Relationship of Technology with Natural and Social Sciences

The relationship of technology with natural and social sciences it has been symbiotic, especially after the Industrial Revolution. It is generally assumed that all scientific developments in one way or another will lead to some new or improved technologies.

Also, it is often assumed that successful developments of new technologies require some advance or discovery in science. Furthermore, many of the recent developments in the so-called hard sciences would not have been possible without the development of new technologies..

But also, technology is an essential tool for the collection and interpretation of empirical data in the social sciences..

Aspects that denote the relationship of technology with the natural and social sciences

On many occasions the terms science and technology are used interchangeably. This is an indication of the close relationship of technology with the natural and social sciences..

However, although in modern society they are interdependent, there are differences between the two concepts. The key difference is that the role of science is to create knowledge, while that of technology is to create artifacts, norms, or action plans..

In this way, science seeks to understand the natural or social world. For its part, the goal of technology is to control natural or social processes for the benefit of some social group.

Despite their divergent purposes, there are several aspects that make clear the relationship between technology and the natural and social sciences..

Creation and use of knowledge

Science's function is to create new knowledge. This includes elucidating phenomena and discovering new laws and principles..

For its part, technology uses that acquired knowledge and applies it in the real world. These two functions interact and are therefore difficult to separate. Both imply accumulation of knowledge.

At the same time, this accumulation expands the limits of people's activities both in space and time, expanding the possibilities and serving as a driving force in society..

Innovation

Throughout recent history, there are several examples of technological innovation processes arising from new discoveries in science.

Some of these examples are the atomic bomb, radar, laser, and computer. In addition, the discovery of recombinant DNA techniques that has resulted in an incipient biotechnology industry can be mentioned..

All these innovations have had a profound impact on the lifestyle of society..

Source of ideas

Science is a constant source of ideas for technological development. But this relationship is two-way, as technology has also inspired scientific knowledge..

An obvious example of this is the invention of the steam engine. The science of thermodynamics was born out of the need to build better engines. The same thing happened with computer science.

Expansion of horizons

Technology makes it possible to extend the frontiers of science. The more sophisticated the technology, the greater the possibility of making more detailed observations. This often leads to revision or adjustments of theories..

This can be clearly seen when comparing the contributions of early telescopes and those of the Hubble space telescope, for example..

Overcome laws of nature

The evolution of technology has allowed man to overcome several of the laws of nature, modifying the environment to suit his needs. The limits of man may be where his imagination reaches, since step by step he is able to achieve any objective that is posed thanks to his knowledge of natural sciences.

For example, with biohacking, human beings intend to expand their physical and mental capacities, taking them to extremes impossible to know by natural means. Seeing in the dark to overcome, exceed 120 years of age or increase the IQ, are some of the challenges that are being overcome thanks to this methodology.

References

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