MODULE 1: General Concepts and

STS Historical Development

Introduction

Human creativity is beyond limit that even our ancestors might not have
imagined that our status of science and technology would be as robust as
today. Our current understanding about the nature and the world is a result of
constant over throwing of paradigm wherein an old paradigm like Geocentric
Model is replaced by a paradigm that has a higher content and explanatory
power like the Heliocentric Model. Such is termed scientific revolution. This
is just one of the many theories that were challenged in the history of Science
and have helped shaped our society.

Development of Science and Technology does not only leave indelible impact
in the history but its trail can be traced by its influence in our society and
country as a whole. In this unit, you will learn how science and technology
has greatly influenced the development of the Philippine society. You will
evaluate different government policies and programs to see how they have
shaped the nation. You will also learn significant inventions and projects
accomplished by Filipinos that greatly develop the countries’ science and
technology, and have been a major contributor to the Philippine nation-
building.

This unit will allow you to time travel through the antecedents of science and
technology; lets you investigate how the present status of science and
technology came into being, and explore the major turns in the course of
global and national history that led it to its exhilarating and captivating
development.

1
LESSON 1: Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology

Learning Objectives

At the end of this topic, students will be able to:

1. Explain how Science and technology affected the society and environment and vice
versa;
2. Identify inventions and discoveries that changed the world over the course of history: and
3. Discuss the scientific and technological developments in the Philippines.

Presentation of Contents

Science and Technology in Ancient Times

In the ancient times, people were concerned with transportation and navigation, communication
and record keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as health, aesthetics and
architecture. Science and Technology keeps on advancing in order to meet the growing needs of
people along these areas. Due to the constant innovation introduced by Science and Technology,
which has the end goal of improving lives and making the work easier, faster and efficient, our
society respond by changing as well. These changes are evident as each ancient civilization keep
on creating technology that has been modified and that is being used today.

To name a few, Sumerian are known for their contribution with the first writing system called as
cuneiform. Challenge to mass produce food, they invented plowing, irrigation and dikes and
wheel for farming. Throughout the existence of this civilization, their main mode of transportation
was through waterways such as rivers and seas. They are also known to develop the first road.
On the other hand, Babylonian civilization, which emerged near Tigris and Euphrates River were

Figure 1.1 Sumerian Cuneiform ("Redirect Notice", 2019)

famous for being great builders, engineers and architects. One of major contributions is the
hanging garden of Babylon which one of the seven wonders of the world.

Figure 1.2 Hanging Garden of Babylon ("Image: Hanging

Gardens of Babylon - Wikipedia", 2019.

Another civilization that is known for its renowned archeological artifact like the death mask of
Tutankhamen and Pyramid of Giza is the Egyptian Civilization. Also, ancient Egyptians are known for
their earlier contributions like water clock or clypsedra, paper or papyrus, ink and a system of writing
known as hieroglyphics. They have also invented cosmetics for aesthetic reason. Meanwhile, during this
time, wigs were worn by wealthy Egyptians to protect the shave of the heads from the harmful rays of the
sun.

Figure 1.3 Death Mask ("Google

Image Result for Figure 1.4 Pyramid of Giza ("Google Image
https://www.timetrips.co.uk/ep- Result for
tutmask1.jpg", 2019) https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynami
c/25/590x/Can-you-see-the-flaw-682241.jpg",
2019)
Figure 1.5 Papyrus ("Image:
Papyrus in Ancient Egypt | Essay |
Figure 1.6 Hieroglyphics ("Image:
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art ...",
Hieroglyph | writing character |
2019)
Britannica.com", 2019)
Apart from being the birthplace of western philosophy, some of the major achievements of
Greeks include in-depth works on Philosophy and Mathematics. They are also celebrated for their
contribution to the world like coliseum, Olympics, alarm clock and water mill.

Figure 1.7 Olympics

("Image: The Olympic Games Figure 1.6 Greek Coliseum ("Image:
[ushistory.org]", 2019) the coliseum (greece) - YouTube",
2019)
Perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the west, Roman Empire was
considered to be the cradle of politics and governance. Other civilizations looked up to it as a
model in terms of codified laws and legislation. They are also celebrated for the invention of
newspaper, bound books or codex. In terms of architecture and engineering, Romans are known
for building elaborate churches, basilicas, aqueducts, coliseums, amphitheaters and residential
houses. They have also devised their own number system which is the Roman Numeral System.

Figure 1. Roman aqueduct

Figure 1.8 Roman numeral system ("Image: Roman Aqueducts—
("Google Image Result for Ancient Engineering Marvels",
user_upload/roman-numerals.jpg", 2019)
2019)

Considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia, China is known for the silk trade, tea
production, gun powder and the living legend great wall of China.
 Figure 1.10 Silk Road ("Image: Silk Figure 1.11 The Great Wall of
Road - HISTORY", 2019) China ("Image: Great Wall -", 2019)

 Science and Technology in Middle Ages

The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations. Wars
are prevalent during this time. As such, great technology was needed in the fields of weaponry,
navigation, food and farm production and health. The wars have resulted to population decline.
However, in the later part of this period, there was significant increase in population. Trade and
commerce among nations increased, which resulted in greater demands for transportation
technology. Some of the most innovative minds came from this period.

To facilitate record keeping, woodblock printing developed by Chinese was improved by the time
of Johann Gutenberg with a cast type printing press. This general invention soon evolved to be
the mechanical printing press which was eventually used all over the world. The printing press
was invented to address the need for publishing books that would spread information to many
people at a faster rate. This invention also made works accessible to individuals who could not
even write (Streissguth, 1997).

Figure 1.12 Johann Gutenberg Printing Press ("Image: Johannes Gutenberg Printing
Press Stock Photos & Johannes ...", 2019)
Another invention in the Middle Age is the microscope. Growing populations caused massive
migration and urbanization during the period. More and more people transferred to polluted and
populated urban areas which resulted in more people getting sick. With this, experts needed to a
device to study microorganisms in order to develop proper medicines for illnesses. Guided by the
principles used for the invention of eyeglasses in earlier years, Zacharias Janssen was able to
develop the first compound microscope (Davidson, 2015).

Figure 1.13 Zacharias Janssen’s Microscope ("Image: Molecular

Expressions Microscopy Primer: Museum of Microscopy ...", 2019)

Since the Middle Age was also known as the Age of Exploration, the need for nautical inventions
was high. The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of
remote objects, was a great help for navigators during this time.

Great development in the weaponry technology also occurred in this era. This include cross bows
and long bows. Additionally, in close range hand-to-hand combat, soldiers should wear something
to protect themselves, a need addressed by the creation of iron body armors. However, body
armors were heavy and limited the movements of the soldiers, chainmail was invented to solve
the problem.

Science and Technology in Modern Times

The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards demanded that
more goods be produced at faster rate. People needed efficient means of transportation to
trade more goods and cover a larger distance.
Machines that required animals to operate must thus be upgraded. Faster and easier
means to communicate and compute should be developed to establish connections between and
among nations. All these needs resulted in the development of industries. However, due to
massive industrialization, the modern times again faced more complicated problems. Food
processing and medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since health was of great concern.
As people were able to develop better means of production to meet the needs of the population,
food preservation and food safety became an issue. Louis Pasteur, a French biologist,
microbiologist and chemist found a way to solve the problem. He invented pasteurization, the
process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil faster.
Through this process, milk could be stored and consumed for a longer period. It also prevented
illnesses caused by harmful bacteria (Macalester College, 2010).
Other contributions of Pasteur to Science and Technology and Medicine included his works on
molecular asymmetry, fermentation and vaccination.

The modern times demanded better means of powering homes and transportation. This
led to the development of kerosene and the petroleum refinery industry (Skrabec, 2010).
At present, petroleum is widely used in powering automobiles, factories and power plants,
among others.

The more people got connected by trade and exploration, the more they needed a way to easily
maintain these connections and communicate with each other in real time. Governments
likewise needed some kind of communication system which would allow them to administer
their states well. Important day- to-day decisions must be discussed and addressed at the fastest
time possible. Thus, the invention of telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the most
important inventions at that time.

