
Thebodybeautiful
- Standardsofbeautyreflectdifferentcriteriaplaced
upontheworthofpeople.
- AslimbodyaccordingtoWesterncategoriesmay
bebasedonideasofdesireandsexuality;aplump
bodyisconsidereddesirableinothercountriesas
thisisasignofwealthandaffluence
Consequences
- Particularculturalmodelsofthebodycanleadto
practicesthatinthelongrunareviewedbymany
inthemedicalprofessionasdangerous:anorexia
andbulimiaontheonehand,andobesityonthe
other
Skin(s)
- definesthebodysboundaries;itisacasingforthe
flesh,bonesandblood;andthecanvasonwhich
societywritesitsrules
- symbolicinthatitdefinestheboundariesweset
foreachother
- canbemodifiedbychoiceorcircumstances
emotionalstates,diseases,surgery,treatments,
etc.
Localskin(s)asampler
- Skincolors:nog-nog,kulaytutong,kaligatan
(coffee),morena,kapetgatas,maputi,anakng
engkanto,anakngaraw
- Socialskinsbalatsibuyas,balatkalabaw
- Skinblemishesnunal,bungangaraw,taghiyawat,
kulugo,buni,an-an,pigsa,galis,beke,tigdas,
bulutongtubig
Skinsandboundaries
- Someskinscanbeinvisible;thatis,theyare
symbolicinthattheyareindicatorsofsocial
identity,suchaspersonalspacesanddistances
 - Intimatedistancecanbeenteredby
thosewhohaveanintimatephysical
relationshipwiththeindividual
- Personaldistancelessintimate,butstill
withinthezoneofpersonalspace
- Socialdistancethezoneofimpersonal
businessandcasualsocialinteractions
- Publicdistancewherenosocialor
personalinteractiontakesplace
Theinnerstructureofthebody
- Beliefsabouttheinternalorgansreflectlocal
cosmology,especiallythewaysinwhichhumansfit
intotheorderoftheuniverse
- internalorgansalsoprovidearichsourceof
metaphorsforsocialrelationships.
- Thebodyascontainer:ethnographicevidence
showsthatinmanylocalcommunities,thereisan
underlyingimageofthebodyasacontaineror
house.
- spiritcanleavethebody,hencenawawalasasarili.
- Thebodycanbeentered;hence,nasaniban,
sinapian.
Innerstructure:bodyasfortress
- Westernpopulardiscourse,healthisoftenframed
usingthediscourseofwarandconflict.Thus,the
bodyisseenasafortressandtheimmunesystem
asthearmedforces
- AnthropologistEmilyMartinlinkstheseimagestoa
particularhistoricalsituationinthemid-20th
century:theColdWarperiod,aglobalpolarization
betweentheUSAanditsalliesandthethenSoviet
Union
- Inevitably,thispolarizationbegantocreatethe
frameworkonwhichimagesofhealthandillness
werecreated
Bodyascarengine
- Automotivemetaphorshavebeenusedtodescribe
thebodyanditsfunctioningtheheartasthefuel
pump,thecarburetorasthelungs,thestomachas
thefueltank,andofcoursetheexhaustpipeor
tambutsoas
Seatsofemotions
- Inmanycultures,theheartistheseatofemotions
suchaslove,hatredandsadness.Italsostandsfor
power
- InmanyculturesintheSEAregion,theliverfulfills
asimilarrole.(atiMalay:atayTagalog)
- Thus,inTagalog,wehavepighatianddalamhatifor
statesofgriefandsadness.Luwalhatisignifiesthe
expulsionofgriefandsadness(luwalexpel)
- Theheartgraduallyreplacedtheliverasoneofthe
seatsofemotions,especiallyforloveandhate,
probablyasaresultoftheSpanishinfluence
- Ex.pusongmamon,pusongbato;
magkapuso,pinupusuan;taos-puso;
walangpuso;
- Thestomachandintestinesarealsoassociated
withdisgustandpleasure
- Ex.bumaliktadangtiyan,dimasikmura;
Circulatorysystem
- circulatorysystem(ugat),fromaWestern
perspectiveismetaphoricallyconceivedofasa
roadnetwork,inresonancewiththehistoryof
industrialism
- redbloodcells(RBCs)arecarriers,liketrucks,that
deliverthevitalneedstoallpoints.Again,notethe
industrialmetaphor
Seatsofemotions
- headislinkedtoemotionalstatessuchasanger
andembarrassmentandtomentalstatessuchas
rationalityandirrationality
- Ex.mainitangulo;nanlilisikangmata;
namumulaangtenga;pumapalakpakang
tenga;walasaisip;walangisip;maluwang
angturnilyo
- limbsarealsoassociatedwithemotionalstates
- Ex.Freudianslip(whenappliedto
droppingobjectsfromthehands);
pumapadyak(whencryingordisplaying
extremeemotionalstress)
Internalorgansouterexpressions
- Nalamiganangtiyan;mainitangulo;heatandcold
inrelationtotheinternalorgans.
