Relevance of Various Knowledge Areas - Essay Example

RELEVANCE OF VARIOUS KNOWLEDGE AREAS TECHNOLOGY Technologyhasalways been a major means for creating new physical and human environments. Technology is generaltermforthe processes by which human beings fashion tools and machines to increase their control and understanding of the material environment (Microsoft Encarta 2007.) Manyhistoriansofscience argue not only that technology is an essential condition of advanced, industrial civilization but also that the rate of technological change has developed its own momentum in recent centuries. Technology serves as an alternative to the technological problems of the industrialized nations, and as a solution to the problem of social dislocation caused by the transfer of advanced technologies to developing countries. Intechnology,scientific knowledge is put to practical ends. This knowledge comes chiefly from mathematics and the physical sciences, and it is used in designing machinery, materials, and industrial processes. In general, this work is known as engineering, a word dating back to the early days of the Industrial Revolution, when an 'engine' was any kind of machine. Inrecentyears,acompletely new field of technology has developed from advances in the life sciences. Known as biotechnology, it involves such varied activities as genetic engineering, the manipulation of genetic material of cells or organisms, and cloning, the formation of genetically uniform cells, plants, or animals. Although still in its infancy, many scientists believe that biotechnology will play a major role in many fields, including food production, waste disposal, and medicine. ECONOMICS Economics may appear to be the study of complicated tables and charts, statistics and numbers, but, more specifically, it is the study of what constitutes rational human behavior in the endeavor to fulfill needs and wants. We can say, therefore, that economics, often referred to as the "dismal science", is a study of certain aspects of society. Adam Smith (1723 - 1790), the "father of modern economics" and author of the famous book "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations", spawned the discipline of economics by trying to understand why some nations prospered while others lagged behind in poverty. Others after him also explored how a nation's allocation of resources affects its wealth. (Investopedia) What is the relevance of studying economics Alfred Marshall enumerated the following as reasons for the study of economics: a. Students need to develop economic ways of thinking and problem solving that they can use in their lives as consumers, savers, entrepreneurs, investors, workers, citizens, and participants in a global economy; b. Economics creates a more vivid understanding of costs and benefits than any other subject; c. Students who do not appreciate the accomplishments of a market economy will not work to preserve it; d. Students must understand economics to become productive members of the workforce; e. The case for economic literacy is the case for democracy itself. If war is too serious to be left to military professionals, economic understanding is too important to be left to economists;. SCIENCE Science is systematicstudyof anything that can be examined, tested, and verified. From its early beginnings, science has developed into one of the greatest and most influential fields of human endeavor. Today different branches of science investigate almost everything that can be observed or detected, and science as a whole shapes the way we understand the universe, our planet, ourselves, and other living things. Foralargepartofrecorded history, science had little bearing on people's everyday lives. Scientific knowledge was gathered for its own sake, and it had few practical applications. Today, science has a profound effect on the way we live, largely through technology-the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. Otherfieldsofscience also play an important role in the things we use or consume every day. Research in food technology has created new ways of preserving and flavoring what we eat .Research in industrial chemistry has created a vast range of plastics and other synthetic materials, which have thousands of uses in the home and in industry. Synthetic materials are easily formed into complex shapes and can be used to make machine, electrical, and automotive parts, scientific and industrial instruments, decorative objects, containers, and many other items. Alongsidetheseachievements, science has also brought about technology that helps save human life. The kidney dialysis machine enables many people to survive kidney diseases that would once have proved fatal, and artificial valves allow sufferers of coronary heart disease to return to active living. Biochemical research is responsible for the antibiotics and vaccinations that protect us from infectious diseases, and for a wide range of other drugs used to combat specific health problems. As a result, the majority of people on the planet now live longer and healthier lives than ever before.