SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY
AND SOCIETY
A LEARNING RESOURCE PACK FOR
FLEXIBLE LEARNING A.Y. 2021-2022

FRANCES KAREN F. MORENO, LPT

INSTRUCTOR I
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
EMAIL: [email protected]

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 Topic

Unit I: General Concepts and Historical Developments

Lesson 1: Introduction to Science, Technology and Society

Lesson 2: Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

Lesson 3: Intellectual Revolutions and Society

Lesson 4: Science, Technology and Nation Building

Unit II. Science, Technology Society and the Human Condition

Lesson 5: Technology as a Way of Revealing

Lesson 6: Human Flourishing in Progress and De-Development

Lesson 7: The Good Life

Lesson 8: When Technology and Humanity Cross

Lesson 9: Why the Future Does Not Need Us?

Unit III. Specific Issues in Science, Technology and Society

Lesson 10: Information Age

Lesson 11: Biodiversity and a Healthy Society

Lesson 12: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Gene Therapy

Lesson 13: The Nanoworld

Lesson 14: Climate Change and the Energy Crises

Lesson 15: Environmental Awareness

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 UNIT II: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION
Lesson 5: : Technology as a Way of Revealing

General Objectives:
At the end of the discussion, the students are expected to:
a) Differentiate technology and modern technology in terms of the concepts presented by
Martin Heidegger;
b) Discuss and illustrate the dangers of modern technology; and
c) Reflect and adopt proper enframing regarding technological advances brought into the
modern society.

Technology can be defined as the adaptation of scientific knowledge to solve simple to

complex problems or the manner in which a specific task can be done by using different
technical processes. However, these definitions are contradicted by a German philosopher
Martin Heidegger, a famous metaphysicist, phenomenologist and existentialist. According to
him, technology, because of its limiting nature, only prevents the unfolding of its true nature.
These concepts were tackled in his famous essay entitled “Questions Concerning Technology”
which is published in 1954.

The Essence of Technology

Martin Heidegger

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 Heidegger does not contradict the presence of technology or any of its many forms in the
society but has a strong contradiction with the way people orient themselves around the
technology. Science and technology will always be a part of the society, however, with its
advancement, the basic tenets of morality and ethics should not be forgotten. According to him,
ethics and morality should flourished alongside science and technology. As Heidegger
mentioned, technology is not purely technological.

To better understand the essence of technology, Heidegger gives a definition of how

technology is is defined by the present society, that is, technology as both instrumental and
anthropogenic.

*Instrumental: Technology is a means to an end

This simply means that technology is used as an instrument at getting things done.

*Anthropogenic: Technology is a human activity

The production, purpose and function of inventions, tools or equipment made by humans
are what defined technology.

According to Heidegger, these definitions are correct but are lacking the true essence of
what technology is.

Technology as a Way of Revealing

Heidegger stressed that technology is a way revealing or “bringing forth”. Bringing forth
falls under two categories namely poiesis and physis. Poeisis is the bringing forth of an object
into existence from the creation of art, practice by craftsmen and poets. Physis, on the other
hand, is bringing forth of an object from nature, which is a natural process of revealing itself.

Heidegger, in his essay The Question Concerning Technology, said that both primitive
(old) crafts and modern technology are ways of revealing, however, he expressed that modern
technology is revealing not in “bringing forth” manner or poeisis but rather “challenges” or
“challenging forth” the nature by extracting something from it and transforming, storing and
distributing its products.

Heidegger considers modern technology’s way of revealing as “challenging forth”

because modern technology challenges the nature to suffice the need of humans in the society
without taking into consideration the ecological impacts of the technology they are developing or
doing. Modern technology according to Heidegger also makes our natural resources a “standing
reserve” which means that the resources we naturally have are not good enough for us unless we
transform it to something that we can use and exploit. Modern technology is also focused on
“setting upon” or transforming the natural resources into something else, exploiting it along the
process, thus, the nature lacks time or gets delayed on unveiling its truth.

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The Dangers of Technology

The dangers of technology lie on how humans let themselves be consumed by it.
Although humans are continuously into the loop of “bringing forth” and “challenging forth”, it
is their responsibility to recognize how to place technology in their lives.

According to Paulo Coehlo, a famous Brazilian novelist, humans are boastful to think
that they need to save Mother Nature, when in fact, nature could survive without humans. Hence,
in facing the dangers of technology, the fear of disappearing from the planet takes over the fear
of losing the planet. As mere tenants of the Earth, people must not allow themselves to lose their
essence as a human being, that is being a steward of the planet, amidst the advancements and
comfort brought about by technology. If technology took over the lives of humans, they are in
great danger of becoming a standing reserve of technology.

Recognizing the dangers of technology requires critical and reflective thinking. For
example, the social media has indeed connected people in the most efficient way possible,
however, it gave rise to issues on privacy and proliferation of fake news. The line has to be
drawn between what constitutes a beneficial use of social media and a dangerous one. As
exemplified, social media comes with both benefits and disadvantages.

However, the real threat of technology comes from its essence, not in the activities or
products it produced. The correct response to the danger of technology is not by simply avoiding
or not using technology altogether. Heidegger (1977) mentioned that the neutrality of the people
about technology is the most dangerous threat. Therefore, people in the society should developed
a stand regarding different technologies entering into their lives.

Questioning as the Piety of Thought

Heidegger concluded his essay on technology by saying:

“The closer we come to the danger, the more brightly do the ways unto the saving power
begin to shine and the more questioning we become. For questioning is the piety of the
thought.”

Heidegger emphasized the importance of questioning in the midst of technological

advancements in the society. For him, there is a huge wisdom build when humans are able to
pause, think and question what is around them. Humans are consumed by technology when the
are focused on the benefits of S
technology and fail to pay attention to its intricacies or details. What does this technology do?
How does this technology come into being? What are the possible effects of technology to me
and to the nature today and tomorrow? Thus, human needs to step back and reassess who they
were, who they are now T
and who are they becoming in the midst of technology in this day and age.

-End-

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References:

Books:
Casas, J.M.A, P. M. Jusayan, A. V. Menor and S. P. Obanan. 2020. Science, Technology
and Society. C&E Publishing, Inc., 839 EDSA, south Triangle, Quezon City

Quinto, E.J.M. and A. D. Nieva. 2019. Science, Technology and Society: Outcome-
Based Module. C&E Publishing, Inc., 839 EDSA, south Triangle, Quezon City

Images:
Manila air pollution. https://princessoftheenvironment.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/metro-
manila air-pollution-exceeds-tolerable-level/. Accessed August 13, 2020.

Balog balog storage dam. https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/04/04/1907027/group-

offers p10-billion-project-source-water-angat-dam. Accessed August 13, 2020.

Bangui wind mills. https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g2250997-

d1931244- Reviews-Bangui_Windmills
Bangui_Ilocos_Norte_Province_Ilocos_Region_Luzon.html. Accessed on August 13, 2020.

Martin Heidegger. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/what-to-make-of-heidegger-in-

2015/. Accessed June 20, 2020.

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