STS-REVIEWER-PRELIM

TOPIC 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS AND STS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

Definition of Science, Technology, and Society

  • Science: A field of knowledge that investigates natural phenomena through observation, inference, and experimentation.

  • Technology: The application of scientific principles to create tools that ease human life, particularly in areas like medicine, engineering, biotechnology, and agriculture.

  • Society: A community of individuals who share cultural and economic conditions and are governed by the same political authority.

Interrelation of Science, Technology, and Society

  • Science arises from human curiosity which drives research and experimentation.

  • The findings of scientific research form theories and laws that enhance the quality of life.

  • Technology influences living conditions and societal behaviors, causing people to adapt according to available facilities.

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF STS

  • Terms Defined:

    1. Antler: Horn from a deer.

    2. Caracoa: A fast boat.

    3. Flint: Rock that produces sparks.

    4. Millet (Setaria italica): A grass cultivated for food.

    5. Nomads: People who migrate frequently.

    6. Smelting: Process of extracting metals from ore using heat.

    7. Metallurgy: Science of metals, focusing on their properties and extraction.

PAGE 2: THREE AGE SYSTEM

Introduction of the Three Age System

  • Developed by Christian Jurgensen Thomsen, classifying artifacts into three periods: Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age.

Definitions of the Ages

  1. Stone Age: A prehistoric era (lasting 3.4 million years) primarily marked by the use of stone tools.

  2. Bronze Age: This era marked intensified use of fire and smelting to create tools, lasting from 2000 to 500 BC. Bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) replaced stone tools.

  3. Iron Age: Period (1200 BC - 600 BC) characterized by the prevalence of iron tools and weapons; iron is stronger and required higher smelting temperatures than bronze.

ANCIENT AGE

Bronze Age (3000 BC - 1500 BC)

  • Introduction of metalworking where bronze replaced stone tools.

  • Smelting is essential for extracting metals.

Iron Age (1050 BC - 500 AD)

  • Marked end of the Bronze Age, with increased use of iron for tools and weapons.

MIDDLE AGE: MEDIEVAL PERIOD (5TH AND 15TH CENTURY)

  • Feudalism: Dominating social system where kings granted land to nobles in exchange for protection and labor from peasants.

  • Agricultural innovations like the moldboard plow improved productivity.

THE DARK AGE (450-1000 AD)

  • Characterized by a perceived absence of scientific achievements, considered a time of intellectual darkness, although this concept has been debated.

EDUCATION IN THE MIDDLE AGES

  • Over 80 universities founded in Europe before 1500, primarily led by the Catholic Church, fostering significant advancements in medicine, law, and theology.

PAGE 3: MEDICINE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

  • Early understanding of medicine was limited, but institutional developments improved perspectives on health.

  • Physicians struggled with unsanitary practices and superstition in treating diseases, allowing for the spread of illnesses.

CONTRIBUTION OF CHINA IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  • Ancient civilization thriving in agriculture along the Huang Ho and Yangtze Rivers, leading to trade and innovation.

  • Notable inventions include paper, compass, gunpowder, and advancements in various scientific fields.

CONTRIBUTION OF INDIA IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  • One of the earliest civilizations known for impressive architecture like the Taj Mahal, with a history of continuous inhabitation for over 250,000 years.

CONTRIBUTION OF AFRICANS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  1. Counting Methods: Yoruba and Zaire systems.

  2. African Stonehenge: Ancient astronomical observations.

  3. Advances in metallurgy, tool making, and medicine (e.g., salicylic acid, skin grafting).

PAGE 4: CONTRIBUTION OF MIDDLE EAST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  • Flourishment of science post-Islamic rise, with a focus on mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and chemistry.

  • Factors contributing to technological lag include loss of trade systems and impacts of colonial actions.

CONTRIBUTION OF MESOAMERICANS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Aztec Contributions

  1. Chinampas: Agricultural method of using small rectangular plots in lake beds.

  2. Aztec Calendar: Development of a 365-day calendar.

  3. Medicinal Herbs: Use of passionflower for its calming properties.

Mayan Contributions

  1. Concept of zero in a complex numerical system.

  2. Vulcanizing rubber for various uses.

  3. Agricultural techniques and advanced architecture showcasing sophistication.

PAGE 5: INCAS CONTRIBUTIONS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  1. Advanced civil and hydraulic engineering with infrastructure such as roads and aqueducts.

  2. Mastery in architectural design, durable buildings.

  3. Innovations in music and food preservation with freeze-dried techniques.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

A. Pre-colonial Period

  • Tool evolution and evidence of basic societal functions (e.g., agriculture, textile production).

B. Spanish Colonial Period

  • Introduction of formal education and establishment of universities helping to advance science and technology.

C. American Period and Post-Commonwealth Era

  • Significant advancements in education and establishment of science organizations such as NSDB.

D. Marcos Era and Martial Law

  • Increased focus on science education and significant legislative support for its growth.

E. Fifth Republic (1986 to present)

  • Notable legislation to advance environmental and technological standards, including clean air laws and electronic commerce protection.

TOPIC 2: INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY

Copernican Revolution

  • Transition from geocentric to heliocentric views of the solar system initiated by Copernicus.

  • Influential figures included Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei who contributed to the shift with observations and mathematical laws.

DARWINIAN REVOLUTION

  • Introduced theories on evolution and natural selection by Charles Darwin challenging previous beliefs on species creation.

FREUDIAN REVOLUTION

  • Established psychology as a discipline with Sigmund Freud's theory of psychoanalysis, focusing on unconscious motivations.

3 FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURES OF HUMAN MIND

  1. Id: Unconscious desires driven by immediate gratification.

  2. Ego: Mediator that deals with reality, allowing for delayed gratification.

  3. Superego: Represents moral standards, develops guidelines from social influences.