- Kumukuloangtiyan;butasangtiyan;metaphors
forhungerorotherfeltconditions.
- Hindimasikmura;magkapuso;pusongmamon;
taos-puso;bumaliktadangbituka;dalamhati,
pighati,luwalhati;metaphorsforrelationshipsand
emotions
Thebodyasprocess
- Culturalviewsofthebodyalsoincludeideasabout
howthebodyfunctions,theeffectofoutside
influencessuchasdietandenvironmentandthe
natureanddisposalofthebodysbyproducts
Age
- Bodilyappearanceislinkedtochronologicalage.
- Ex.mukhangbata,parangditumatanda,
kalabawlangangtumatanda,youdont
lookyourage!
 - Ex.termsofaddressmanong,manangto
peoplewithwhitehair
Gender
- Biologicalsexislinkedtogenderintermsof
correspondence;biologicalmaleequatedtosocial
male,biologicalfemaleequatedtosocialfemale.
- Genderhowevercanalsobecontested:thus,
babaengmaton,lalakingmalambot.
- Gay/lesbiangenderrolesaddanotherdimension
tothelinkagebetweenbiologicalsexandgender
definitions
Economicstatus
- Physicalappearanceisalsolinkedtoeconomic
status:
- Physiologically,thismaybeexplainedbythefact
thatpeoplewithmoreeconomicresourceshave
accesstobetterdietandmedicalcare.
- Butphysicalappearancehasalsobeenlinkedto
onesplaceinsociety
- Ex.hindinaaarawan(fairskinned,never
touchedbythesun);kungmahirapka,
nognog,kungmayamanka,tanned;kung
mahirapka,tabachingching,kung
mayamanka,plump;kungmahirapka,
payatot,kungmayamanka,slim
Moralmeanings
- Folkanatomyalsoincludesthemoralmeanings
associatedwithvariousareasofthebody
- discussionofparticularbodypartsmayevoke
embarrassment,e.g.,genitals(ari,kuwan,yung
ano)andbreasts[inthecaseoffemales](suso,
boobs,bumpers,dyoga)
- Localrulesofprivacyoftencenteronwhichparts
ofthebodyhavetoremainhiddenandtowhom
cantheybesafelyexposed.
- Thiscanbehighlightedinthecompletephysical
examination,whereintheentirebodyissubjectto
thephysiciansgaze.
- Suchaprocesscanbeuncomfortableforthe
patient,evenifthedoctorandpatientareofthe
samesex.
Rulesoftouch
- Becausethebodyisalsocouchedwithvarious
socialandmoralmeanings,therearealsosafe
areasfortouchingthebodyaswellasmodesof
touchthatareimbuedwithmeaning.
- Examples:onthearms(safearea)
- Examplesofmodesoftouch:hawak,
kalabit
Bodilyprocesses(physiology)
- Asawhole,bodilyprocessesaredescribedin
metaphorshavingtodowithharmonyand
balance.