( Microsoft Encarta 2007.) Scientists put together and compare new discoveries and existing knowledge. In most cases, new discoveries extend what is currently accepted, providing further evidence that existing ideas are correct. They utilizeexisting knowledge in new scientific investigations to predict how things will behave. MATHEMATICS Mathematics was originally conceived, and is still taught in schools today, as a means of explaining processes in the real world, and determining how things will happen in the future. However, at a reasonably high level, it is seemingly the study of things with little or no relation to the real world, but may appear to attempt to pass this off as somehow informing us about the Universe. However, the deeper one looks into the subject, the more one realizes that mathematics is relevant to everything, simply because you can describe every single thing in the Universe with numbers. It is a way of proving theorems with logic, and at its highest level may prove impractical or even impossible for many computers to handle (for instance, try telling a computer to divide by zero). Phenomena in nature can be described and predicted with the help of mathematics. Mathematical objects, invented decades ago and apparently useless, are used today to forecast events taking place in things as small as atoms and as big as hurricanes. Quantum physics, meteorology, economic theory, chemistry and all respectable sciences could not exist without mathematics. In these days of calculators and computers, one might think mental arithmetic should be pushed into a niche area, becoming a subject for academic purists, in a similar way to Latin or Ancient Greek. However, we will always have a need for basic mathematics in everyday use - working out change in a shop, division of articles, and the like, but there are other examples where a more in-depth practical understanding of the subject can come in useful. ((www.bbc.co.uk) GEOGRAPHY Geography matters to everyone. It is the entryway towards understanding the diversity of landscapes and cultures all over the universe. What is the relevance of geography Dan Peel in his The Classic "Declassified" (www.itasca.org ) enumerated the following reasons on why we need to study geography: 1. To learn the constant and universal principles of human nature by seeing men reacting in different kinds of situations and circumstances. 2. In order to understand, live, and exist in our present world. Our world is "shrinking". We must trade, understand, and exist with others;3. In order to judge our own customs and actions better by examining the customs of different peoples.4. To insure order in society by having an informed, educated people. (tolerance for other cultures, races, etc.);5. It teaches us to put things in perspective.;6. To avoid the errors of other people and countries and to profit from their good ideas;7. In order to remove prejudices and increase understanding;8. In order to "travel" to another place and time by "listening" to people describe their time and country.;9. In order to keep our principles alive by keeping those thoughts alive. (compare them to principles in other countries.Democracy & economic freedom vs. Communism, socialism, etc.);10. In order to advance man's knowledge;11. It's fun! Geography can take you to different lands and cultures. You can learn about different people and customs. It's fascinating! To sum it up, Michael Palin said:"You can travel the seas, poles, and deserts and see nothing. To really understand the world you need to get under the skin of the people and places. In other words, learn about geography. I can't imagine a subject more relevant in schools. We'd all be lost without it." BIOLOGY "The term Biology, which means exactly what we wish to express, the Science of Life, has often been used, and has of late become not uncommon, among good writers."(Whewell.) A more practical importance in the study of biology as found in "Huxley's Collected Essays," (aleph0.clarku.edu/huxley) argues, " Consider the theory of infectious disease. Surely that is of interest to all of us. Now the theory of infectious disease is rapidly being elucidated by biological study. It is possible to produce, from among the lower animals, examples of devastating diseases which spread in the same manner as our infectious disorders, and which are certainly and unmistakably caused by living organisms. This fact renders it possible, at any rate, that that doctrine of the causation of infectious disease which is known under the name of "the germ theory" may be well-founded; and, if so, it must needs lead to the most important practical measures in dealing with those terrible visitations. It may be well that the general, as well as the professional, public should have a sufficient knowledge of biological truths to be able to take a rational interest in the discussion of such problems, and to see that, to those who possess a sufficient elementary knowledge of Biology, they are not all quite open questions." "Since Biology is a physical science, the method of studying it needs to be analogous to that which is followed in the other physical sciences. It has now long been recognized that, if a man wishes to be a chemist, it is not only necessary that he should read chemical books and attend chemical lectures, but that he should actually perform the fundamental experiments in the laboratory for himself, and thus learn exactly what the words which he finds in his books and hears from his teachers, mean. If he does not do so, he may read till the crack of doom, but he will never know much about chemistry. That is what every chemist will tell you, and the physicist will do the same for his branch of science. The great changes and improvements in physical and chemical scientific education, which have taken place of late, have all resulted from the combination of practical teaching with the reading of books and with the hearing of lectures. The same thing is true in Biology. Nobody will ever know anything