Figure 1.15 Alexander Graham Bell’s Telephone ("Image: Inventor of the

Telephone: Alexander Graham Bell - Learning History", 2019)

Although an earlier version of the calculator had already been developed, circumstances in the
modern times required a faster way to compute more complicated equations. Computing devices
must also be easy to carry since they would be utilized on a day-to-day basis. The creation of
modern calculators did not only pave the way for easier arithmetic calculations, but also resulted
in the development of more complex processing machines like computer.
 LESSON 2: Intellectual Revolution
Learning Objectives

At the end of this topic, students will be able to:

a. discuss how the ideas postulated by Copernicus, Darwin, and Freud contributed to
the spark of scientific revolution; and
b. analyze how scientific revolution is done in various parts of the world like in Latin
America, East Asia, Middle East, and Africa

You may have read about different theories that worked and were believed
to be true during ancient times. In Astronomy, for example, you have learned that
Sun is the Center of the Solar System and that the planets, including Earth, are
revolving around it in an elliptical orbit. However, people in ancient times believed
that the earth was the center of the universe. Early beliefs also claimed that human
beings were created through “Divine Creation” but this was replaced by Darwin’s
Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. These are just some of the examples of
early theories that were challenged in the history of Science.

What were the great Intellectual Revolutions that significantly shaped our
Society? What made these new theories controversial? Who were these people
or groups of people behind these upheavals that permanently changed the
course of history of Science? What were their needs, and what were their
struggles that motivated them to engage in such scholarly contribution?

This topic will lead you to some of the answers of these aforementioned
questions. Moreover, this topic describes how science and technology theories
paved the way for the Enlightenment and our current understanding of some of
the fundamental concepts of Science and of the world.

Presentation of Contents

The Man who moved the Sun

The way people think about Solar System has changed many times throughout
history. Before the development of telescope astronomy beliefs were based on
what can be seen by the naked eye. One of the earliest ideas on how Solar
System was structured was introduced by Claudius Ptolemy. He posited that
planets as well as the sun and the moon, moved in a circular motion around the
Earth, a concept which is known as geo-centrism. This geocentric model,
considered to be one of the greatest discoveries of all time, was widely
accepted by the people and became the astronomical dogma in Western
 civilization for 1,400 years.

In the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus challenged the geocentric model by

putting sun at the center of the solar system and known as the concept of
heliocentrism. This idea was rejected at first by the public. It appalled many
since their religious belief had taught them that the Earth was created first
before all other things. Copernicus was even persecuted as a heretic.

Figure 2.1 Bold Man who challenged the Theory of Divine

Creation ("Image: Occult Science 4.0 - Heliocentric vs.
Geocentric Astrology - YouTube", 2019)

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who studied variation in plants, animals
and fossils during a five-year voyage around the world in the 19th century. Darwin's theory of
evolution challenged the idea that God made all the animals and plants that live on Earth in a
single day, which contradicted the commonly held Christian views of his era. He did not publish
his scientific work and ideas until 28 years after his voyage.

Finally, as a result of Darwin's world expedition and observations, which were

enhanced by many years of experimentation, his discussions with like-minded scientists and his
developing knowledge of geology and fossils, he proposed the theory of evolution by natural
selection. Darwin proposed that: individual organisms within a particular species show a wide
range of variation for a characteristic, individuals with characteristics most suited to the
environment are more likely to survive to breed successfully; and the characteristics that have
enabled these individuals to survive are then passed on to the next generation. This is called
Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection
Figure 2.2 Tree of Evolution ("Redirect Notice", 2019)
 Figure 2.3 Theory of Creation ("Redirect Notice", 2019)

The Father of Psychoanalysis

In the past, the field of Psychology was always classified under philosophy.
Psychology was considered more of an art rather than a science. In the late
19th century, Sigmund Freud was able to change people’s perception of
psychology with his revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysis is the study of human behavior. In his theory, Freud explained

that there are many conscious and unconscious factors that can influence
behavior and emotions. He also argued that personality is a product of three
conflicting elements: id, ego and superego.

Figure 2.4 Theory of Psychoanalysis ("Redirect Notice", 2019)

Science hardliners brushed off the legitimacy of psychoanalysis as a science

since concepts were viewed as philosophical and supernatural. Many believed
that Freud’s theory has no scientific basis as no empirical or experimental data
could support it.
Despite criticisms, Freud still continued to work on refining his theory and in
fact tried to explain how psychoanalysis can be a clinical method in treating
some mental disorders. Soon enough, people were able to understand the
concepts of psychoanalysis, which eventually resulted in classifying
psychology as a science.
LESSON 3: Science and Technology and Nation Building

Learning Objectives
At the end of this topic, students will be able to:

 discuss the role of science and technology in Philippine nation-

building;
 evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology
in terms of their contributions to nation-building; and
 Identify actual science and technology policies of the
government and appraise their impact on the
development of the Filipino nation.

Presentation of Contents

Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Pre – Colonial Period

Even before the Spain colonized the country, some indigenous science and
technology has already existed with regards to agriculture like farming, animal
– raising, and the utilization of plants and herbs as medicines. The use of
technology is evident in the in handicrafts, pottery, weaving, and tools used by
ancient Filipinos in their everyday life.

Innovation and ingenuity were unmistakable by the way native Filipinos built
the rice terraces by hand. They also developed tools for planting, hunting,
cooking, fishing, and also for fighting enemies during tribal conflicts. They
used indigenous technology in building houses, irrigations and transportation,
both on land and on waterways.

The ancient practices in science and technology by our ancestors are now
considered as indigenous science or folk science.

Colonial Period

Spanish colonization paved way to modern means of construction. Roads,

bridges, churches, and other large infrastructures were built with more
sophistication using some engineering skills and tools brought by the
Spaniards. In addition, Spanish colonizers developed health and education
system in the country.

The American colonial rule modernized almost all aspects of life in the
country. They established the Bureau of Science to initiate the development in
the field of science and technology.

Post – Colonial Period

After achieving independence from the colonial masters, the Philippines,

under different administrations, continued to pursue programs in science and
technology. Each leadership had its own S&T agenda. However, it is
important to note that some Philippine presidents introduced more
developments in the field than others, which you will find out soon as you
course through this topic.

Filipino Presidents and their Contributions in the Development of Science

and Technology in the Philippines

Philippine Presidents and the Status of S&T during their administration

Pres. Carlos P. Garcia (1957 - 1961)

-lack of support of experimental work

-marginal budget for scientific research
-low salaries of scientists employed by the government
-established the National Science Development Board

Pres. Ferdinand Marcos (1965 - 1986)

-directed the Department of Education to revitalize the science

courses in public high schools
- channelled additional funds to support projects in applied sciences
and science education
- he proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site of
the Philippine Science Community
- scholarships for graduate and undergraduate science scholars, and workshops on
fisheries and oceanography
- added the Philippine Coconut Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize the
coconut industry.
- support for the promotion of scientific research and invention with Presidential
Decree No. 49, s. 1972
- he enacted a law under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976 to establish the
National Academy of Science and Technology
- He enacted a law on the completion of the National Agriculture and Life
Sciences Research Complex at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños
(Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982)
- he established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine Science
High School to encourage careers in science and technology
-established other research institutes like PAGASA, National Grains Authority,
Philippine Council for Agricultural Research, Philippine National Oil Company
among others

Pres. Corazon Aquino (1986 - 1992)

- National Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the

Department of Science and Technology
- science and technology's role in economic recovery and sustained
economic growth was highlighted
- created the Presidential Task Force for Science and Technology which came up
with the first Science and Technology Master Plan or STMP
- Executive Order No.128 abolished R.A. No. 3859, also known as the “Philippine
Inventors Incentive Act.”
- gave assistance to Filipino inventors through giving financial aid, patent
application assistance, legal assistance, and to help inventors market their
products domestically and abroad
- R.A. 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened doors to
free education up to the secondary level
- “Science for the Masses Program” which aimed at scientific and technological
literacy among Filipinos

Pres. Fidel V. Ramos (1992 - 1998)

-significant increase in personnel specializing in the science and

technology field
-addition of Philippine Science High Schools in Visayas and
Mindanao
- government provided 3,500 scholarships for students who were
taking up professions related to S&T
- Schools were becoming more modernized and updated with the addition of high-
tech equipment for student
- Priority for S&T personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science and
Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439) was established
- award was published in order to give incentives and rewards for people who
have been influential in the field of S&T (Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act
or Republic Act No. 7459)
- programs such as National Program for Gifted Filipino Children in Science and
Technology
-enactment of a law creating a nationwide system of high schools specializing in
the field of science and engineering (Science and Technology Scholarship Law of
1994)
- enacted the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No.
8293)
 Pres. Joseph Estrada (1998 - 2001)

launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective irrigation

technologies
- establishment of one science high school in every province
- advancement of industries and schools into the Internet age,
-passage of the e-Commerce Act

Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001 - 2010)

- the science and technology sector of the Philippines was dubbed

as the "golden age“ during her term
- Numerous laws and projects that concerns both the environment
and science to push technology as a tool to increase the country's
economic level
- the term "Filipinnovation" was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to
be an innovation hub in Asia
- Science Technology and Innovations (STI) was developed further by
strengthening the schools and education system such as the Philippine Science
High School (PSHS), which focuses in science, technology and mathematics in
their curriculum
- imposes Republic Act 10601 which improves the Agriculture and Fisheries
Sector through Mechanization (AFMech)

(Images from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_Philippines)

Filipino Scientists and their Inventions

Here is a list of some Filipino scientists and inventors, together with their
contributions in shaping the science and technology of the Filipino nation.