- Initandlamigrefertothebalanceofforceswithin
thebody.
- Forthebodytofunctionproperly,thebalance
mustbemaintainedatalltimes.
Thebodyandenvironment
- Init/lamigisanexampleofhowthebodyis
perceivedtointeractwiththeenvironment.
- Diet:somefoodsareperceivedtobemainitand
thereforenotgoodforsickpeople,whileothersare
malamigandthereforeshouldbeeaten.
- Someactivitiesaremainitencoding;towash
handsimmediatelyistoriskpasma.
Pregnancy
- PregnancyinthePhilippinesettingiscouched
withinawidesetofbeliefsandrelatedpractices
concerningthebodyanditsfunction
- Insomecommunities,themixtureofbloodofboth
parentsisthereasonwhypregnancyoccurs,and
whyinturn,discoursesonpregnancyaretiedto
discoursesonbloodandethnicity(lahi)
- Dietaryandotherrestrictionsareimposedon
pregnantwomeninordertoensurethehealthof
thechild
Wasteproductsandtheirelimination
- Wasteproductsarecreatedasabyproductofthe
ongoingprocesses.
- Biologicallyspeaking,wastematterisneutral;
culturallyspeaking,wastematterisencodedwith
symbolsthatevokestrongemotionalreactions
suchasdisgust.
- Ex.feces(tae,ebs,ebak,jebs),urine(ihi,
weewee),sweat(pawis)alwayssomeone
elsessweat,saliva(laway)
Bodyandmeaning
- Thebodyreflectslocalcosmology,thatis,awayof
lookingattheuniverse.
- Bodypartsareendowedwithsymbolicmeanings
asseeninfolklore.
- Thebodyisamapofillness:variouspartsofthe
bodyserveasindicatorsofillness.
- Sensationsarealsoculturallyinterpretedandgiven
particularsignificance
Bodilycosmology
- Inlocalmythologies,thebodyisthemodelofthe
universe.
- Ex:creationoftheworld;theoriginofrice;
 - Bodiesalsoundergochangeswiththechangesin
theseasonsandwiththesechangesmaycome
susceptibilitiestosicknesses.
- Ex:masamanghanginorbadair:
referencetoassociationbetweenseasons
andtheoutbreakofsicknesses.
Bodilymeaningsinfolklore
- Physicalfeaturesmayindicatespecialpowers,
suchasbeingabletoseespiritsifonehassmall
eyes.
- Physicalfeaturesmayalsocarrymoralsignificance,
e.g.,nunalsa_____.
- Organsaredefinedintermsoffolklore,suchas
nasadugo(passingthroughtheblood).
Thebodyasamapofillness
- Variouslocationsonthebodyserveasindicatorsof
illness
- Forexample,theforeheadandneckareoftenthe
firstareastouchedtoseeifthereisfeverpresent.
- Nalamiganangsikmuramayindicate_____(for
discussion).
- Certainformsoflocallydefinedillnessesmaybe
associatedwithvariousbodyparts.
- Ex:pasmahands;natuyuan(TB)lungs;
kulebra(herpes)skin;nahamugan
exposedtodewchills;pilaydislocation
ofthejoints,somethingcausingfeverand
minorailmentsinternalorgans;
Sensations
- Sensationsareculturallyinterpretedandgiven
significanceindifferentdomains.
- Nangangatiangkamay
- Mainitangulo
- Uhaw(howmanydomains?)Nanghihina
Conceptsofhealthandillness
- Thebodyischaracterizedasbeingmalusog
(healthy)ormaysakit(ill).
- Kalusuganisthestateofbeingwellorfreefrom
sickness.
- Sakitisageneraltermthatincludesboththe
sensationofbeingsick,sufferingandofpain.
Kalusugan
- Lusogcanalsomeanthefulldevelopmentofthe
body.
- Itisalsosynonymoustolakasorstrength.
- Otherlanguages:kabaskog(Hiligaynon);mashud
(Magindanaw);lusug(Kapampangan)
Sakit
- Sakitisthegeneraltermforillness,sufferingand
pain.