about Biology except in a dilettante "paper-philosopher" way, who contents himself with reading books on botany, zoology, and the like; and the reason of this is simple and easy to understand. It is that all language is merely symbolical of the things of which it treats; the more complicated the things, the more bare is the symbol, and the more its verbal definition requires to be supplemented by the information derived directly from the handling, and the seeing, and the touching of the thing symbolized:-that is really what is at the bottom of the whole matter." SOCIOLOGY According to Clair M. Renzetti and Daniel J. Curran in Living Sociology "Sociology is the scientific study of human societies. Societies are composed of people, or, more specifically, social actors. In studying human societies, sociologists examine the collective interactions of social actors within a particular social structure and the collective meanings that these actors give to their interactions with one another." Sociologists are ultimately interested in how the modern world came to be and how it continues to unfold. C. Wright Mills noted in 1959 what people in the modern world need: "What they need, and what they feel they need, is a quality of mind that will help them to use information and to develop reason in order to achieve lucid summations of what is going on in the world and of what may be happening within themselves. It is this quality, I am going to contend, that journalists and scholars, artists and publics, scientists and editors are coming to expect of what may be called the sociological imagination." (www.anthropology.eku.edu/soc/whysoc.php ) In the website,inst.sfcc.edu/sbs/socio/, the following are cited as reasons for the study of sociology: Sociology provides us with an understanding of how social forces shape individual attitudes and behavior; shows us how societies are developed and maintained.; introduces us to the sociological imagination, which is the mindset that allows us to see the connection between the individual and society; helps us to the appreciate the diversity that exists in the human population ;challenges our common sense notions about the social world that we live in; sharpens our analytical skills; helps us to understand ourselves and others; and adds value to our lives by empowering us to make well-thought out decisions. POLITICS Political scientists study the allocation and transfer of power in decision-making, the roles and systems of governance including governments and international organizations, political behavior and public policies. They measure the success of governance and specific policies by examining many factors, including stability, justice, material wealth, and peace. Some political scientists seek to advance positive theses by analyzing politics. The students should view political science course as a part of liberal education that contributes towards making him a whole man. The study of politics will educate students for citizenship. Its study will equip them with knowledge about their rights, duties and obligations in a democratic milieu. Intelligent and responsible citizenship makes a democratic nation strong and stable. Ignorance of the civil rights, duties and obligations, weakens the national foundation and causes its collapse. Knowledge of politics can also make a citizen fully understand the complexities of modern government. It will make him aware of how his government operates, whether it is for good or for bad. It will also make him aware how politics are formulated and determined and what factors are instrumental for their creation, and the good that these policies serve as a whole. Likewise, politics is relevant because it gives civic skills and humane ideals requisite for responsible participation in the political and social life of a democracy. As stated by Aristotle, "the only way by which men could maximize their capabilities and attain the highest development of their social life was through political interaction with others in an institutionalized setting, the state." Government performs this important function. PSYCHOLOGY Psychology is a "scholarly discipline and represents a major field of study in academic settings with emphasis on the communication and explanation of principle and thesis of behavior as a piece psychology is a focus of research through which investigates collect, quantify, analyze and interpret data describing animal and human behavior thus shedding light on the causes and dynamics of behavior patterns. As a profession, psychology involves the partial application of knowledge, skills techniques for the solution or the prevention of individual or social problems. In addition, the professional role provides the psychologist with an opportunity to develop further his understanding of human behavior. (Aquino,1991) Wrightsman,et al(1979) stated that a study of psychology can bring the individual at least 4 values namely: it can contribute to his liberal education, aid him in everyday decision-making, lead him towards a career in psychology, and help him adjust and respond to rapid social change. As an expanding scientific discipline and as society has become more complex, psychology has assumed an increasingly important role in solving current human problems. Through Psychology, a student can have an improved understanding of himself and his behavior. He gains new insights s into his personality and finds answers to his particular problems. Since the study of Psychology opens an avenue to learn more about why people believe as