Dr. Arturo Alcaraz

Dr. Arturo Alcaraz is a volcanologist specializing in geothermal

energy development. In 1967, Arturo Alcaraz and team powered an
electric light bulb using steam-powered electricity. This was the first
geothermal power generated in the Philippines.

Julian Banzon (1908 - 1988)

Filipino chemist, Julian Banzon researched methods of producing

alternative fuels. Julian Banzon experimented with the production
of ethyl esters fuels from sugarcane and coconut.
 Pedro Escuro (1923 - )
Filipino scientist, Pedro Escuro is best known for his isolation of
nine rice varieties, thus was renowned by developing rice breeding
in the country. The Pedro Escuro rice varieties are: Milpal 4,
HBD-2, Azmil 26 and C-22 and C-18, C4-63, C4-137, C-168 and
C-12.
Dr. Francisco Fronda (1896 - 1986)

Dr. Francisco Fronda is known as the Father of poultry science in

the Philippines. Francisco Fronda has improved methods of
production for the poultry and livestock industry.

Felix Maramba

Felix Maramba built a coconut oil-fueled power generator. He

also is the developer of one of the world's most profitable biogas
systems.

Luz Oliveros Belardo (1906 - 1999)

Filipino chemist, Luz Oliveros Belardo researched the

phytochemical properties of plants in the Philippines for natural
products, essential oils, and the medicinal qualities.

Emerita De Guzman

Filipino scientist Emerita De Guzman researched the propagation

of pure macapuno trees. Her research led to the faster propagation
of pure macapuno trees and increased macapuno nut production
from 3-5 macapuno nuts to 14-19 nuts (1980). She also invented
tissue culture techniques for the rapid propagation of abaca and
banana plants.
Dr. Fe Del Mundo (1911 - 2011)

Filipino doctor, Fe Del Mundo is credited with studies that lead to

the invention of an improved incubator and a jaundice relieving
device.

Gregorio Zara (1902 - 1978)

Famous Filipino Scientist, Gregorio Zara invented, made

improvements to, or discovered the following: invented the two-
way television telephone or videophone (1955) patented as a
"photo phone signal separator network"; discovered the physical
law of electrical kinetic resistance called the Zara effect (around 1930); invented
an airplane engine that ran on plain alcohol as fuel (1952).
(Google image result for Famous Filipino Scientists or Inventors)
 For more information, please go to the links provided below, then watch and
read the following:

Watch: 1. Juan’s Top 5 Filipino Inventions at https://youtu.be/RU21nUiKaoc

Read: 1. The Philippine Men and Women of Science.

http://spheres.dost.gov.ph/manuscript/PMWS27.pdf
2. Philippine Great Invention

Summary

In this unit, you have learned the different contributions to Science and Technology of each
epoch of human history- Ancient, Medieval and Modern Times. Necessity and adversity drive
people to think and invent technology to address the needs and problems they encountered in
everyday life. These inventions paved way to major developments from ancient to modern
society and along with it, the transmission of scientific and technological knowledge that
influenced our very own notion of the world.

The advent of technology opens the door for more scientific endeavors in the quest of
unravelling the mysteries of the natural world, and hence the birth of scientific revolution. The
revolution had sparked human creativity and critical thinking, and by this time, many a discovery
and scientific ideas were developed, and new scientific paradigms were generated which had
overthrown previous paradigms. This manifests that scientific knowledge is not permanent, and
subject to constant change through careful research and experimentation.

In the Philippines, even before period of colonization, our society has been faring on its
improvement in terms of Science and Technology especially in agriculture, handicraft and
medicine. During colonization, there was a slow growth of S&T since majority of its
sophistication is brought about by the foreign invaders. The establishment of Bureau of Science
by Americans paved the way for the initial growth of S&T in the country. During post-colonial
period where Philippines had given the autonomy for executive, administrative, judicial and
legislative operations, different programs and policies of the government gear towards
reinforcing progress of S&T. Many Filipinos were renowned not only in the national but also
around the global society for their outstanding feat.
References:
A History of Science and Technology in the Philippines by Olivia C. Caoili
Retrieved from: https://tuxdoc.com/download/history-of-science-and-technology-in-
the-philippines_pdf#download-require

McNamara, D., Valverde, V., & Beleno, R. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society
(1st ed., pp. 1-128). Quezon City: C&E Publishing Inc.

Ratnasiri, N., 2006. The role of Science and Technology in nation building. Journal of
the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 34(3), p.113. DOI:
http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v34i3.3640

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from https://youtu.be/_ttaqZf-SMg

Juan’s Top 5 Filipino Inventions at https://youtu.be/RU21nUiKaoc

The Philippine Men and Women of Science. Retrieved from:

http://spheres.dost.gov.ph/manuscript/PMWS27.pdf
MODULE 2:

Science, Technology and Society and the

Human Condition

Introduction

There can be no doubt that we are rapidly moving towards a global society,
spanning the whole earth. Yet this global society derives its unity not from
philosophy or religion, but rather from technology. Technology is improving
life and improving it fast. It is technology that is leading to the
homogenization of all forms of social interaction and communication,
irrespective of their historical and cultural provenance. It is technology that is
creating a shared horizon for economic productivity, just as it is technology
that permits the limitless accumulation of public wealth. Technology is the
salient social activity of human beings as a species and, as an activity, and is
both cumulative and linear, irrespective of its consequences for human
happiness.

In this chapter, we will be discussing the different conceptions of human

flourishing, which connotes the “well-being” and “happiness” of men and
suggests positive emotional experiences. Also, the development of scientific
method and validity of science, human flourishing vis-à-vis progress of
science and technology. It has been noted that human flourishing in our
present societies seem dwarfed by difficulties, not only in the developing
world, but also in the developed world.

Also, this chapter covers the concept of human condition before and after the
existence of science and technology and ways on how technology aided in
revealing the truth about human being.

Furthermore, we will also be discussing the meaning of a good life and the
different possibilities available in attaining a good life and happiness. It will
point out how humans strive to become happy, achieve a comfortable and
convenient life and the desire to make the work lighter, easier and faster.
 Finally, we shall also be taking up the different technological advancements in
society, development of Science and Technology in the Philippines and the
effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through dilemmas
where the world is entering a period of transformative change, and many of
people will be surprised by the developments they simply hadn’t anticipated.

LESSON 1: Human Flourishing

In this lesson, challenge yourself to:

a. identify different conceptions of human flourishing;
b. determine the development of the scientific
method and validity of science; and
c. critic human flourishing vis-à-vis progress of science
technology to be able to define for themselves the
meaning of a good life

Human Flourishing

According to Aristotle, there is an end of all of the actions that we perform which we desire for itself.
This is what is known as eudaimonia, flourishing, or happiness, which is desired for its own sake with
all other things being desired on its account. Eudaimonia is a property of one's life when considered as
a whole. Flourishing is the highest good of human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim.
It is success as a human being. The best life is one of excellent human activity.

