SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND

SOCIETY
Technology and Its Importance to Human
Society
Technology, which is the application of scientific knowledge on
techniques and processes, has practical impact by sustaining
different sectors of the community especially in agriculture, health,
education, and transportation sectors. The use of technology
started when human civilization developed tools as they learn
complex human behavior associated with their survival
Technology and Its Importance to Human
Society
The use of technology started when human civilization developed
tools as they learn complex human behavior associated with their
survival
Technology and Its Importance to Human Society

Through many years of constant change, the present

condition of the society is very much different with the society
many years ago. The present-day generation have great desire
for transformation, innovation, transmission, and
domination of information. Although there are many social
consequences of technological applications, many people
nowadays became technologically dependent because of the
ease and comfort that these technologies gave.
Technology and Its Importance to Human Society

Because of this, the influence of science and technology in

human daily living is growing. There is also an intense
competition in the marketing of these new technologies in the
society. However, the impact of technological inventions to
the society must always be considered.
Advantages & Disadvantages of
Modern Technology
Advantages
Based on Ramey (2013) online articles and SKILLs learning schools (2016), today’s
generation has recognized the advantages of modern technology to society.

• Communication was improved through communication tools that were invented to make
the transmission of information easier and faster.

• Dissemination of information can be made easily with the help of social media. Housing,
lifestyle, and entertainment was also improved.

• Materials used to build modern houses, and other facilities are far more sophisticated
today.

• Equipment used for home activities, and entertainment purposes are automated and
more versatile.

A smart TV can now perform both television and computer functions.

Advantages

• Education today is not only limited to a classroom setting. Distant learning through
online courses and other web-based seminars became effective platforms of learning.

• The modern-day transport system, like the use of the railway, skyway, ships, and
airport systems, can be attributed to societal progress.

• Technological advancement has changed the medical field's structure by introducing

more sophisticated equipment for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Recent
breakthroughs have allowed for the discovery of new treatment procedures.

• New technologies provide different industries to increase productivity and efficiency

by reducing labor costs and meeting the demands of a growing society. Moreover,
technology opens an avenue for more creative and innovative entrepreneurship through
online businesses.
Disadvantages
● Several negative effects of technological advancements
complicated human social well-being.
● A possible shift in economies may occur, especially in areas
where human labor is used as the main workforce.
● The adoption of new product innovations by companies raised
some concerns over possible massive job displacement.
● Technology has further developed destructive weapons such as
machineries that caused massive death among countries. Other
examples of these weapons include drones, submarine,
missiles, and nuclear weapons.
Disadvantages

• Physical and social isolation due to the absence of interactive

relationships increased loneliness for many individuals. Most people
focus their attention on gadgets and social technology rather than
building harmonious relationships among family members through
interaction.

• Increased dependence on modern tools and technologies reduced

human creativity and intelligence, which may lower their
competency. The above disadvantages of modern technology lead to
technological ethical dilemmas
Human Rights

According to the United Nations, human rights are “rights inherent

to all human beings, whatever nationality, religion, ethnic group,
race, sex, or any position in the society.” Human rights are
untransferable, which means they could not be removed in a
person unless declared or instructed by law.
Human Rights

An example of this is a condemned individual awaiting execution

because the crime he committed might lose some of his rights.
Human rights are universal, as stated in the Universal Declaration
on Human Rights in 1948. Human rights are inseparable and
interconnected. When one right is improved, it will affect the
enhancement of others. Also, when one right is harmed, it hostiled
the rights of others.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. Under
the universal declaration of human rights, the state shall strive to
promote and secure the universal and effective recognition of rights
through teaching and providing education. These adopted human
rights include the articles below:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1 Right to Equality Article 8 Right to Remedy by

Competent Tribunal
Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination
Article 9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest
Article 3 Right to Life, Liberty, Personal
and Exile
Security

Article 4 Freedom from Slavery Article 10 Right to Fair Public Hearing

Article 5 Freedom from Torture and Article 11 Right to be Considered

Degrading Treatment Innocent until Proven Guilty

Article 6 Right to Recognition as a Person Article 12 Freedom from Interference

before the Law with Privacy, Family,Home, and
Correspondence
Article 7 Right to Equality before the Law
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

● Article 13 right to Free Movement in Article 18 Freedom of Belief and Religion

and out of the Country
Article 19 Freedom of Opinion and
● Article 14 Right to Asylum in other Information
Countries from Persecution
● Article 15 Right to a Nationality and Article 20 Right of Peaceful Assembly and
the Freedom to Change It Association
● Article 16 Right to Marriage and Article 21 Right to Participate in
Family Government and in Free
● Article 17 Right to Own Property
Elections
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 22 Right to Social Security Article 28 Right to Social Order that

Articulates this Document
Article 23 Right to Desirable Work and to
Join Trade Unions Article 29 Community Duties Essential to
Free and Full Development
Article 24 Right to Rest and Leisure
Article 30 Freedom from State of Personal
Article 25 Right to Adequate Living
Interference in the above Rights
Standard

Article 26 Right to Education

Article 27 Right to Participate in the

Cultural Life of the Community
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Aside from the rights enlisted in the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, there are other human rights included in the
Constitution of each state, treatises, local laws, and
policies.Human rights should always be considered before a
certain technology is introduced to avoid technological ethical
dilemmas. The persons or corporations involved should verify
what human rights will be at risk by introducing their newly
created technologies.
Ethics and Ethical Dilemma

Ethics is a system of moral principles or values that govern a

person's behavior concerning what is good for oneself and the
society that he belongs to. It is a measure of motivation to which
people are motivated to act morally.
Ethics and Ethical Dilemma

People encounter many different problems in everyday living. Most of

these problems can be answered easily and in an uncomplicated manner.
However, an ethical dilemma may occur in many situations wherein there
can be two possible solutions. Still, both of them were unpleasant or not
acceptable from an ethical perspective. This can sometimes be called an
ethical paradox or moral dilemma. In the case of an ethical dilemma, a
deeper and better understanding of the underlying issue is required and
can lead to multiple solutions.
How do people approach ethical dilemmas?
People approach ethical dilemmas in different
ways. The following are some steps from which
people approach ethical dilemmas.