they do and because it tells us about the effects of our actions on ourselves and others, the knowledge of Psychology can help change behavior and make sound decisions. LAW Law is a bodyofofficialrules and regulations, generally found in constitutions, legislation, judicial opinions, and the like, that is used to govern a society and to control the behavior of its members. The nature and functions of law have varied throughout history. In modern societies, some authorized body such as a legislature or a court makes the law. It is backed by the coercive power of the state, which enforces the law by means of appropriate penalties or remedies. Lawservesavarietyof functions. Laws against crimes, for example, help to maintain a peaceful, orderly, relatively stable society. Courts contribute to social stability by resolving disputes in a civilized fashion. Property and contract laws facilitate business activities and private planning. Laws limiting the powers of government help to provide some degree of freedom that would not otherwise be possible. Law has also been used as a mechanism for social change; for instance, at various times laws have been passed to inhibit social discrimination and to improve the quality of individual life in matters of health, education, and welfare ( Probert, 2007) HISTORY "History is a story about the past that is significant and true." This simple definition contains two words packed with meaning which must be understood in order to understand history. History is essential to understand the connection between understanding of history and capability to create a meaningful future. History answers the questions that we face in the present that is why it is important. David Crabtree states that "It has been said that he who controls the past controls the future. Our view of history shapes the way we view the present, and therefore it dictates what answers we offer for existing problems." History is relevant because it helps us to understand the present. If we will listen to what history has to say, we can come to a sound understanding of the past that will tell us much about the problems we now face. If we refuse to listen to history, we will find ourselves fabricating a past that reinforces our understanding of current problems. History teaches values. If it is true history, it teaches true values; if it is pseudo-history, it teaches false values. The history taught to our children is playing a role in shaping their values and beliefs-a much greater role than we may suspect.( McKenzie Study Center, 1993) ETHICS Ethics is the study of the methods and principles used to distinguish good from bad, right from wrong actions. We live in a world where we make decisions- but there are ways of doings things- either right or wrong. Ethics makes it clear to us why one act is better that another. "Ethics seeks to point out to men the true values of life. It attempts to stimulate moral sense, discover the true values of life, and inspire man to join in the quest for these values."(Titus, 9-11) Ethics provides basis for cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual understanding. Byu7 providing us with good reasons why an act is better than another, it helps us make decisions, especially on difficult cases where clear answers are hard to find. And since ethics furnishes the norm (standard or patterns) by which relations among men are regulated, it therefore contributes to the formation of a just and orderly life, where we can fairly earn a living and secure for ourselves our necessities and comforts. Ethics promises the rewards of self-respect and self-worth, of deeper understanding and appreciation of love, respect, service, life and the world. In the world of work, the study of ethics and ethical standards are made more important when we realize that the agents interacting in the workplace are human beings who have feelings that can be hurt, nerves that can be shattered, pride that can be injured, and hopes that can be frustrated, and dignity that can be degraded by unethical practices. , SOURCES: A. BOOKS 1. Articulo,A.,& Florendo, G., Values and Work Ethics ; Trinitas Publishing,Inc.,Bulacan,Phjilippines,2004 2. Ayson, F.G & reyes,D. Fundamentals of PoliticAL Science,2nd ed.2000;National Book Store,Manila,Phils.,2000. 3. Nieswiadomy, Michael, "LSAT Scores of Economics Majors," Journal of Economic Education (Fall 1998): 377-379.) 4. Whewell. Philosophy of the Inductive Science, vol. i, p.544 (edition of 1847). B. ENCYCLOPEDIA 1. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition , 2007 2. www.investopedia.com/university/economics/ - 30k - Economics Basics: Introduction C. ELECTRONIC SOURCES 1. aleph0.clarku.edu/huxley/CE3/StofB.html - "On the Study of Biology." 2. . inst.sfcc.edu/sbs/socio/STUDY.HTM - 9k - Why Study Sociology 3. . Microsoft Encarta 2007 4.. Probert, Walter. "Law." Microsoft Student 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2006. 5. www.anthropology.eku.edu/soc/whysoc.php - 12k 6. www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/pda/A144280s_id=2 - 4k The Relevance of Mathematics 7. www.itasca.org/school/peacock/7team/peel/whygeo.htm - 15k - 8. www.mckenziestudycenter.org/society/articles/history.html - 41k - The Importance of History. by David Crabtree 9. www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/economics/why_economics.cfm - 10.www3.uakron.edu/.../2004/2004Presentations/Morton_keynote essence of the economic way of thinking.ppt - alfred marshall Read More

 

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