Are Science and Technology Spinning beyond Social Control - Essay Example

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPINNING BEYOND SOCIAL CONTROL Are science and technology spinning beyond social control and taking on a lifeof their own? Give examples and clear reasons for your answer. Introduction Science and technology are currently controlling several sectors of the global economy by providing ideas, and approaches that guide societal processes. It is evident that science permeates every aspect of man’s life from private decisions concerning medical treatment and reproduction to several choices made in public. Some of the most significant public choices include security, risk, development and the human environment in terms of sustainability and quality. The political, societal, economic, and cultural spheres of the globe are currently experiencing transformations caused by the ever-changing science and technology. It is crucial to highlight that science and technology presents significant challenges to cultural values and norms. While it is true that the intervention of science and technology is instrumental for the advancement of these aspects, it is also true that when left unchecked, science and technology can damage the society. Consequently, it is fundamental to investigate whether science and technology spin beyond the social control, and take a life of its own. This will set the stage for adapting corrective measures that empower societies and their inhabitants. Science and technology does not spin beyond social control and take on a life of their own Science and technology has ensured the provision of significant material benefits and improved standards of living and medical care. However, several challenges arising from the consumption of resources characterize science especially in a society characterized by struggles (Bridgstock, Burch, Forge, Laurent, & Lowe, 1998, p. 83). Although a few of these challenges have managed to elude man’s control, there are several strategies put in place to ensure that technology and science do not negatively affect the society and its life support systems. The society has social controls to ensure that technological problems have remedial solutions. Besides, the institutions and values of society always determine the application and progression of science and technology. Consequently, several organizations are formulating humane and coherent social controls over science and technology. External interventions are necessary for the successful utilization of science in the society regardless of its role in the development process. It is clear that the society has essential controls on science and technology because it controls science and technology through regulations, management, and funding. Besides, it also controls society through liability litigation and limitation of litigation, ensuring the participation of the public and offering prior mechanisms of assessment. It is clear that science and technology play pivotal roles in the progress of a nation. These are multidisciplinary fields with the capacity to reshape the relationship between political science, technology and social science. The growing trends of change witnessed in the society require a broader understanding and intelligent solutions (Baram, 1970, p. 1). Apparently, science and technology provide unique specifications that address the 21st century’s critical problems. This is because this century is currently experiencing fresh challenges. Some of these challenges include global climate change, changing political landscapes, genomics, improvement of health care especially to the poor and revolutions in the media industry. These challenges generate problems that require scientific, technological, ethical, and social considerations to solve. Apparently, science and technology has unique abilities that can aid in the understanding of contemporary and complex historical problems. It does this by providing humanity with the power to design intellectual projects together with engagement modes address social complexities. The society belongs to a complex matrix that requires the intervention of science and technology for its progress (Ross & Gross, 2009, p. 63). Humans are responsible for the advancement of the scientific, technological innovations and social controls. In order to ensure that the scientific and technological advancements do not spin beyond the society control, there is a need to put up necessary conditions for the success of science and technology. A society should have enough scientists and technologists to help in research and extraction of raw materials, in a sustainable manner. Nevertheless, even as this happens, the same society should put up the control measures that will aid in checking the excesses of science and technology. The success of this depends on the availability of credible and well-empowered institutions (Ross & Gross, 2009, p. 312). The societal control over science and technology ensures that economic achievements and sustainable developments run concurrently. This means that the society is likely to attain wholesome and all-rounded growth that appreciates the need for controls. Science is a significant tool that drives the world economy like the growth of the market and acquisition of personal wealth. However, as this happens there have been increased calls mostly by civil society activists to ensure that science produces technologically sound knowledge that promotes environmental sustainability and long-term resource management. Several organizations have incorporated environmental concepts in their development programs to ensure sustainability. Although the world economy is under the influence of non-renewable energy sources and cheap fossil fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil, the adoption of green energy technologies has been rising. Several contemporary organizations recycle waste products in a sustainable manner. Additionally, the companies tend to handle their residual wastes in a socially and environmental manner (Kavanaugh, 1998, p. 37). Science