- Karamdamanisasynonymforsakitasillness.
- Sakitcanalsohaveaveryspecificmeaning,suchas
nauseaorvomiting.
- Itisalsosynonymouswithsuya(tiredof)and
lungkot(sadness).
- Inotherlanguages
- Suffering:dusa(Tagalog);rigrigat(Ilokano);
- irap(Kapampangan).
- Pain:sakitinHiligaynon,Ilokano,
Magindanaw,Tausug,etc.
- CommonlyheardphrasesinrelationtoSakit
- Ethical/moraljudgmentmanakit;baka
makasakit.
- Painkaysakit,nasaktan,masakit,dina
masakit,walanangsakit.
- Illnessessakitnanakakahawa,sakitna
tuyo,sakitng:dibdib,ngipin,mata,
sikmura,ulo,tiyan;sakitsa:atay,baga,
bato,bituka,puso.
- Emotionssakitsa:loob,dibdib
Thebodyintime
- Monochronictimelinearclocktimeimposedon
thebodyanditsprocesses
- Polychronictimewherepersonalrelationships
andinteractionstakeplace
- Calendricaltimebasedonthecyclesofthe
naturalworlddays,weeks,months
- Nationaltimespecifictonationstates
- Religioustimetimecyclerelatedtoreligious
practices
- Bureaucratictimeinstitutionaltime,whichcan
includemandatoryretirement
- Socialrelationshiptimespecificdatesinan
individualspersonalsocialnetworkwhichneedto
becommemoratedandwhichinturncancause
reactionssuchasanxietyanddepressioni.e.,on
deathanniversaries
Disability/differentlyabled
- Impairmentlackingpartorallofalimborhaving
adefectivelimborotherbodilymechanism
- Disabilitysocialandotherdisadvantagesimposed
onpeoplewithphysicalimpairments
- Disabilityisthusnotsimplyaphysicalproblembut
asociallyconstructedone
Disabilityandstigma
- Duetomisconceptionsandprejudicesaboutthe
kindofdisability
- Dependenton
- Typeofimpairment
- Socio-economicpositionofthepersonand
family
- Typesofrehabilitationortreatment
available
 - Technologicalandsocialorganizationof
thesociety
Positiveaspectsofdisability
- Certaintypesofsocialrolesareopentodisabled
persons.
- Forsome,adisabilityisapathtocertainpowers
- Blindnessandmusicalabilityisanexample
Disabilityanditscauses
- Inmanycountries,supernaturalforcesareoften
seenasthecausefordisability
- InmanycommunitiesinthePhilippines,an
impersonalretributionisseenasthereasonwhy
certaindisabilitiesareinflicted,i.e.,gabaamong
theBisaya
- Congenitalconditionsareoftenattributedto
supernaturalexplanations.
Newbodies
- Compositebodieswithartificialreplacements
- Cyborgsfusionsofhumansandmachines,i.e.,
artificialorgans
- Virtualbodieslocatedincyberspace,basedon
conceptualizingthebodyasinformation.This
includesthenewsenseofbodyboundaries
extendedintocyberspacesuchasthroughchat,
Skype,etc.
- Ifthemachineattimesservesasthemodelofthe
humanbody,thereverseisalsotruethebody Culturalmeanings
canserveasthemodelofthemachine.
- Asaliterarygenre,sciencefictionexploresthe
differentimplicationsofthismimicryofthehuman
form,withvariousresults.
Brainsandlife
- Apartfromtheheartbeat,brainfunctionisa
commonlyheldindicator,culturallyandmedically,
oflife.
- Culturallyspeaking,thisisrootedinashared
notionoftheperson.
- Definingbraindeathisatonceamedicalissueand
atthesametimeaculturalone
Externalwombs
- Newadvancesinreproductivetechnologymean
thatitisnowpossibleforovulation,fertilization
andpregnancytotakeplaceinthreedifferent
bodies.
