Fact Sheet

In
GE 5
Science technology and Society

Chapter 4
Human Flourishing in Science and Technology

CLARIFYING THE NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Natures of Science and Technology

Martin Heidegger (1889–1976) - was perhaps the most divisive philosopher.

- Authored the “The Question Concerning Technology” which discusses the essence
of technology.
- initially developed the themes in the text in the lecture "The Framework" ("Das
Gestell"), first presented on December 1, 1949, in Bremen. "The Framework" was
presented as the second of four lectures, collectively called "Insight into what is."
The other lectures were titled "The Thing" ("Das Ding"), "The Danger" ("Die
Gefahr"), and "The Turning" ("Die Kehre").

Four Meanings of Science

 Science as Knowledge - refers to the organized, well-founded body of knowledge of

natural phenomena.

 Science as a Field of Systematic Inquiry Into Nature

- refers to a particular field or domain of systematic inquiry in
which knowledge is sought.

 Science as a Form of Human Cultural Activity

- refers to a distinctive form or kind of human cultural activity, one
practiced by people called scientists.

 Science as a Total Societal Enterprise

- refers to science as the complex of knowledge, people, skills,
organizations, facilities, technics, physical resources, methods
and technologies that taken together or in relationship to one
another are devoted to the study and understanding of the natural
world.

Four Meanings of Technology

 Technology as Technics - technology will sometimes be used to mean and refer to

material products of human making or fabrication.

Technics - as termed by Lewis Mumford are the material artifacts (to use an
anthropological term) or hardware (to use an engineering term) produced by a person,
group or society.
- subcategorized into tools, devices, machines, implements, instruments, and
utensils.
- computers, bicycles, contact lenses, axes fall within the general category of
technics.

 Technology as a Technology - refers to a complex of knowledge, methods, materials,

and, if applicable, constituent parts used in making a certain kind of
technic.

Technology/Technologies - (singular/plural) may refer to “a technology” or “more

technologies”.

*Many technologies are involved in the manufacture of an automobile, such as brake technology,
carburetor technology, engine technology and transmission technology.
  Technology as a Form of Human Cultural Activity
- refer to a distinctive form or kind of human cultural activity. In
this sense, technology is a type of endeavor.

 Technology as a Total Societal Enterprise

- refers to the total societal enterprise of technology that is , the
complex of knowledge, people, skills, organizat6ions, facilities,
technics, physical resources, methods and technologies that taken
together and in relationship to one another are devoted to the
research, development, production, and operation of technics.

Technology and Science as Terms of Human Activity

5 Key aspects or components of Science and Technology for human activity:

1. Inputs
2. Outputs
3. Functions
4. Kinds of human practitioners
5. Processes

*Science and Technology can be characterized by describing its characteristic inputs, outputs, functions, kinds
of human practitioners, and processes.

Characteristic Output of Technology and Science

2 kinds of characteristic outputs of technological activity:

1. Technics - refers to procedures that have proven useful for obtaining certain results
(e.g., producing certain objects, performing certain operations, attaining
certain goals).
2. Technic-related intellectual constructs - refers to various kinds of mental creation (e.g.
plans and procedures) that pertain to the design, production,
use or maintenance of technics.

Ex. A program for the computerized operation of a rapid-transit system or a system for controlling the quality of
manufactured goods.

 As for science, its characteristic output or end result is theory-based, that is, of the material world itself
including humans and their individual and social activities and behavior.

Root Functions (Purpose) of Technology and Science

Technology: “to expand the realm of practical human possibility”

Technology is that form of human activity that is devoted to the production of technics – or technic-
related intellectual products – and whose root function is to expand the realm of practical possibility.

Science: “attaining an enhanced understanding of the natural world”

Science is that form of human activity which is devoted to the production of theory-related knowledge
of natural phenomena and whose root function is to attain an enhanced understanding of nature.

Characteristic Processes of Technology and Science

Technology processes always encompass at least the following:

1. Identification of specific need or opportunity to be met, satisfied, or exploited by means of a projected

technic;
2. A design phase;
3. A production phase;
4. A use phase.

Elements or phases of processes in science:

1. Identification of an aspect or phenomena of nature of interest to the practitioner;
2. Formulation of some sort of “this-worldly” intellectual – a hypothesis or theory that does not not simply
attribute the phenomena to divine intercession – to explain the aspect or phenomena;
3. Application of the construct to the aspect or phenomena;
4. Assessment of the adequacy of fit of the construct to the phenomena;
5. Adoption or rejection of the explanation or knowledge in light of the application and assessment.