and technology do spin beyond social control and take on a life of their own The advancements in science and technology do not guarantee social benefit because its introduction in several societies has posed disastrous implications to the progress of such societies. Social controls do not play any role in curbing the dangers of science and technology (Kumar & Chubin, 2000). There has been a shift in agricultural production and research because of improved science and technology. Several global financial institutions issue dictatorial terms to countries seeking financial help. Some of the conditions include abandoning the cultivation of food crops for consumption locally and replacing with cash crops for export. In such cases, the social control has failed to contain the dangerous tendencies caused by science and technology. The scientific and technological advancement has also led to enhancement of free trade arrangements. Apparently, free trade poses a threat to the biological biodiversity and sustainable development. This is because free trade encourages farmers to abandon the cultivation of traditional varieties of crops that can adapt to the local weather and soil conditions, and grow cash crops (Kleiman, 2009, p. 79). Several institutions that offer courses in science and technology fields are always keen on ensuring that the ethical and societal aspects are given due considerations. Consequently, there have been concerted efforts in formulating social controls in science and technology. Despite the rapid social changes that several institutions are currently undergoing several controls have been adapted. The changes in technology solve the problems in government, religion and the education sector. The advancement of science and technology without focusing on social controls within the society generates other problems. The rapid transformations that the science and technology fields have been currently undergoing do not necessarily guarantee the people and the society of their beneficial impacts. These changes lead to several social problems. All these notwithstanding, there has been very little development of control measures that can regulate the excesses of science and technology. The most significant societal problems of science and technology include those related with the quality of the environment, distortion of research efforts and matters and threats to democracy (Kavanaugh, 1998, p. 38). Problems related to the nature and qualities of the environment Scientific and environmental innovations pose adverse implications on the quality of the environment. This makes the natural life support systems serious casualties of such innovations. There is a high likelihood that numerous and unanticipated social effects on the environmental quality are likely to emerge when the advancement in the scientific and technological innovations does not have adequate systematic controls (Innes, 2003, p. 202). A significant example is the application of excessive artificial fertilizers and chemicals on farms for purpose of soil improvement and boosting productivity. This is common in countries like Greece, Morocco, and Palestine. Unfortunately, grave implications associated with this practice. These chemicals usually find their way into the foods consumed by humans. Recently, there have been growing fears that the presence of such chemicals in human foods is responsible for the rising cases of diabetes, cancers, high blood pressure, and nervous weaknesses. Additionally, these chemicals also lead to atmospheric pollution that eventually increases the rates of global warming and the melting of the ice bags. Further analysis of productivity improvement indicates that several large-scale farmers resort to spraying their farms using airplanes. Unfortunately, these gases affect the earth’s ozone layer leading to the release of dangerous radiations into the earth’s surface (Kumar & Chubin, 2000, p. 236). Distortion of the priorities in research processes The responsibility of setting up priorities for the development of technological findings and scientific researches always belong to the society. Failure to appropriately set-up the priorities will hinder innovations from taking place while complying with the expected social goals. The disorganized nature of scientific and technological advancements has both unpredicted effects and distortion of the priorities of the techno scientific development. In the event that this trend is left unchecked, there is a high likelihood of depletion of natural resources. This will threaten the existence of humanity and other living things. This calls for the thoughtful handling and conservation of natural resources. Scarce resources should be used sparingly. Additionally, these resources should address urgent and fundamental needs. For instance, resources that doubled up for making drugs and cosmetics must be used where it will benefit humanity. Otherwise, the problems of calamities such as cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis will continue to increase (Bridgstock, Burch, Forge, Laurent, & Lowe, 1998, p. 72). Highly technological society posses a possible threat to democracy An ideal democratic society requires the participation of the ordinary people in electing their leaders who will represent them in decision-making processes involving the issues of concerns to their society. However, the involvement of scientific and technological approaches while making vital decisions affecting the community might lead to the assumption of wrong and unscientific decisions. Decisions such as constructing nuclear reactors in urban settlements without considering the environmental impacts of such a move can have detrimental effects on the society. In this case, one can be deceived by the scientific and technological advancement without considering the democratic will of the people living around the area of the construction of the plant. Ignoring the people in making such important decisions invites problems to the society. Additionally, the dawn of technology has generated a new breed of people called