- Artificialwombsarenowbeingdiscussed,although
severaltechnologicalbreakthroughsneedtotake
placefirst.
Transplantsandthetradeinhumanbodyparts
- Therecentboominorgantransplantshasresulted
inthecommodificationofbodypartsfor
transplantation.
- Reasonsinclude:
- Economicneed(especiallyinthe
Philippines)
- Theconceptofspareorgans,especially
wheretheseareinpairs,i.e.,kidneys
- Theconceptofreplaceableorgans,i.e.,
teethreplacedwithpustiso.
- Thefearofdeath,especiallyonthepartof
therecipient.Thisisactuallyapowerful
culturalforceaswell.
- Partofwhatmakestheissuecomplexisthat
organsareneverjustsimplypackagesoftissue
theyarealsopowerfulsymbolsofculturalnorms
andbeliefs,henceeitherfacilitatingthetransplant
orelsecausingresistance
Theroleoflanguage
- Fromtheprecedingsections,wecanseethat
languageplaysamajorroleinhowthebodyis
definedandinterpreted.
- Localtermshavemeanings,whichinturnguide
interpretationsofthebodyandthereforehow
peopleacttowardsthebody.
- Meaningsmaychangeovertime,however,dueto
accumulationofexperience.
- Anthropologistsingeneralrecognizethat
meanings:
- Canbeinferredfromlocalpeoples
experiences(emic)
- Canbealenswithwhichtointerpret
othersexperiences(etic)
- Meaningscanalsobeeither
- Experiencenear:...whataperson...might
himselfnaturallyandeffortlesslyuseto
definewhatheorhisfellowssee,feel,
think,imagine,andsoon,andwhichhe
wouldreadilyunderstandwhensimilarly
appliedbyothers,e.g.,love
- Experience-distant:...onethatspecialists
ofonesortoranother...employtoforward
theirscientific,philosophicalorpractical
aims,e.g.,objectcathexis
Thedarkside....
- Givenallofthese,whatarewetomakeofarecent
anddisturbingphenomenonincyberspace,namely
theproliferationinsocialmediaoftheBibleStudy
NiPastorHokage(ageneralnamewithmany
variations)?
- ThisoriginatedonFBasaclosed/privategroup
whosemembers(mostlymale)uploadpicturesof
 youngwomen,manywithouttheirconsent,on
groupchatsandonthepageitself.
- Someofthewomeninthesepicturesarefully
clothed;somearescantilyclothed;andsomeare
nude.
- Membersuploadpictures(calledambagor
donation);theaudiencerespondswithoften
sexuallysuggestiveremarks;andalsocommenting
Amen!orHymen!
- Theseactivitieswereexposedandcondemned
onlinebygroupssuchasCatcalledInThe
Philippines;asaresult,pageadministratorsbegan
changingnamesand/orshuttingdowntheirpages
andopeningnewonesinordertocontinuetheir
activities
- Ontheonehand,advancesinICThaveenabledthe
creationofwidespreadcommunitiessuchasthe
BSOPH;
- Ontheotherhand,thesameICThasalsoenabled
theiractivitiestobecalledoutanddenounced/
- Theinternethasprovidedanewplatformbywhich
tocontestthedifferentimagesofthebody,based
onthemoral,legalandethicaldimensions.
- Note:Hokagecomesfromthepopularanime,
Naruto;kagemeansshadow,andthetermis
appliedtotheninjaortheshadowwarriors.A
hokageisthehighestrankingninja,veryskilledand
experiencedinninjutsu(andalsotheoldest
survivor).Thelinkbetweenninjaandsexual
harassmentisthis:whatwascalledtsansing(i.e.,
takingchanceswithtouchingagirlwithouther
consent)isnowknownasninjamoves,i.e.,the
physicalpartofdumadamoves
- Note:Hokageasappliedhereisactuallyaviolation
ofRA7877,theSexualHarassmentAct.Asofthis
time,investigationsbylawenforcementintothe
BSOPHandsimilaractivitiesisongoing.