For Aristotle, the good is what is good for purposeful, goal-directed entities. He defines the
good proper to human beings as the activities in which the life functions specific to human
beings are most fully realized. For Aristotle, the good of each species is teleologically
immanent to that species. A person's nature as a human being provides him with guidance
with respect to how he should live his life. A fundamental fact of human nature is the
existence of individual human beings each with his own rational mind and free will. The use
of one's volitional consciousness is a person's distinctive capacity and means of survival.
One's own life is the only life that a person has to live. It follows that, for Aristotle, the "good"
is what is objectively good for a particular man. Aristotle's eudaimonia is formally egoistic in
that a person's normative reason for choosing particular actions stems from the idea that he
must pursue his own good or flourishing. Because self-interest is flourishing, the good in
human conduct is connected to the self-interest of the acting person. Good means "good for"
the individual moral agent. Egoism is an integral part of Aristotle's ethics.
 Topic 2: Technology as a Way of Revealing

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:

 Explain the concept of human condition before science and technology;

 Identify the change that happened in human condition after science
and Technology and
 Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the human
being

Presentation of Contents

Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved the way for the invention of
several developments. As we always claim that humans are gifted with wisdom
and more advanced than any other creatures, our ancestors were able to utilize
available materials to make their life more comfortable.

In your own perspective, how has technology affected the following aspects
given the two-time frames? Fill out the table below.

The Human Condition in the Common Era

• Humans were content of their relationship with nature.
• Earliest case of man-made extinction occurred over 12,000 years ago, possibly
brought upon by hunting and territorial disputes. The Holocene Extinction is an
ongoing extinction and is a result of human activity.
• Growing population, overhunting and overfishing are endemic therefore it can
cause extinction of resources.
• They began to hunt, farm and produce things with prospect of profit.
Technology has been instrumental in all of these because in searching for the
good life, people were able to come up with creations that would make life
easier, more comfortable and more enriching.
• Advancements in medicine, technology, health and education ushered in
humanity's best yet, and show no sign of stopping.
Notable Comparisons (in the usage of technology of the past and the present eras)
1. Mortality Rate - Medical care for premature infants allows them to survive and develop
normally, while proper maternal care ensures that mothers can fully cover remain
empowered.
2. Average Lifespan - Science is able to prolong lives by enhancing living status and
discovering different remedies to most diseases.
3. Literacy Rate - access to education provided to more individuals generally creates a
more informed public that could determine a more just society.
4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - determine the value of the country's goods and
services produced within the territory given a certain time period.
 The Essence of Technology

• Humanity has indeed come a long way from our primitive ways, and has a
general rule, we are more "develop" than we were before. We see ways and
means from nature to utilize and achieve growth a goal that we believe would
bring forth betterment.
• Martin Heidegger a philosopher argued that the essence of technology, or
purpose, and being are different from each other. He expounded that
technology can either be perceived first, to achieve man's end and second, that
which constitutes human activity.
• This is the danger presented by too much reliance on technology: "Human lose
track of things that matter thus, reducing their surroundings to their economic
value.”

Backtracking the Human Condition

• Technology's initial promises proved to be true. All in all, the human

condition improved only if by improving we measure the level of comfort,
various scientific breakthroughs and improved lifestyles by of who had
the luxury to afford to do so.
• People are still trying to make sense of their existence in the world, and
technology does little to aid them in their pursuit of life’s meanings.
• Technological advancements are seemingly occurring in a rapid pace that
our morality cannot quite keep up; no such consideration was given in this
approach in achieving the good life.
 
Topic 6: The Good Life

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:

a. Examine what is meant by a good life;

b. identify how humans attempt to attain what is deemed to
be a good life; and
c. Recognize possibilities recognize possibilities available
to human being to human being to attain the good life.

Activating Prior Learning

Checkpoint 1

“The truth is the aim of the theoretical sciences, the good is the end goal of
the practical ones. Every attempt to know is connected in some way in an
attempt to find the good”.

Presentation of Contents

What is Good Life as Perceived by different schools of thought?

Aristotle and Good Life

It is interesting to note that the first philosopher who approached the problem
of reality from scientific lens is Aristotle who is also the first thinker who
dabbled into the complex problematization of the end goal of life: happiness.

Compared to his predecessor and teacher, Plato, Aristotle embarked on

different approach in figuring out reality. Plato thought that things in this
world are not real and are only copies of the real in the world of forms. While
Aristotle puts everything back to the ground in claiming that this world is all
there and that this world is the only reality, we can all access.
Aristotle also forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what
the senses can perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external
world that one can truly understand what reality is all about. Change is a
process that is inherent in things. We, along with all other entities in the world
start as potentialities and move towards actualities. The movement, of course,
entails change.
https://wellbeingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/seedling-
growth.jpg

Figure 6.1
Look at the seed in the picture. It eventually germinates and grows into a
plant. The seed that turned to become the plant underwent change from the
potential plant that is the seed to its full actuality.

This can be likened to what Aristotle says that every human person aspires for
an end. This end is happiness or human flourishing. And no one resists
happiness because we all want to be happy.

Materialism
The first materialists were the atomists in Ancient Greece. Democritus and
Leucippus led a school whose primary belief is that the world is made up of
and is controlled by the tiny indivisible units in the world called atomos or
seeds. Accordingly, the world including human beings, is made up of matter
and there is no need to possess immaterial entities as sources of purpose.
Atoms simply comes together randomly to form the things in the world. As
such, only material entities matter.
 https://zenfulspirit.com/2018/02/16/materialism/
Figure 6.2

In terms of human flourishing, matter is what makes us attain happiness. The

material things we possess give us ultimate happiness. We see this at work
with most people who are clinging on to material wealth as the primary source
of meaning of their existence.
 Hedonism
The Hedonists see the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure. Pleasure has
always been the priority of hedonists. For them life is obtaining and indulging
in pleasure because life is limited. They believe that pleasure give meaning to
their life without thinking of the future. The mantra of this school of thought is
the famous, “Eat, drink and merry for tomorrow we will die.

https://australianluxuryboatsales.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boat-
1024x683.jpg
Figure 6.3

Stoicism
Another school of thought led by Epicurus, the stoics, exposed the idea that to
generate happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic. The
original term apatheia, precisely means to be indifferent. These group believe
that they can do things at their own and believe that happiness can only be
attained by a careful practice of apathy.
http://lyfetainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1.-Can-Loneliness-Kill-You-Why-
You- Feel-Lonely.jpg
Figure 6.4

Theism
Most people find the meaning of their lives using God as the fulcrum of their
existence. The Philippines, as predominantly country, is witness to how people
base their life goals on beliefs that hinged on some form of supernatural reality
called heaven. The ultimate basis of happiness for theists is the communion
with God.

https://coffeewiththelord.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/god-
alone.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1
Figure 6.5
Humanism
Humanism as another school of thought espouses the freedom of man to carve
his own destiny and to legislate his own laws, free from the shackles of a God
that monitors and controls. For humanists, man is literally the captain of his
own ship. They see themselves not merely as stewards of the creation but as
individuals who are in control of themselves and the world outside them.
As a result of the motivation of the humanist current, scientists eventually
turned to technology in order to ease the difficulty of life. Scientists of today
meanwhile are ready to confront more sophisticated attempts at altering the
world for the benefit of humanity. Some people now are willing to tamper
with time and space in the name of technology.

https://soheefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screenshot-2014-04-10-
13.04.01.png
Figure 6.5
Topic 4: When technology and humanity cross

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of this topic, students will be able to:

 Know the different technological advancements in society;

 discuss the development of science & technology in the Philippines;
 discuss the effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through the
dilemma(s) they face.

Presentation of Contents
Television sets, Mobile phones, Computers, and Humanity

A number of technological devices can be easily found inside the home, the
most accessible place to anyone. Having said that, it can also be easily
inferred that these technological devices are some of the most popular and
most commonly used types of devices across all age groups. To be more
specific, these “celebrities” in the field of technology are television sets,
mobile phones, and computers. People all over the world use these
technologies every day to accomplish different purposes.

