Final Review Flashcards
In his classical article, “The Structure of Thinking in Technology, Skolimowski discusses the differences between science and technology. What are his main criteria in differentiating between science and technology?
Reference: Skolimowski believes that technology does not depend on science and vice versa, they work independently of each other.
Technology is focused on increasing our knowledge of nature by finding a solution to a practical question while science is based on discovering nature’s laws
The term better is based on durability, reliability, sensitive, fast performing, and combination by shortening production time or cost reduction
Discuss the development of missile machines from simple bows to the trebuchet in terms of the “technological progress”. What a) needs, b) limitations, c) available materials, d) available tools and machines, e) natural conditions initiated the development of various projectile devices? What was the final form of projectile machines?
Reference: The development of the catapult from the simple bow is seen through technological progress by examining needs and resources, bottlenecks and endpoints, innovations, and revolutions.
The bow required human muscle and was limited by the archer’s wingspan (length of draw) which lead to a bottleneck and endpoint to develop the gastraphetes in which body weight loaded energy into the bow
Larger bow catapults were developed using the toolbox (lever, wedge, screw, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane) and eventually gravity and torsion (difficult with animal guts and humidity) to store pot energy
Finally, counterweight trebuchet was developed by using gravity and angular momentum
In technology we try to make “better” objects of the same kind. What do we mean by the term “better”? Give a historical example. How does Skolimowski connect the concept of “better” to praxiology.
Existing objects that can be modified to make them more durable, reliable, sensitive, faster performing, and any combination of these
Praxiology, by definition, is the study of human action, based on the notion that humans engage in purposeful behavior, as opposed to reflexive behavior like sneezing and unintentional behavior.
Example: catapult from bow to trebuchet, clocks from water powered to mechanical, telescope from retraction to mirrors
What major revolution happened by the beginning of the New Stone (Neolithic) Age? What were the a) social, b) scientific, c) technological, and d) economic results it
The transition from hunter-gatherers to agriculture and domesticating animals and plants
Lead to the rise of civilizations of industrialization as people settle down to farm
Invented new tools to dig dirt and process grains, usually stone tools, and invention of pottery to store things, surplus of goods
Lead to economic prosperity and taxation to the farmers to produce for those who didn’t farm
What were the main sources of mechanical power and main lever-based machines in pre-modern era?
Main sources: human muscle and animals, gang-labor, Watermills, Windmills
Machines: Wedge, screw, compound pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, and spring
They were free and produced more than animals but transmission of energy was difficult
Importance: Contributed to the urban revolution where a surplus of material and food is crucial for growth
We discussed two ideas about the differences between science and technology: one by Skolimowski, and the other by Mario Bunge. Compare and contrast their main arguments, what are their criteria in differentiating between science and technology, explain main relationship, and how does Bunge connect pure science to technology?
