CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes 'Overview of Science, Technology and Society'.

Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

A relatively new field of discipline that offers a perspective influenced by science, technology, and their combined effects on society.

Science (in STS)

A human activity focused on finding truths about the natural world through the systematic scientific method and social interactions within the scientific community.

Role of Science

Enables people to understand, predict, and control, to a certain degree, their natural environment.

Objectivity (Characteristic of Science)

Facts in science are evaluated based on what they truly are, rather than individual perception.

Verifiability (Characteristic of Science)

A social characteristic where scientific claims, data, and experiments are checked, challenged, and reproduced by other scientists.

Abstractness (Characteristic of Science)

Scientific knowledge is not always presented in a realistic picture, which can lead to the incorrect idea that science is an isolated human activity.

Science-Society Interaction

Science is conducted within a society, and the processes and subjects scientists choose to study can be influenced by personal or societal interests, leading to societal change.

Influence on Scientific Knowledge

Scientific knowledge itself cannot be influenced by society; although it might be rejected temporarily, its truth will eventually be revealed.

Social Aspect of Science

Illustrated by the overlapping nature of scientific disciplines like geology and meteorology, which promotes collaboration and social interaction among scientists.