论文部分内容阅读
摘要：“The Wedding of Science to the Useful Arts” written by critical historian David F. Noble in 1979 focuses on the application of science and technology in manufacturing and examines the relationship between the development of technology, environment and society. This thesis has a simple review on the book and a further analysis about its argument.
关键词： David F. Noble;science; technology; environment; human society
中图分类号：G30 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1009-0118（2011）-01-0-01
1. Introduction “The Wedding of Science to the Useful Arts” focuses on the period between the 1880s and the end of the 1920s. It examines how science was applied by manufacturing called “useful arts” with the purpose of increasing productivity and profits. According to the author’s argument in the book, the process of gradual changes in American society was started by the birth of technology as the early corporate capitalists tried to establish the-twentieth-century routine along lines that would meet the needs of the new “science-based” industries. Therefore, the rise of technology, to a large extent, can be perceived as being synchronized with the rise of corporate capitalism in America.
The book was written by David F. Noble (1945-2010), a critical historian of technology, science and education. Although the book was published in 1979 that is more than thirty years ago, the arguments in it are still well worth thinking deeply even today. According to the assertion of Noble, instead of serving as the driving force behind social change, technology has merely provided the possibilities we can get access to. Thus, it is society that should fulfill the role or responsibility of determining which possibilities should be chosen to contribute to its own development. In other words, it is up to human society to determine which possibilities are necessary for its own development. This statement aroused my interest of rethinking about the relationship of science, technology environment and human society.
2. Science and technology Science is a knowledge hierarchy that reflects essence of almost all phenomenon and characteristics of motion; while technology can be considered as methods or ways of creating all materials by taking advantages of natural and social discipline to satisfy the needs of human beings. Before 18th century science and technology are different concepts with distinctive functions. While in 20th century science and technology have become inseparable and there has formed a constant interaction between them, so science focuses on “how things are” and technology emphasizes “how things ought to be”. It is well-known that science and technology constitute a primary productive force, so the technology based on science has promoted economy development greatly.
3. Science, technology and environment Now that science and technology does not operate in a vacuum but in an environment, the environment is sure to be influenced by the application of science like high emission cars will pollute the air. That is why people hold the idea that science and technology are not only good servants but also meanwhile bad masters. However, the environment could also influence the choice of a certain science or technology or the possibility of applying a certain science or technology. In other words, the environment serves as the room or the place where technology is put into practiceand technological superiority cannot be determined without social context.
4. Science, technology, environment and human society Industrial growth and economic expansion has led to inappropriate technologies and systems of manufacturing and construction that cause environmental pollution. Meanwhile wastes and other products that result from human's consumption also produce a greater burden on the environment. While it is greatly believed that the higher the living standard, the greater the resources that are devoted to protecting human health and the environment, therefore industrially advanced societies tend to have safer food, water, and air than do less-advanced societies. For this reason, it can be considered that it is the human beings and the society who makes the choice of technology, and influence brought by science and technology but not science and technology themselves.
5. Conclusion We can hardly define that the development of science and technology do harm to environment so they should be deserted; nor confirm that application of science and technology save or protect environment and even human beings. The real master of both environmental pollution and protection are human society but not science or technology. In such an information economy era, human beings are facing the environmental problems and eco-logical crisis and meanwhile they must develop science and technology to strengtheneconomic power. Being caught in such a contradictory, a sustainable and harmony development should be accepted as an environmental goal to be realized by both scientific and technological efforts.
References：
[1]David A Kirsch, The Burden of History: Expectations Past and Imperfect, USA: Rutgers University Press, 2000
[2]David F. Noble, The Wedding of Science to the Useful Arts, UK: Oxford University Press, 1979
[3]Wikipedia on line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_F._Noble
关键词： David F. Noble;science; technology; environment; human society
中图分类号：G30 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1009-0118（2011）-01-0-01
1. Introduction “The Wedding of Science to the Useful Arts” focuses on the period between the 1880s and the end of the 1920s. It examines how science was applied by manufacturing called “useful arts” with the purpose of increasing productivity and profits. According to the author’s argument in the book, the process of gradual changes in American society was started by the birth of technology as the early corporate capitalists tried to establish the-twentieth-century routine along lines that would meet the needs of the new “science-based” industries. Therefore, the rise of technology, to a large extent, can be perceived as being synchronized with the rise of corporate capitalism in America.
The book was written by David F. Noble (1945-2010), a critical historian of technology, science and education. Although the book was published in 1979 that is more than thirty years ago, the arguments in it are still well worth thinking deeply even today. According to the assertion of Noble, instead of serving as the driving force behind social change, technology has merely provided the possibilities we can get access to. Thus, it is society that should fulfill the role or responsibility of determining which possibilities should be chosen to contribute to its own development. In other words, it is up to human society to determine which possibilities are necessary for its own development. This statement aroused my interest of rethinking about the relationship of science, technology environment and human society.
2. Science and technology Science is a knowledge hierarchy that reflects essence of almost all phenomenon and characteristics of motion; while technology can be considered as methods or ways of creating all materials by taking advantages of natural and social discipline to satisfy the needs of human beings. Before 18th century science and technology are different concepts with distinctive functions. While in 20th century science and technology have become inseparable and there has formed a constant interaction between them, so science focuses on “how things are” and technology emphasizes “how things ought to be”. It is well-known that science and technology constitute a primary productive force, so the technology based on science has promoted economy development greatly.
3. Science, technology and environment Now that science and technology does not operate in a vacuum but in an environment, the environment is sure to be influenced by the application of science like high emission cars will pollute the air. That is why people hold the idea that science and technology are not only good servants but also meanwhile bad masters. However, the environment could also influence the choice of a certain science or technology or the possibility of applying a certain science or technology. In other words, the environment serves as the room or the place where technology is put into practiceand technological superiority cannot be determined without social context.
4. Science, technology, environment and human society Industrial growth and economic expansion has led to inappropriate technologies and systems of manufacturing and construction that cause environmental pollution. Meanwhile wastes and other products that result from human's consumption also produce a greater burden on the environment. While it is greatly believed that the higher the living standard, the greater the resources that are devoted to protecting human health and the environment, therefore industrially advanced societies tend to have safer food, water, and air than do less-advanced societies. For this reason, it can be considered that it is the human beings and the society who makes the choice of technology, and influence brought by science and technology but not science and technology themselves.
5. Conclusion We can hardly define that the development of science and technology do harm to environment so they should be deserted; nor confirm that application of science and technology save or protect environment and even human beings. The real master of both environmental pollution and protection are human society but not science or technology. In such an information economy era, human beings are facing the environmental problems and eco-logical crisis and meanwhile they must develop science and technology to strengtheneconomic power. Being caught in such a contradictory, a sustainable and harmony development should be accepted as an environmental goal to be realized by both scientific and technological efforts.
References：
[1]David A Kirsch, The Burden of History: Expectations Past and Imperfect, USA: Rutgers University Press, 2000
[2]David F. Noble, The Wedding of Science to the Useful Arts, UK: Oxford University Press, 1979
[3]Wikipedia on line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_F._Noble