In television, used mainly as a platform for advertisements and information

dissemination. It remains to be the most used avenue by
different advertisement companies not only in the
Philippines but also all over the world. Various
advertising companies trust that television is still one of
the most used technological devices up until today. It
also serves as a recreational activity and good stress
reliever to most families, specifically to Filipino
families. Television also is a good platform for Komando.com
different propagandas and advocacies. Lastly, it can Figure 7.2
also be a good way to bond with one’s family
members.
 In mobile phones, used primarily for
communication. It offers services like
texting and calling. In the past, these
were the only functions of the mobile
phone but as technology progressed,
there have been many additional features
included on mobile phones. In the
present, people use their mobile phones
canstockphoto.com to surf the Internet and to take pictures
Figure 7.3
more than text or to call people. This is the reason why more and more people
all over the world prefer to buy smartphones over the old models where such
features are
not available. These make this particular technological device very
appealing to the masses. Additionally, it is very portable and convenient
because it can fit into any space, may it be inside the pocket or bag.
Computers and laptops, on the other hand, can be used to surf the Internet and
communicate. For a lot of people, they prefer to do their job using either a
personal computer or a laptop than a mobile phone. Personal computer or a
laptop has wide keyboard, wide screens and separate keyboards than mobile
phones. Another reason is that the
availability of a mouse or a touchpad made
these two technological devices easier to
maneuver than mobile phones. Lastly, for
the youth and those who love to play
different computer games, personal
computers or laptops are really the better
choice because these allow them play with
comfort and convenience.
Figure 7.4

Ethical Dilemma Faced by these technological advancements

It is true that these technological devices are useful and beneficial, the fact
remains that there are several dilemmas faced by these “necessities”. First,
most parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and
unhealthy. This is because of the fact that people who are fixated on these
technological advancements start and end their day by using such devices. For
example, those who love to watch television shows stay in front of the
television for more than six hours a day while those who love to surf the
Internet or play computer games stay on their laptops, computers, or mobile
phones for more than half a day. These people have the tendency to be
unaware of the time because they are so engrossed with the use of
technological device. Also, there are the same people who are more likely to
experience alienation because they no longer take time to get out their houses
and mingle with other people. It is really concerning to know that there are
people who develop different kinds of sickness because of too much use of
technological devices. The agents using the devices are the ones to be blamed
for the undesirable consequences, namely, laziness and unhealthiness. In terms
of alienation, it can be concluded that the people in the scientific-technological
world are blameworthy because they tell the people something that seems
positive but when examined closely, brings worse than good.

Another dilemma faced by these technological devices is the moral dilemma.

People, especially the children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding
for themselves what is right or wrong, are freely exposed to different things on
television, mobile phones, laptops, or computers. Because of the availability
and easy access to the Internet, they can just easily search the web and go to
different websites without restrictions. This allows them to see, read, or hear
things which are not suitable for their very young age. This makes them very
vulnerable to character change and can greatly affect the way they view the
world and the things around them. The people in the scientific world nor the
children are blameworthy because first, the children are not yet capable of
rationally deciding for themselves what is good and what is bad. Second, even
if creators of these technologies went out of their way to inform children of the
pros and cons of these technological contributions, it would still be useless
because the children have no capacity to understand them yet. So, the ones to
be blamed are the adults who allowed the children to have access to such
devices in first place without any supervision.

Robotics and Humanity

Another great product of the innovative minds of the people is the robot which
are now widely used. For example, there are so -called service robots that do
specific tasks but focus mainly in assisting their masters in their everyday
tasks.
Germany was one of the first countries to develop service robots. As part of
the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s “Service Robotics
Innovation Lead
Initiative,” it sponsored a
collaborative project
called DESIRE (Deutsche
Servicerobotik Initiative-
Germany Service Robotics
Initiative) which was
launched on October 1,
2005. Some of the
expected work to be
performed by DESIRE are
the following: (1) “Clear
Roles played by Robotics
Robots play different roles not only in the lives of the people but also in the
society as a whole. They are primarily used to ease the workload of mankind.
They were invented to make life more efficient and less stressful. They
perform complicated activities which human beings are incapable of doing.
On the other hand, they perform the simplest tasks at home so that their
masters can perform the complex ones without stressing themselves over the
simple tasks. There are also robots which are made for pleasure. To be more
specific, these types of robots perform activities to entertain people. They can
usually be found in amusement parks or exhibits. In addition, there are also
some robots which were made to serve as toys. They also perform different
activities but they are usually child-friendly.

Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics

Just like any other technological advancements, robotics also faces different
problems and dilemmas. Although the idea is to help people and make their
lives a lot easier than before, it is still not immune to different ethical
dilemmas and possible undesirable outcomes. One of the dilemmas faced by
robots is safety. Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is
compromised by a robot? It is important to know who should be blamed and
who should be held responsible if such thing happens.

Another dilemma is the emotional component. This may seem a little absurd
as of the moment, but looking at how fast technology progresses nowadays, it
is not completely impossible for robots to develop emotions. So here, the
questions become, “What if robots become sentient? Should they be granted
robot right? Should they have their own set of rights to be upheld, respected,
and protected by humans?” It is just right for the robots to be given their own
set of rights should they develop the ability to feel different kinds of emotion.

Moral and Ethical Issues in Advanced Technology

Individuals and organizations use technology to enhance their daily

operations, be it business, learning, construction, or medical activities.
Advancement in technology does not elicit ethical or moral issues, but it is the
use of technological inventions that raises these issues.

Ethical dilemmas arise when there are competing goods and competing evils.
In regard to IT, the sharing of private information within an organization
raises the question of whether the action is moral or immoral. Information
systems enable people to manipulate records within a short period, thus
raising questions on whether the information is genuine or vague.

In addition, will genetic engineering improve the quality of life or destroy it?
These are some of ethical dilemmas that are yet to be solved. Furthermore,
biotechnology raises some moral issues. It is difficult to justify the use of
living organisms during research and other technological discoveries. For
instance, vitro fertilization enables women who are not in a position to have
their own children to undergo the process. Religious groups are opposed to
such practices because their beliefs do not agree with them.

Similarly, the uses of technology have the capability of making many innocent
people to suffer; this is a moral concern. For example, nuclear technology has
the potential of killing many people, and consequently destroying the
environment. This raises some health problems. People affected by nuclear
emissions, such as those witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are deemed to
be genetically impaired. Such effects can affect the next generations of
affected individuals.

The use of computers also raises health issues. Even though computer makes
our work easier, it is evident that prolonged use of computers results to
repetitive stress injuries.

In regard to job displacement, machines have enabled companies to cut down

their labor force. Many companies use technological tools and knowledge,
such as robots and computer to run their business operations. Some people are
forced to take different roles other than their qualification requirements and
others are faced with stress related to work difficulties.

The idea that the quest for strong AI would ultimately succeed was long
thought of as science fiction, centuries or more away. However, thanks to
recent breakthroughs, many AI milestones, which experts viewed as decades
away merely five years ago, have now been reached, making many experts
take seriously the possibility of super intelligence in our lifetime. Because AI
has the potential to become more intelligent than any human, we have no
surefire way of predicting how it will behave. People now control the planet,
not because we’re the strongest, fastest or biggest, but because we’re the
smartest. If we’re no longer the smartest, are we assured to remain in control?
But there are other examples of potential ethical dilemmas in scientific
research and technology. There are things like genetic engineering, where
people worry that we might one day create super-humans that will outcompete
regular humans. There is surveillance technology, making people wonder how
human rights could be violated. People ask questions about whether we're
going where only God should tread, and whether we should do something just
because we can. The implications of many of these technologies are complex
and philosophical.

The biggest risk to our future is not that technology will take over but that we
will become too much like technology. Let’s think about where it’s going.
Let’s balance the EQ with the IQ. We should think of technology not as what
we seek but rather how we seek – it is a tool we should embrace, not one we
should become.

Summary

While it is true that science equips its knowers some details about the world,
its main claim to objectivity and systematic methodology is at the very least
flawed. Science and technology has aided us in our survival and helped us
outsmart our adversaries, provided us comfortable living, allowed us to
explore the world, and assisted us in discovering more about ourselves and the
truth.

However, it also leads us to the paradox in which we are only able to see the
world in the lenses of technological innovations leaving behind other aspects
which are deemed important. In our pursuit of growth, we had conveniently
forgotten that technology only presents one approach in viewing the world,
thus leading us to evaluate objects or not.
It is undeniably true that man constantly aims for good life and has worked
 hard in pointing out what amounts to be good and what happiness means to
them. Science and technology has been at the forefronts of man’s attempts at
finding this happiness and attaining good life for many if not all of us.

In our modern times, there are different advancements given by science and
technology. However, there are still problems faced by these technological
advancements specifically on the ethical aspects in nature and mankind. It is
now impossible for technology and humanity not to cross paths and it is
necessary that ethics be enforced in the field of technology to ensure safety
and morality of these advancements to living things.

Module 2 Science, Technology, and Society and the Human Condition

Lesson 4 When Technology And Humanity Cross
In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
a. know the different technological advancements in society;
b. discuss the development of science & technology in the Philippines;
c. discuss the effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through the
dilemma(s) they face.

