Science, Technology and Society

C. Freudian Revolution

  • Sigmund Freud's Background

    • Born in 1856, a time before significant technological advancements like telephones, radios, and automobiles.
    • Lived through World War I and saw the destruction of the empire that was his home.
    • Described his impact on humanity as significant as that of Copernicus and Darwin.

  • Impact on Mental Illness

    • Freud revolutionized the understanding of mental illness through his invention of psychoanalysis.
    • Prior to Freud, mental illness was mostly viewed as 'organic'—resulting from disease or deterioration of the brain.
    • Research was focused on physical changes in the brain, with a sharp distinction made between the 'insane' (those with brain diseases) and the 'sane' (those without).

  • Rejection of Organic Explanations

    • Freud, despite his education in physicalism at Ernst Brücke's laboratory, rejected purely organic explanations of mental illness.
    • Influenced by Jean-Martin Charcot, a psychiatrist who claimed hysteria was primarily organic.
    • Freud agreed with Charcot about the symptom patterns but disagreed on the organic causes.
    • Freud's assertion: neurotic individuals had "working hardware but faulty software."

  • Shift in Psychological Approach

    • The rise of psychoanalysis led psychology and psychiatry away from looking solely for organic causes.
    • Introduced the examination of inner psychic conflicts and early childhood traumas.
    • Resulted in the blurring of lines between sanity and insanity—suggesting all had an Oedipal crisis and could become mentally ill.

  • Contemporary Reception of Psychoanalysis

    • Widely regarded as incorrect in understanding the mind within many sectors (medical, academic, governmental).
    • Consensus: psychoanalysis exhibits little efficacy in treating mental illness compared to psychopharmacology and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

  • Long-lasting Significance of Freud

    • Historical significance of psychoanalysis remains due to mental illness affecting a large population.
    • Freud offered a new interpretive framework explaining behavior as driven by unconscious motives, desires, and beliefs.

D. Scientific Revolution in Mesoamerica

  • Geographical Context

    • Mesoamerica includes regions from Mexico to parts of Central America, isolated from accumulated scientific knowledge of other continents.

  • Isolation and Adaptation

    • Mesoamerican civilizations faced harsher conditions compared to those in the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, which exchanged knowledge.
    • Resulted in self-reliant development of advanced civilizations like the Maya.

  • Mayan Achievements

    • Developed true science, with knowledge in paper-making and creating pictorial scripts (Maya hieroglyphs) for record-keeping.
    • The Dresden Codex: An ancient manuscript containing predictions of solar eclipses and Venus positions.
    • Maya's method: star alignment with distantly located objects for accurate angular measurement, leading to advanced calendrical systems.

  • Aztec Innovations

    • Assimilated knowledge from Maya while maintaining their own language and script.
    • Documented astronomical observations influenced by the Maya.

  • Technological Achievements

    • Early manufacture of rubber for the ball game tlachtli.
    • Architectural innovation: first to use pitched ceilings via corbelled vaults.
    • Sanitation: public latrines on highways, sewage transported from Tenochtitlán to prevent lake pollution.

  • Agricultural Practices

    • Advanced horticulture: Mesoamerica as the origin of maize, papaya, avocado, and cocoa.
    • Maize: cultivated so early that its wild ancestor remains unknown, crossable with limited regional plants.

  • Magnetism in Mesoamerican Sculptures

    • Sculptures found dating back to 2000-1500 BC exhibit magnetic properties.
    • Suggest potential knowledge and use of magnetism by early Mesoamericans.

E. Asian Scientific Revolution

  • Technological Contributions

    • Japan, as a leading example, excels in electronics and automobile production; other Asian countries contribute variably.

  • Regional Dominance

    • Asia collectively produces 90% of the world’s digital gadgets; increasing importance in digital content and services.

  • Future Prospects

    • Growth in internet economy linked to user population expansion, including previously inaccessible regions in Africa and Asia.
    • Increasing dominance of Asian nations in global technology supply.

F. Scientific Revolution in the Middle East

  • Historical Context

    • Urbanized life in Mesopotamia and Egypt marked by remarkable strides in science and technology.

