Science, Technology, and Culture
Science and Technology have influenced different times, different people, and different cultures whether in history or even in present times. Yet, to think that culture also plays a role in driving the development and advance of science and technology in which it can have social influence, economic or even environmental impact. In this essay, I will briefly discuss what is the role of culture, religion, economy, politics, and traditions in the development of science and technology.
Science, Technology, and Culture. Technology affects and influences society but in order for the technological influence to be successful, it w needs a societal and cultural background. The needs, attitudes, values, norms, beliefs, identity, and debate should be present in order to influence the development of technology and also in the field of science. Nicolaus Copernicus developed Copernican heliocentrism in which is an astronomical model wherein the Sun is the center of the Universe, motionless, with Earth and the other planets orbiting around it. Back in the 16th Century, Copernicus’ idea was not accepted by the public and religion played a huge role. Based on the studies back then, Copernican heliocentrism was later accepted in the modern era. Because of culture, back from the past before the modern era, some astronomical and scientific theories were not accepted and became controversies. People back then were not open about this topic but as science and technology were discovered, developed, and continued to advance. The case of Copernicus involves culture, ethics, and religion. Note the culture is within us, our lives, and it became a way of living. Culture is a kind of belief that results in affecting human behavior and perspective. Culture may be intangible but it always influences but also restricts people’s mindset and behavior. Science and Technological development would be possible if it weren’t for the contributions of culture and the people as well.
Science, Technology, and Religion. Religion did not directly guide the development of science and technology but it indirectly affects and influence its development and changed cultural thinking. Religion indirectly opposed and impeded most of scientific discoveries and theories way back in the modern era by some astronomers and philosophers like Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, Plato, Socrates, and many to mention. Their scientific discoveries and theories were censored and became huge controversies. But later on in the modern era, we developed instruments and tools in order to prove these scientific discoveries and theories. The role of religion played a notable in scientific discoveries wherein it changed the thinking of the people but it did not directly help to achieve scientific breakthroughs. Because of Religion, we ought to know and learn science is based on fact and quantitative reasoning. But if we are to remove religion from the equation, researchers and scientists got to explore scientific knowledge about the natural world with no bounds since there is no belief or reason for them to hold back.
Science, Technology, and Economy. In connection of Religion to Economy, both play a role in society and affect the behavior and thinking of a person. Science and Technology also became the foundation of the economy. It is also observed that the economy emerged from the services and developed the goods-producing of science and technology. For example, Globalization became present in the first wave of the 19th Century. Globalization is the growing independence of the world’s economies whether in trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people, and information. Globalization is the fruit of how the economy affects science and technology. The economy increased the use of computers and globalization even motivated the industry to advance the classification system. Because of these technological influences, it rapidly evolves technology, with the help of science, and it causes some innovations and extends and expands the demand.
Science, Technology, and Politics. Politics has its own pros and cons, it gave profound effects and influence over science and technology through the years. Politics was one of the factors for science and technology to rise and became a foundation for world leaders. In the world of politics, they support the rise of world-class technological power and developed some scientific cause. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration known as NASA is funded by the US Government and its funding is from the annual federal budget. The Human Researches, Technological Developments, Biological and Physical Sciences, and Studies about Earth and Space Science would not be also possible if these scientific activities were not funded and supported by the government. The impact of politics on science and technology is massive since its role is to fund and support science and technological advancements for the general and universal welfare.
Science, Technology, and Traditions. Tradition can also be associated with culture and technology is also related and incorporated with all aspects of culture including tradition, travel, food, government, and art. The role of tradition is that it consults the natural philosophers and scientists since tradition guides the people’s thinking and behavior. It results in transforming primitive thinking into logical thinking, and then into scientific thinking according to Xiao. As researchers, they continue to seek the truth and look for evidence and facts knowing that these researchers are also shaped and molded by the traditions they grew up with. Their personal views affect and influence the questions and decisions they came up with.