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=technology+and+humanity
Figure 7.1.
When technology and humanity cross… Will it be a convergence or a clash between man and machine?
Television sets, Mobile phones, Computers, and Humanity

A number of technological devices can be easily found inside the home, the most
accessible place to anyone. Having said that, it can also be easily inferred that these
technological devices are some of the most popular and most commonly used types of
devices across all age groups. To be more specific, these “celebrities” in the field of
technology are television sets, mobile phones, and computers. People all over the world
use these technologies every day to accomplish different purposes.

In television, used mainly as a platform for advertisements and

information dissemination. It remains to be the most used
avenue by
different advertisement companies not only in the Philippines but
also all over the world. Various advertising companies trust that
television is still one of the most used technological devices up until
today. It also serves as a recreational activity and good stress reliever
to most families, specifically to Filipino
families. Television also is a good platform for different propagandas and advocacies. Lastly, it
can also be a good way to bond with one’s family members.

In mobile phones, used primarily for communication.

It offers services like texting and calling. In the past,
these were the only functions of the mobile phone
but as technology progressed, there have been many
additional features included on mobile phones. In the
present, people use their mobile phones to surf the
Internet and to take pictures more than text or to call people.

This is the reason why more and more people all over the world prefer to buy smartphones over
canstockphoto.com
the old7.3
Figure models where such features are not available. These make this particular technological
device very appealing to the masses. Additionally, it is very portable and convenient because it
can fit into any space, may it be inside the pocket or bag.

Computers and laptops, on the other hand, can be used to

surf the Internet and communicate. For a lot of people, they
prefer to do their job using either a personal computer or a
laptop than a mobile phone. Personal computer or a laptop
has wide keyboard, wide screens and separate keyboards
than mobile phones. Another reason is that the availability of
a mouse or a touchpad made these two technological devices
easier to maneuver than mobile phones. Lastly, for the youth
and those who love to play different computer games,
personal computers or laptops are really the better choice Figure 7.4
because these allow them play with comfort and
convenience.

Ethical Dilemma Faced by these technological advancements

It is true that these technological devices are useful and beneficial, the fact remains that
there are several dilemmas faced by these “necessities”. First, most parents would argue
that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy. This is because of the fact that
people who are fixated on these technological advancements start and end their day by
using such devices. For example, those who love to watch television shows stay in front of
the television for more than six hours a day while those who love to surf the Internet or
play computer games stay on their laptops, computers, or mobile phones for more than half
a day. These people have the tendency to be unaware of the time because they are so
engrossed with the use of technological device. Also, there are the same people who are
more likely to experience alienation because they no longer take time to get out their
houses and mingle with other people. It is really concerning to know that there are people
who develop different kinds of sickness because of too much use of technological devices.
The agents using the devices are the ones to be blamed for the undesirable consequences,
namely, laziness and unhealthiness. In terms of alienation, it can be concluded that the
people in the scientific-technological world are blameworthy because they tell the people
something that seems positive but when examined closely, brings worse than good.

Another dilemma faced by these technological devices is the moral dilemma. People,
especially the children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding for themselves what
is right or wrong, are freely exposed to different things on television, mobile phones,
laptops, or computers. Because of the availability and easy access to the Internet, they can
just easily search the web and go to different websites without restrictions. This allows
them to see, read, or hear things which are not suitable for their very young age. This
makes them very vulnerable to character change and can greatly affect the way they view
the world and the things around them. The people in the scientific world nor the children
are blameworthy because first, the children are not yet capable of rationally deciding for
themselves what is good and what is bad. Second, even if creators of these technologies
went out of their way to inform children of the pros and cons of these technological
contributions, it would still be useless because the children have no capacity to understand
them yet. So, the ones to be blamed are the adults who allowed the children to have access
to such devices in first place without any supervision.

Robotics and Humanity

Another great product of the innovative minds of the people is the robot which are now
widely used. For example, there are so -called service robots that do specific tasks but
focus mainly in assisting their masters in their everyday tasks.

Germany was one of the first countries to develop service robots. As part of the German
Federal Ministry of Education and
Research’s “Service Robotics Innovation
Lead
Initiative,” it sponsored a collaborative
project called DESIRE (Deutsche
Servicerobotik Initiative- Germany
Service Robotics Initiative) which was
launched on October 1, 2005. Some of
the expected work to be performed by
DESIRE are the following: (1) “Clear
up the kitchen table” – all objects on top
of the kitchen table will be
moved to where they belong; (2) “Fill the dishwasher” – the dirty dishes will be sorted
correctly into the dishwasher; and (3) “Clear up this room” – all objects that are not in
their proper places will be moved to where they belong.

Roles played by Robotics

Robots play different roles not only in the lives of the people but also in the society as a
whole. They are primarily used to ease the workload of mankind. They were invented to
make life more efficient and less stressful. They perform complicated activities which
human beings are incapable of doing. On the other hand, they perform the simplest tasks
at home so that their masters can perform the complex ones without stressing themselves
over the simple tasks. There are also robots which are made for pleasure. To be more
specific, these types of robots perform activities to entertain people. They can usually be
found in amusement parks or exhibits. In addition, there are also some robots which were
made to serve as toys. They also perform different activities but they are usually child-
friendly.

Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics

Just like any other technological advancements, robotics also faces different problems
and dilemmas. Although the idea is to help people and make their lives a lot easier than
before, it is still not immune to different ethical dilemmas and possible undesirable
outcomes. One of the dilemmas faced by robots is safety. Who should be held
accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot? It is important to know who
should be blamed and who should be held responsible if such thing happens.

Another dilemma is the emotional component. This may seem a little absurd as of the
moment, but looking at how fast technology progresses nowadays, it is not completely
impossible for robots to develop emotions. So here, the questions become, “What if robots
become sentient? Should they be granted robot right? Should they have their own set of
rights to be upheld, respected, and protected by humans?” It is just right for the robots to
be given their own set of rights should they develop the ability to feel different kinds of
emotion.

Moral and Ethical Issues in Advanced Technology

Individuals and organizations use technology to enhance their daily operations, be it

business, learning, construction, or medical activities. Advancement in technology does
not elicit ethical or moral issues, but it is the use of technological inventions that raises
these issues.

Ethical dilemmas arise when there are competing goods and competing evils. In regard to
IT, the sharing of private information within an organization raises the question of whether
the action is moral or immoral. Information systems enable people to manipulate records
within a short period, thus raising questions on whether the information is genuine or
vague.
In addition, will genetic engineering improve the quality of life or destroy it? These are
some of ethical dilemmas that are yet to be solved. Furthermore, biotechnology raises
some moral issues. It is difficult to justify the use of living organisms during research and
other technological discoveries. For instance, vitro fertilization enables women who are
not in a position to have their own children to undergo the process. Religious groups are
opposed to such practices because their beliefs do not agree with them.

Similarly, the uses of technology have the capability of making many innocent people to
suffer; this is a moral concern. For example, nuclear technology has the potential of killing
many people, and consequently destroying the environment. This raises some health
problems. People affected by nuclear emissions, such as those witnessed in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, are deemed to be genetically impaired. Such effects can affect the next
generations of affected individuals.

The use of computers also raises health issues. Even though computer makes our work
easier, it is evident that prolonged use of computers results to repetitive stress injuries.

In regard to job displacement, machines have enabled companies to cut down their labor
force. Many companies use technological tools and knowledge, such as robots and
computer to run their business operations. Some people are forced to take different roles
other than their qualification requirements and others are faced with stress related to work
difficulties.

The idea that the quest for strong AI would ultimately succeed was long thought of as
science fiction, centuries or more away. However, thanks to recent breakthroughs, many
AI milestones, which experts viewed as decades away merely five years ago, have now
been reached, making many experts take seriously the possibility of super intelligence in
our lifetime. Because AI has the potential to become more intelligent than any human, we
have no surefire way of predicting how it will behave. People now control the planet, not
because we’re the strongest, fastest or biggest, but because we’re the smartest. If we’re no
longer the smartest, are we assured to remain in control?

But there are other examples of potential ethical dilemmas in scientific research and
technology. There are things like genetic engineering, where people worry that we might
one day create super-humans that will outcompete regular humans. There is surveillance
technology, making people wonder how human rights could be violated. People ask
questions about whether we're going where only God should tread, and whether we should
do something just because we can. The implications of many of these technologies are
complex and philosophical.