technocrats. These people normally play their roles behind the scenes without involving other players. This means that people likely to be affected by their scientific and technological innovations. They are also the experts who make the real decisions in most government departments and large corporations. This is because of the belief that these professionals possess technical expertise and specialized knowledge. However, the errors in their technical judgment trickle down to the societies who are in-turn forced to pay heavy fines based on such processes (Baram, 1970, p. 49). These situations present opportunities for the adoption of systematic control measures. These control measure contain the haphazard development of scientific and technological innovations. This implies that the advancement in scientific and technological innovations require social control to provide checks and balances. However, these social controls encounter numerous difficulties that make science and technology spin beyond social control. Some of the problems are as outlined below (Kavanaugh, 1998, p. 52). Conflict of value problems There arises the problem of conflict of values in the search of social control on science and technology. Science ultimately aims to seek knowledge for fixing some of the world’s problems. In this regard, most scientists expect to work in an intellectually free society without the interference from the outside sources. Some great scholars in history such as Albert Einstein had advocated for intellectual individualism as the best environment to enable a scientist quench the thirst for the scientific knowledge. However, the consideration of intellectual freedom and liberty to do scientific and technological research at the expense of the catastrophic implications on the society is dangerous, as well. Additionally, there is a significant problem when non-scientists dictate terms to scientists concerning the strategies that will enhance societal progress. This makes it difficult for scientists to reason up with their free conscience as they take orders from persons they consider unqualified. When this happens, the social controls fail to take precedence on science and technology (Kumar & Chubin, 2000, p. 56). Shifting priorities dilemma Social control over science and technology causes a conflict of values in terms of shifting of goals to match up to the needs of the society (Bridgstock, Burch, Forge, Laurent, & Lowe, 1998, p. 84). For instance, if a cosmetic manufacturing company changes to manufacturing of packed food, it interferes with the scientists’ intellectual freedoms. A scientist faces a dilemma when determine the best approach when implementing their scientific knowledge and decisions without raising the wrath of the civil society whose activism tend to discourage any advancement in technology and science (Bridgstock, Burch, Forge, Laurent, & Lowe, 1998, p. 84). The need to enhance societal control on scientific processes is evident when the society uses science and technology to find solutions to some of the prevailing problems (Bridgstock, Burch, Forge, Laurent, & Lowe, 1998, p. 84). For instance, the fight against the HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted pandemics has witnessed the application of scientific research knowledge. This has been merged with the latest technologies to curb further spread. Social controls become manifest when the society forces the government to set out budgetary provisions to fight this scourge (Kavanaugh, 1998, p. 91). However, the society also faces challenges when enhancing efficient use of resources, and avoiding corrupt tendencies. Conclusion Science and technology have provided the world with an opportunity to witness and embrace new concepts and ideas that will allow it to progress a. However, it has also brought up some unique and fresh challenges as well. Some of these challenges are evident in the results of the scientific research that are impossible to control due to weak societal control measures in place. Therefore, science and technology should solve problems within the society, and not become the master of the people. Apart from enhancing work efficiency and boosting agricultural and commercial productivities, science and technology should also aim at reducing poverty and unemployment within the society. In order to achieve such targets, it is necessary to enhance concerted efforts from all stakeholders. Consequently, scientists and technologists must be incorporated in the mainstream society so that they can understand and comprehend its problems and needs. Additionally, activists must also recognize the important roles that scientists play in the society and give them their freedom. This is because, by intimidating scientists, the society will not benefit comprehensively from them. The needs of the society together with the environmental sustainability must take precedence at all times in any scientific and technological advancement. Reference List Baram, M 1970, The Social Control of Science and Technology. HeinOnline: Viewed at http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/denlr47&div=36&id=&page= Bridgstock, M 1998, Science, technology and society: an introduction, Cambridge, En, Cambridge University Press, Kluwer Academic/Plenum. Chubin, D. E., & Kumar, D 2000, Science, technology, and society: a sourcebook on research and practice, New York, NY: Springer Innes, M 2003, Understanding social control: deviance, crime and sobial order. Maidenhead, Open University Press. Kavanaugh, A 1998, The social control of technology in North Africa: information in the global economy. Westport, Conn, Praeger. Kleiman, D 2005, Science and technology in society from biotechnology to the Internet, Malden, MA, Blackwell Pub Viewed at http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=238448. Kumar, D. D., & Chubin, D 2000, Science, Technology, and Society: Education a Sourcebook on Research and Practice. New York: Springer. Ross, E 2009, Social control: a survey of the foundations of order. New Brunswick, N.J., Transaction Publishers. Read More