Skolimowski believes that the two are not related and can be best understood through progress while making things better
Bunge believes that technology is applied science based on the substantive (based on a preceding theory of science that provide knowledge about the object of action) theory and the operative (implement knowledge to make a product) theory and narrows down the design process (leads toward a goal and identifies the practice of technology)
Based on McClellan’s article “Alexandria and After,” explain the possible causes of the decline of science and natural philosophy at the end of the Greco-Roman era
Lessening of scientific activity due to…
Lack of a clear social role for science and scientific careers due to the separation of sci and tech in antiquity
Religion cults tried to take down science
Destruction of Alexandria and lost museums
Separation of Europe into western and eastern parts
What are the current mostly accepted theories of pyramid construction
A. Straight-on Ramp (perpendicular)
a. Huge volume of material has to be used which would have been more than the building itself
b. Needs a low gradient, 5-10 degrees
c. Once the ramp reaches the highest stone, it needs to be heightened
d. Need ramps on each side to speed up construction
B. Spiral/Zigzag Ramp
a. Extremely difficult to maneuver large blocks around tight corners
b. Measuring and controlling shape of pyramid is difficult because it would be covered by the ramp
C. Spiral Ramps
a. The ramps would cover the entire surface of the pyramid
D. Step pyramids show that a small pyramid is made with successive phases
E. Jean-Pierre Houdin’s Internal Ramp Theory
a. A ramp is made in the inside as the pyramid covers it
According to Roland science is ‘papyrophilic’, and technology is ‘papyrophobic.’ Why? How is technological progress, secrecy in technology, and the papyrophobic nature of technology? Explain based on example
Technology is secret. It is related to state and military secret (Greek Fire) for domination over other nations. It is passed down through apprenticeship, limiting spread of info and preventing publication of TECHNIQUE. Compartmentalization and patents and craft knowledge
Science publication defines development advancement of science
Technological progress with secrecy is difficult because it doesn’t produce better ‘cokes’ but new inventions and revolutions
Greek Fire is the prime example of military secrecy for the Byzantines to defeat Arabs - Henri Pirenne
Explain Galileo’s major achievements in the science of mechanics, specifically in kinematics and material science
Objects accelerate irrespective of their weight (only slow down due to air friction, drag, large surface area)
Mastered machines by understanding work, power, and energy. Machines are judged by quality, purpose, good materials, aesthetically satisfying
Motive agent and the mechanism by means of which the applied force or agent can be made to do the required job
Understands stress and compression in material to lead to bending and fracture
Published Two New Sciences to describe kinematics (dynamics) and materials science
Why is Newton considered the culmination of the Scientific Revolution? How did he impact the course of science and technology
Made achievements in Mechanics (Universal Laws, laws of motion, gravity is universal force), Invention of calculus and binomial theorem, discovered color and reflecting telescope
Influenced others like Adam Smith, John Locke, Voltaire, Franklin, Darwin
New approach to understand nature, mathematization of nature, natural laws, experimental philosophy (laboratories), instrumentation, new sciences
The science and technology of navigation revolutionized in Europe after the mid-15th century. Describe the main development in nautical science and technology from 1450s to 1550. Explain scientific, technological, social, and economic results of nautical revolution
Developed when the ottoman Empire blocked trade so Europeans had to go around using the waters
Navigation used to be an empirical art
Ships became better (Skolimowski) with multiple masts
Navigation involved caclulated tables to find latitudes
Directional and positional devices like the kamals
Loxodromic curve, to prevent constant direction corrections
Describe major developments in history of automata in the 17th and 18th centuries (Time of Descartes). Describe connection between automata and textile industry. Describe developments in automata which led to programmable machines using punch cards
Descartes describes that the bodies of animals are nothing more than complex machines… Issue of matter and mind…totality of existence is composed of matter/extension and thinking stuff/mind…described the universe this way and as clockwork
Aimed to make the mechanistic explanation of the universe through fine mechanism
Started as astronomical then to biological with the digesting duck and flute player
Jaquet-Droz automata and calculators
Textile industry was the first to industrialize and use modern production methods based on machines and punch cards (Jacquard Machine) and finally the Babbage machine to make calculations
Punch cards were the first algorithms
Though alchemy was not a part of seven liberal arts curriculum in pre-modern Europe education, alchemical experiments caused important developments in metallurgy, porcelain production, textile industry, etc. Explain the major achievements in alchemy and chemical experiments in Europe from the 15 to 17th centuries
Driven by search for an elixir of life to lengthen our lifetime
Encompassed physics, medicine, pharmacology, astrology, mysticism, spiritualism, and art
All the latter fueled Aristotle
Paracelsus describes alchemy as not to make gold, but medicine, finds a purpose, concept of Occult Science
Macrocosm-Microcosm Analogy - the sublunar and celestial regions are somehow connected
became a mystic practice in Middle Ages, purity of mind, body, spirit
development of porcelain, broke china’s valuable commodity
Later gave birth to chemistry