1. Acknowledge or accept the ethical issue. 3. Subject the dilemma to critical evaluation.
Investigation of the situation may answer the
following questions:
✓ Does the situation give rise to conflicts?
✓ Which option can protect the rights of the
✓ Is it an ethical conflict? individuals?

2. These decisions can be made through the help ✓ Which option can lead to the best outcomes?
of these questions: ✓ Which option can best promote the common
good?
✓ What are truths/facts behind the issue that can
be used for the collection of reliable information? 2. Make a decision and evaluate the consequences.

✓ What are the key values and ethical principles

✓ Which option or alternative is the best?
involved? ✓ Ask “Was my action the best action?”

✓ What are the possible options or alternative

choices?
Emerging Technological Ethical Dilemmas

Advances in technology are rapidly changing in many disciplines, such as

agriculture, engineering, education, medicine, etc. Farmers can improve
crop yield through newly developed advanced pieces of machinery for
planting and harvesting, new engineering concepts can unlock solutions on
problems relating to genetics and chemical synthesis, teachers can modify
and spread education through distance -education and virtual classroom,
and doctors can reduce medical mistakes by increasing potential to improve
health through precision medicine. However, these advancements in
technology also have the potential to transform individuals' lives
negatively. Because of this, technological ethical dilemmas arise.
Emerging Technological Ethical Dilemmas

Technological ethical dilemmas occur when new and emerging

technologies raise ethical, social, and privacy issues. These dilemmas
arose from the conception, production, use, and effect of technology. Few
of these technologies can be labeled as dangerous that may pose a threat
to human lives. While other technologies have high impact on society,
they can change societal growth positively or negatively. Four factors are
placed at risk when ethical dilemmas occur due to certain technologies.
These four factors include the environment, individual health, individual
rights, and the affected society. To have better deal with technological
ethical dilemmas, these four factors should always be considered.
Emerging Technological Ethical Dilemmas

The need to explore conceptual, ethical and policy issues of the society
where modern technological advancement interacts promotes the
advancement of science and technology for the common good. It should
be clear that recent technologies and innovations should not hinder an
individual from enjoying any of the rights mentioned in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.In 2015 and 2016, the Reilly Center for
Science Technology and Values at the University of Notre Dame released
some of what it considers emerging policies related to science and
technology.
 2. Colonizing Mars: An Astronaut
Bioethics
1. Real-time Satellite
The National Aeronautics and Space
Surveillance Imagery Administration (NASA) and a private
Satellite generated images are company, Mars One, worked
helpful in planning and solving together for a space mission to
humanitarian problems, colonize the planet Mars. In 2018,
Mars One planned to launch a robotic
crimes, and disaster risk
mission to Mars, and by 2025, four
reduction. But if theses data humans will be sent on a one-way
would reach the hands of mission to establish the first
potential leftists, community outside the earth.
this might clearly violate the Despite the possibility of a
breakthrough in the history of
privacy of human life
science and technology, there is a
need for risk assessment.
 4. State Sponsored Hacktivism
3. Wearable Technology
and “soft war”
Companies around the globe
Soft war is an unarmed force
have developed several wearable
using cyberwar and hacktivism
technologies to suit human
to transform the cultural values
behavior and activities. These
and identities of society. It can
technologies have beneficial
influence the social aspect of a
functions in education and
given political system and
health, but privacy problems
invade cultural and
could be a problem.
psychological operations. The
use of cyberattacks to any
government agency could be a
problem.
5. Enhanced Pathogens

Researches about the gain of function of

known diseases such as influenza, Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and 6. Non-lethal weapons
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
have been suspended in the United States Non-lethal weapons are not designed
because of biosafety concerns. Gains of to kill but remained to be an ethical
function researches have beneficial impacts dilemma. Some examples are laser
such as understanding the virus and the missiles, blinding weapons, pain rays,
mode of treatment for these viruses. sonic weapons, and gasses and sprays.
However, this kind of research could also Indiscriminate use of such could be
increase mammalian transmission. This used as a means of torture.
could be an avenue of exposing the virus
into the general population that could have
devastating effects, just like the present
pandemic, COVID-19.
7. Robot Swarms 8. Artificial life forms

Some researchers of Harvard University This technology is through synthetic

focused on the development of biology, which is focused on
“kilobots”, a group of robots capable of custom-building of life forms by
communicating with each other and introducing synthetic DNA to an existing
perform simple tasks that do not require organism. This raises concerns on some
any human intervention. These groups of ethics and policy issues. Safety issues are
robots can be used in environmental also of great concern since biological
cleanups or in responding to disasters. weapons using these organisms may arise.
There is a risk of this technology to
malfunction and cause harm.
9. Resilient social-ecological systems 10. Brain-to-brain interfaces

The need to build resilience in the This technology is about direct

social and ecological systems of each communication from one brain to
nation is necessary, especially in another without the use of speech
but using electroencephalography
facing societal problems brought
(EEG), a machine that detects brain
about by poverty, economic
activity. Ethical issues that arise are
globalization, and natural
the kind of neurosecurity that can be
phenomena such as climate change used to prevent accidental sharing or
and natural disasters. removal of information from an
individual brain, intellectual
property rights, and the liability
between the sender and receiver if
one commits a mistake.
THANK YOU!!