The biggest risk to our future is not that technology will take over but that we will
become too much like technology. Let’s think about where it’s going.
Let’s balance the EQ with the IQ. We should think of technology not as what we seek but
rather how we seek – it is a tool we should embrace, not one we should become.
Module 3 Specific Issues in Science and Technology
Lesson 1 The Information Age
In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
a. define the Information Age;
b. discuss the history of Information Age ; and
c. understand the factors that need to be considered in checking website
sources.
Presentation of Contents
Information plays an important role in understanding the truth and reality. If there are
information available, our lives might be enigmatic and chaotic. The development of our
system of acquiring, storing and retrieving information had spurt with the advent of
science and technology and now we are in the century which is considered by many as the
Information Age.

Information Age is the period starting in the last quarter of the 20th century when
information became effortlessly accessible through publication and through the
management of information by computers and computer networks. It is a true new age
based upon the interconnection of computers via telecommunications, with these systems
operating on both real-time and as needed basis- Theory of Information Age (Messenger,
1982).

Before it has reached its current state, constant change has taken place in the form of
information revolution. By 1960’s to 1970’s, rapid growth of information resulted to
difficulty in collecting and managing them1980’s there was Information Anxiety (Richard
Wurman). In 1990’s, information became the currency of the business world. At present,
information turned out to be a commodity, an over developed product, mass produced and
unspecialized.

Robert Harris has outlined the truths about Information Age. He described it as follows

1. Information must complete

2. Newer is equated to truer
3. Selection is a viewpoint
4. The media sells what the culture buys
5. The early word gets the perm
6. You are what you eat and so is your brain
7. Anything in great demand will be counterfeited
8. Ideas are seen as controversial
9. Undead information walks ever on
10. Media presence creates the story
11. The medium selects the message
12. The whole truth is a pursuit

Accessibility of information was made faster and easier with the aid of computer. One of
the significant applications of computers for science and research is evident in the field of
bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is the application of information technology to store,
organize and analyze vast amount of biological data which is available in the form
sequences and structures of proteins – the building blocks of organisms and nucleic acids-
the information carrier (Madan, n.d.) Such was established because of the need to create
databases of biological sequences. Application includes the Human Genome Project,
Pharmacogenomics Drug Discovery, Gene Finder and Annotator.

Module 3 Specific Issues in Science and Technology

Lesson 2 Biodiversity and the Healthy Society
In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
a. determine the interrelatedness of society, environment, and health;
b. create a diagram that would show the relatedness of species in
forming up a diverse and healthy society without compromising one
another; and
c. identify everyday tasks and evaluate whether they contribute to the
wellness and health of biodiversity and society or not

Presentation of Contents
Your answer in the above questions actually explains that biotic factors (living things) are
related to the abiotic factors (non-living things). For example, your answer is an increase
in the population of rats in a rice field or decrease in the number of dragonflies in the
area; therefore, there must be changes in the environment. Thus, a change in the
environment can cause a change in the biodiversity. And a change in the biodiversity
could have erratic effects in not only in wildlife and marine but also in human beings.

Module 4 Specific Issues in Science and Society

Lesson 1 The NanoWorld
In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
a. Define nanotechnology.
b. Describe the uses of nanotechnology.
c. Discuss concerns on the use of nanotechnology.
d. Explain the status of the use of nanotechnology in the Philippines.
Presentation of Contents
“Nanotechnology is the sixth truly revolutionary technology introduced in the modern
world…”-D. Allan Bromley

Figure 10.4 Timeline of Technological Advancements Photo credits to Dr.

Iwona Turlik

Nanotechnology is defined as the study and use of structures between 1 nanometer and 100
nanometers in size. These include the design, characterization, production and application of
structures, devices and controlling shape and size on a nanometer scale. (Royal Society, 2004).
It is just like studying eight hundred 100 nanometer particles side by side to match the width of
a human hair. Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and manipulation of materials at atomic,
molecular and macromolecular scales.

This includes the study of materials 100nm own to the size of atoms which is approximately
0.2nm. For comparison, a red blood cell is approximately 7, 000nm wide and a water molecule
is almost 0.3 nm across. (K. Ban et.al, 2011.)

Studying nanoparticles has been an interest of scientist for centuries and the field flourished with
the development of microscopes capable of displaying particles called nanomaterial. A
nanomaterial is an object that has at least one dimension on the nanometer scale (app. 1-100nm);
material can be in one dimension (very thin surface coatings, films, layers), in two dimensions
(nanowires, nanotubes and fibers) or in all three dimensions (nanoparticles, quantum dots,
nanoshells, nanorings, micro). (Nanoyou, 2011). Nanomaterials are of two types. Inorganic
nanomaterial which includes gold nano clusters, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. Organic
nanomaterials on the other hand are made up of carbon compounds. To build such,
nanotechnologists employ self- organization using the molecules that can be assembled house in
an environment suitable for physical and chemical assembly. This type of nanomaterial results in
the growth of artificial layers of skin, liver tissues and other organs. (Lohith, 2014).
As shown on Figure 10.5, the term “nano” is equivalent to one billionth of a meter (10-9) hence it
expresses a very tiny amount or size. In nanotechnology, you will be able to manipulate matter
in atomic or subatomic scale. Some of the uses of nanotechnology include the production of
microprocessors and strain-resistant fabrics.
 Photo credits to https://www.understandingnano.com/introduction.html
Figure 10.4: The Scale of Things- Nanometers and More
The study of nanomaterial becomes interesting with the use of different equipment like
electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and scanning tunneling microscope.
Electron microscope was built by Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll during 1930s. There are two
general types of electron microscopes namely scanning electron microscope and
transmission electron microscope. The former directs a high voltage electron beam
towards the specimen to illuminate it and create a magnified image of the sample while the
latter directs a focused electron beam across the rectangular area of the specimen, which
loses energy as it passes through. The resolution of scanning electron microscopes tends to
be poorer than that achieved from the transmission electron microscope. Atomic force
microscope was developed BY Gerd Binig, Calvin Quate and Chrisoph Gerber in 1986. It
makes use of mechanical probe that gathers information from the surface of a material.
Scanning Tunneling microscope enables scientists to view and manipulate nanoscale
particles, atoms, and small molecules. This invention gave a Nobel Prize Awards in
Physics to their inventors, Gerd Binigand Rohrer. (Javier.et.al, 2018).

Numerous innovations in development as well as those under investigations are now the
focus of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology impacts many industries like transportation,
environment, energy, electronics, manufacturing, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. In the
field of health care, nanotechnologists work on chemical and biological sensors, drugs and
delivery devices, prosthetics and biosensors. They have created the quantum dots that
glow in UV light to locate as few as 10 to 100 cancer cells. They are also trying to grow
laboratory tissues to repair heart tissue or even replace them. In technology, they are
looking for solutions for a better data storage and computation (e.g. a DVD that could
hold a million movies) while in environment, nanotechnology plays a big role in the quest
for clean energy
and clean air (Nano Solar Cells). (Bennewitz, 2000).

In the Philippines, PCAS TRD-DOST ha funded most of the nanotech projects which includes
ICT and semiconductors, Health and biomedical, energy, environment, agriculture and food,
health and environmental risk nano- metrology and education and public awareness. (Serafica,
2018).

Nanotechnologist faced a lot of issues since nanoscale-sized objects are very delicate. Radiation
particles can cause fatal defects during manufacturing thus development requires very clean
environments making only a few, out of many produced, are perfect. Aside from manufacturing
issues, there are also potential risks of nanotechnology in health and environment. Nanoparticles
can be swallowed, inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or deliberately injected. If this happens,
inflammation can be triggered and weaken the immune system. Nanoparticles can also accumulate
in soil, water and plants (www.trnmage, 2004).

Module 4 Specific Issues in Science and Society

Lesson 2 The Aspects of Gene Therapy
In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
a. Describe the gene therapy and its various forms.
b. Assess the issue’s potential benefits and detriments to global health.
Presentation of the Content

Gene therapy has become an increasingly important topic in science-related news. The aim
of gene therapy is the successful integration of corrected, therapeutic DNA into the genomes
of cells to alter gene expression and, in turn, protein synthesis to correct genetic diseases.

Two Types of Gene Therapy

Somatic gene therapy, which involves introducing a "good" gene into targeted cells to
treat the patient — but not the patient's future children because these genes do not get
passed along to offspring.
Germline gene therapy, involves the introduction of corrective genes into reproductive cells
(sperm and eggs) or zygotes, with the objective of creating a beneficial genetic change that is
transmitted to the offspring.

