A Reaction Paper on Science Technology and SocietyBy Marie Sachie Mitsui P. Turiano

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This paper would delve into aspects of science, technology and society. It would present, explain and discuss reactions of the writer on man's capacity to create, manipulate and acquire, on evolution from conventions to modernity, on benefits and harms of science and technology to the society, on future realms of science trying to answer myriad questions which include the impossible, and on human values as determining factors on whether science and technology has made mankind live better or worse lives, compared to the conventional days.

INTRODUCTION:

Powered by his imagination and inquisitive character, man has wondered the mechanisms of Nature since time infinite. This quest for the truth, the ways in which his surrounding works, has led to many scientific discoveries and innovations. Since the art of making fire and creating handcrafted tools, our civilization has come a long way. Science and Technology are making advances at an amazing rate. From telephones to the Internet, calculators to computers, cars to rockets and satellites, we are submerged in a sea of discoveries and inventions made possible by Science. Fields like Medicine and communications have made inroads into our cultures and thus our lifestyles. So vast is the impact of Science in our lives, that people fear the unthinkable. It leads them to accusations such as Science tries to play God. However, according to Hume, God is part of the order that exists in the universe. If so, then Science is just helping us discover the Almighty, which most people perceive as the Ultimate Truth. Nevertheless, as the concept of God becomes an intriguing discovery of science, many more myriad mysteries still dare the realm of science and technology to explore and discover. This leads to the unending attempts of man to acquire knowledge of the unknown, thus inevitably influencing their way of existence.

Science, Technology and Man’s Acquisitive Nature

Recalling the conventional way of how man existed in the past, everything was traditional and based on activities rooted only for the purpose of survival. Man needed not to produce what the society did not require for him to produce in order for him to survive. He merely worked for food, shelter, and clothing as what the basic needs of man define. However, as man has his acquisitive nature, he began to explore life beyond what is rather basic and simple. His wants began to become significantly increasing until reaching the phase of having no limitations. While he discovers available resources around him ready to be utilized, he started to consider massive production of goods which in the long run urged him to make use of extensive science and technology to fulfill his aim to produce at greater yields and satisfy his wants and needs. This scenario is what the populace continues to face in the present generation. Science and technology seems to have emerged from the very nature of man to acquire. Due to this acquisitive nature, he resorts to activities which consciously or unconsciously are science and technology itself. In fact, even during the early existence of man, his mere instinct to survive proves his nature to acquire life and what life has to offer him. In this view, the fast rate of expansion of science and technology is undeniably rooted on man’s inevitable want to acquire and thus this expansion will not end unless man becomes contented of what he has and finally stops to acquire more.

A Reaction Paper on Science Technology and SocietyBy Marie Sachie Mitsui P. Turiano

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From Conventions to Modernity and the Inconvenient Truth

It is undeniable that man now enjoys the benefits of science and technology while he inconveniently faces the truth that he loses potential years of existence due to the destruction of his physiological being as well as the destruction of his environment. Destruction, brought about by extensive garnishing of resources from the environment to fulfill the requirements of the ever-past-paced science and technology.

The influence of technology in one’s life can no longer be separated from what is the normal aspect of human behavior. Technology has already merged to the overall capacity of the person to manipulate things around his surroundings. This aspect has caused a very significant modification of the human population character. Even since the beginning of time, there have been myriad changes on how man has lived, survived and perceived life due to influences from the latter. Indeed there are countless gains such as convenience that man acquires from technology, but along with this gains are trade-offs most likely unknown to a vast number of population.

Yes, we now enjoy a wide variety of communication technology; from computers to notebooks, heavier to lighter and more sophisticated ones, from simple to complex modifications in the mobile technology, from daily print outs on ordinary paper to prints on screens, and from journals to the globalized world wide web. Yes, we know enjoy the convenience of modern transportation technology; from carts to cars, simple to highly modified styles and quality, from ships to submarines, helipads to jets and airplanes and trikes to racing motor vehicles. Yes, we now have more capacity to acquire knowledge though advanced technology, the world of research has now been placed in a realm of information spread through all sources including the internet, and we can have more through continuous discovery of the scientific field and the unknown. But, what we are beginning to lose along with these gains is the sense of responsibility which should have developed together with technological advancements, to attend to our needs and wants in a greedless, considerate way. We are losing the values which make us far apart from other species due to seeming to lack the knowledge, rationality and doing that what we take from our environment must be replaced accordingly enough in order to achieve sustainability in all respects.

Moreover, brought by all the advancements, people now need what they ones considered only as wants and what they want come from what they do not have despite the lack of grounds to necessitate such products of technology. Social networking sites for instance, have been undeniably rampantly used among all ages and even up to the extent that people spend more time with these sites than with the real world outside the corners of their internet gadgets. We are becoming more like slaves of science and technology and with man claiming that they get to manipulate the system of our world today with the goods offered by technology; it is of fewer chances that they discover themselves being the ones manipulated by the latter. It seems that what man had ones fought for, which is freedom is now what abuse of technology has taken away from us. If we say that we crave for freedom, then perhaps we should face the world for at least 25 % like a hermit. Get rid of too much publicity and

A Reaction Paper on Science Technology and SocietyBy Marie Sachie Mitsui P. Turiano

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respect and preserve privacy. Spend more time with real people from the real world and utilize social networking sites as a tool to connect people in a less abusive way. It is considered though, that technology itself is not the nuisance but again the nature of man to acquire more while abusing the use of technology. This is what needs to be addressed.

Perhaps therefore, what makes advancements in science and technology detrimental to the existence of man and his planet is its ill influence in the core values of man which are becoming distorted due to failure to address this inconvenient truth (moral and value distortion among man). Thus, it is high time that we open our eyes to the real, bigger world with open minds and welcome the alterations brought about by science and technology to the society with full responsibility of our actions on how we utilize its fruits.