  • Cultural and Scientific Exchange

    • Babylon excelled in mathematics and astronomy, influenced by astrology.
    • Egyptians made advancements in applied sciences such as medicine and engineering.
    • Both societies influenced each other and spread knowledge to Phoenicia, influencing Greek philosophers.

  • Invention of the Alphabet

    • Considered one of the greatest accomplishments of the ancient Middle East.
    • Development of a consonantal alphabet by adapting hieroglyphic characters, later spreading to Northwestern Semitic groups and eventually to the Greeks.

G. Scientific Revolution in Africa

  • Diversity of Scientific Knowledge

    • Rich history in applied sciences, including agronomy and medicine.
    • Example: Judith Carnoy's work highlighting African agricultural contributions to the Americas.

  • Medicinal Plants

    • African flora had diverse medicinal uses; current integration into pharmaceuticals noted.

  • Cosmological and Mathematical Contributions

    • Malian cosmological myths showcase advanced understanding of the physical world.
    • Nubian builders demonstrated sophisticated mathematical knowledge in pyramid construction.

H. Information Revolution

  • Defining Features

    • Transition characterized by economic, social, and technological changes ushering in the Information Age.

  • Key Technologies

    • Semiconductors and chips catalyzing new computer technologies; microprocessors pivotal for personal computers in 1971.

  • Changes in Labor

    • Automation and robotics altering job landscapes, potential replacement of both blue and white-collar jobs.

  • Global Network Growth

    • Growth in internet usage anticipated due to expanding access, vision extending back to historical submarines.

  • Economic Impact

    • E-commerce's explosive growth reshaping economies and industries globally, with prospects for rapid emergence of new technologies and industries foreseen.

  • Predictions for Future Technologies

    • Anticipation of diverse emerging technologies leading to new industries, similar to past revolutions from printing to industrialization.

A. The Philippine Government Science and Technology Agenda

  • Role of Scientists

    • Essential for national progress, supporting research and innovation within the industrial sector.

  • DOST's Functions

    • Oversees national science and technology development, formulating comprehensive plans, and ensuring respective funding and implementation.

  • Science for the People

    • Aimed at addressing inequities while enhancing the relevance of science to local conditions.

  • Seven Outcomes of DOST's Strategic Plan

    1. Innovation stimulation.
    2. Technology acceleration.
    3. Development of globally competitive human resources.
    4. Improved community productivity.
    5. Disaster risk resiliency.
    6. Reduced STI inequalities.
    7. Effective STI governance.

In Focus: Batangas State University KIST Park

  • KIST Park Launch
    • Established as the Philippines' first KIST Park to foster industrial productivity and innovation.
    • Aims to bridge gaps between government, industry, and academia.

B. Major Development Programs in Science and Technology in the Philippines

  • Science for Change Program (S4CP)
    • Created to accelerate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) development.
  • Four Programs Under S4CP
    1. Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER).
    2. R&D Leadership (RDLead).
    3. Collaborative R&D to Leverage PH Economy (CRADLE).
    4. Business Innovation through S&T (BIST).

Personalities in Science and Technology in the Philippines

  • Aisa Mijeno (SALt Lamp)
    • Created saltwater-powered sustainable lamps to replace combustion-based lighting, improving lives and reducing pollution.
  • Ramon C. Barba
    • Revolutionized mango production through ethrel and potassium nitrate, leading to increased yields.
  • Maria Y. Orosa
    • Developed various food products, including calamansi juice and soyalac, and advanced preservation techniques.
  • Fe V. del Mundo
    • Pioneer pediatrician, invented essential medical devices and practices, including a jaundice relief device and BRAT diet.
  • Angel Alcala
    • Known for contributions to marine biology and the establishment of artificial reefs in the Philippines.

C. Science Education in the Philippines

  • Goals
    • Science education aims to provide both knowledge and practical methods to explain past phenomena and predict future events.
  • Historical Context
    • Significant reform efforts in the 1950s focused on improving teacher training and science curricula.
  • Current and Future Directions
    • Ongoing enhancements in curriculum and teaching methodologies to modernize science education previously limited by resources and training.