Vectors for Gene Delivery

Appropriate methods to deliver DNA used in gene therapy are vital, as the targeted tissues must
properly receive the appropriate genes. Gene therapy can
be carried out using naked DNA delivered directly Vectors for Gene Delivery.

Fig: 11.1 Structure of Adenovirus

Adenoviruses - are a group of common viruses that infect the lining of your eyes, airways and lungs,
intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system. They're common causes of fever, coughs, sore throats,
diarrhea, and pink eye.

Fig: 11.2 Structure of Retrovirus

Retrovirus is a type of RNA virus that inserts a copy of its genome into the DNA of a host cell that it
invades, thus changing the genome of that cell.

Fig. 11.3 Structure of Adeno-associated virus

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) - is a non-enveloped virus that can be engineered to deliver
DNA to target cells, and has attracted a significant amount of attention in the field,
especially in clinical-stage experimental therapeutic strategies.

Fig. 11.4 Structure of Herpes Simplex

Herpes simplex type 1 causes sores around the mouth and lips (sometimes called fever
blisters or cold sores). HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but most cases of genital herpes are
caused by herpes type 2. In HSV-2, the infected person may have sores around the genitals
or rectum.

Fig. 11.5 Structure of Naked DNA

Naked DNA refers to DNA that is not associated with proteins, lipids, or any other
molecule to help protect it. Naked DNA is the result of release of genetic information into
the surrounding environment, such as from bursting cells.

Bioethical Issues of Gene Therapy

The first death associated with gene therapy occurred on September 18, 1999, at the
University of Pennsylvania. Jesse Gelsinger was participating in a clinical trial, a
biomedical experiment for evaluation of safety and efficiency of a therapy for a disease.
Gelsinger, who was 18 years old at the time of the treatment, had a deficiency of ornithine
transcarboamylase, an important enzyme in the metabolism of ammonia. Patients with this
rare metabolic disorder must maintain a low-protein diet and take a series of medicines to
avoid ammonia poisoning in the blood stream. The gene therapy Gelsinger took triggered
a chain reaction in his immune system, resulting in hepatic and respiratory failure, and
consequently, his death four days after being treated.

Effects on the Environment

Although the positive impacts of gene therapy could be enormous, there are many
questions raised that needs to be answered. New organisms created by genetic
engineering could present an ecological problem. One cannot predict the changes that a
genetically engineered species would make on the environment. The release of a new
genetically engineered species would also have the possibility of causing an imbalance
in the ecology of a region just exotic species would do. An accident or an unknown
result could cause several problems. An accident in engineering the genetics of a virus or
bacteria for example could result in a stronger type, which could cause a serious
epidemic when released. This could be fatal in human genetic engineering creating
problems ranging from minor medical problems, to death.

Effects on Human
Looking at the fact that genetic engineering employs viral vector that carries functional
gene inside the human body; the repercussion are still unknown. There are no clues as to
where functional genes are being placed. They may even replace the important genes,
instead of mutated genes. Thus, this may lead to another health condition or disease to
human. Also, as defective genes are replaced with functional gene, then it is expected that
there will be a reduction in genetic diversity and if human beings will have identical
genomes, the population as a whole will be susceptible to virus or any form of diseases.

Antibiotic Resistance
Genetic engineering often uses genes for antibiotic resistance as "selectable markers."
Early in the engineering process, these markers help identify cells that have taken up
foreign genes. Although they have no further use, the genes continue to be expressed in
plant tissues. Most genetically engineered plant foods carry fully functioning antibiotic-
resistance genes.
The presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in foods could have lethal effects. Therefore,
eating these foods could reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics to fight disease when these
antibiotics are taken with meals. More so, the resistance genes could be transferred to
human or animal pathogens, making them impervious to antibiotics. If transfer were to
occur, it could aggravate the already serious health problem of antibiotic resistant disease
organisms

Ethical and Social Issues

"Playing God" has become a strong argument against genetic engineering. Several issues
have also been raised as regards the acceptance of this technology. These concerns range
from ethical issues to lack of knowledge on the effects genetic engineering may have. One
major concern is that once an altered gene is placed in an organism, the process cannot be
reversed. The production of medicines through the use of genetically altered organisms
might develop extremely infectious forms that could cause worldwide epidemics.
Module 4 Specific Issues in Science and Society
Lesson 3 Climate Change
In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
a. Identify the causes of climate change.
b. Explain the effects of climate change on the society.
c. Illustrate how the community helps in mitigating the hazards caused by climate
change.
Presentation of Contents
“There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part
humans are playing in it.”

- David Attenborough
Climate Change
Climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system that persists
for several decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural processes, such as
changes in the Sun’s radiation, volcanoes or internal variability in the climate system, or
due to human influences such as changes in the composition of the atmosphere or land use.

Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of heat-
trapping greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and land-use change,
are primarily responsible for the climate changes observed in the industrial era, especially
over the last six decades. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, the largest
contributor to human- caused warming, has increased by about 40% over the industrial era.
This change has intensified the natural greenhouse effect, driving an increase in global
surface temperatures and other widespread changes in Earth’s climate that are
unprecedented in the history.

Let’s take a look at how interrelated and interconnected the following phenomena that
ultimately leads to climate change.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that

warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy
reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is
reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and
re-radiated by greenhouse gases. This blanket of
greenhouse gases serves as the Earth’s insulator, of
which without it, ours will be a called dead planet.

Figure12.1. Trapping of heat by the Greenhouse

gases
Greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone
and some artificial chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Carbon dioxide and
methane in particular, trap the heat radiated by the sun.

The problem we now face is that human activities are increasing the concentrations of
greenhouse gases. From NASA’s observation, the increase and too much concentration
of these greenhouse gases can cause Earth's atmosphere to trap more and more heat that
warms up the planet leading to a phenomenon called global warming.

Global Warming

Global warming is the term

used to describe a gradual
increase in the average
temperature of the Earth's
atmosphere and its oceans, a
change that is believed to be
permanently changing the
Earth’s climate.
Credit:VladisChern/Shutterstock.com Figure12.2. The
rise in global temperature

The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the
burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other human activities, are believed
to be the primary sources of the global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years.
Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate carrying out global warming
research have recently predicted that average global temperatures could increase between
1.4 and 5.8°C by the year 2100.

Changes resulting from global warming may include rising sea levels due to the melting of
the polar ice caps, as well as an increase in occurrence and severity of storms and other
severe weather events – all of which are signs of a changing climactic patterns.

Impacts of Climate Change on Society

 Credit: Left - Mellimage/Shutterstock.com, center - Montree Hanlue/Shutterstock.com. Figure12.3.
Catastrophic effects of Climate Change: From left to right: Forest Fire, Drought, Typhoon
According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the aspects of climate change are
having increasingly complex and important impacts on all the nations’ economy and quality of
life. Impacts related to climate change are evident across regions and in many sectors important to
society—such as human health, agriculture and food security, water supply, transportation,
energy, ecosystems, and others—and are expected to become increasingly disruptive throughout
this century and beyond.

Climate change affects human health and wellbeing through more extreme weather events and
wildfires, decreased air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects, food, and water. Climate
disruptions to agriculture have been increasing and are projected to become more severe over this
century, a trend that would diminish the security of the world’s food supply. Surface and
groundwater supplies in some regions are already stressed, and water quality is diminishing in
many areas, in part due to increasing sediment and contaminant concentrations after heavy
downpours.

In some regions, prolonged periods of high temperatures associated with droughts contribute to
conditions that lead to larger wildfires and longer fire seasons. For coastal communities, sea level
rise, combined with coastal storms, has increased the risk of erosion, storm surge damage, and
flooding. Extreme heat, sea level rise, and heavy downpours are affecting infrastructure like
roads, rail lines, airports, and all other infrastructures.

The capacity of ecosystems like forests, barrier beaches, and wetlands to buffer the impacts of
extreme events like fires, floods, and severe storms is being overwhelmed. The rising temperature
and changing chemistry of ocean water is combining with other stresses, such as overfishing and
pollution, alter marine-based food production and harm fishing communities.

Some climate changes currently have beneficial effects for specific sectors or regions. For
example, current benefits of warming include longer growing seasons and longer ice – free period
for agriculture.