Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Note on the Text
- Introduction
- 1 Which Disciplines Are Concerned with the Intersections of Science, Technology, and Society? What Are Some of Their Core Contributions?
- 2 Do Science and Technology Shape Society or Does Society Shape Science and Technology?
- 3 Where Do Scientific and Technological Innovation Come From? Can Innovation Be Deliberately Promoted, or Do We Just Have to Wait for the Light Bulbs to Go Off?
- 4 When and How Do New Technologies Spread through Society? Why Do Some Die on the Vine?
- 5 What Can We Learn by Comparing the Combination of Science, Technology, and Society in Different Parts of the World and at Different Times in History?
- 6 Can a Technology Be Inherently Good or Bad for Society, or Is That a Matter of What We Do with It?
- 7 How Can One Be a Savvy Consumer of Increasingly Complex Scientific Research?
- 8 Do Children Develop Differently in a Digitally Saturated World? Is Digital Technology Helping Children Thrive – or Stunting Them?
- 9 What Is “Big Data” and Why Does It Make Such a Big Difference?
- 10 Do Algorithms Make Wise and Fair Decisions?
- 11 Are New Technologies Beneficial to Liberal Democracy and Good Governance – or Wreaking Havoc on Them?
- 12 Does Technological Progress Make People Happier?
- 13 What Has the Relationship between Sex, Gender, Science, and Technology Been – and What Might It Be?
- 14 What Are Digital Divides and Why Do They Matter?
- 15 How Do Science and Technology Impact International Development, and How Might They Lead to a More Sustainable Global Community?
- 16 Will AI Be Conscious?
- 17 Will the AI Robot Economy Be a Golden Age or a Dystopian Era?
- 18 Will AI Create Great Art?
- Select Bibliography
- Index
5 - What Can We Learn by Comparing the Combination of Science, Technology, and Society in Different Parts of the World and at Different Times in History?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 September 2025
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Note on the Text
- Introduction
- 1 Which Disciplines Are Concerned with the Intersections of Science, Technology, and Society? What Are Some of Their Core Contributions?
- 2 Do Science and Technology Shape Society or Does Society Shape Science and Technology?
- 3 Where Do Scientific and Technological Innovation Come From? Can Innovation Be Deliberately Promoted, or Do We Just Have to Wait for the Light Bulbs to Go Off?
- 4 When and How Do New Technologies Spread through Society? Why Do Some Die on the Vine?
- 5 What Can We Learn by Comparing the Combination of Science, Technology, and Society in Different Parts of the World and at Different Times in History?
- 6 Can a Technology Be Inherently Good or Bad for Society, or Is That a Matter of What We Do with It?
- 7 How Can One Be a Savvy Consumer of Increasingly Complex Scientific Research?
- 8 Do Children Develop Differently in a Digitally Saturated World? Is Digital Technology Helping Children Thrive – or Stunting Them?
- 9 What Is “Big Data” and Why Does It Make Such a Big Difference?
- 10 Do Algorithms Make Wise and Fair Decisions?
- 11 Are New Technologies Beneficial to Liberal Democracy and Good Governance – or Wreaking Havoc on Them?
- 12 Does Technological Progress Make People Happier?
- 13 What Has the Relationship between Sex, Gender, Science, and Technology Been – and What Might It Be?
- 14 What Are Digital Divides and Why Do They Matter?
- 15 How Do Science and Technology Impact International Development, and How Might They Lead to a More Sustainable Global Community?
- 16 Will AI Be Conscious?
- 17 Will the AI Robot Economy Be a Golden Age or a Dystopian Era?
- 18 Will AI Create Great Art?
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
This chapter advocates for a comparative approach to STS, asserting that innovation results from a complex interplay of resources, cultural norms, historical legacies, and diverse epistemologies. It explores appropriation, encompassing adoption, adaptation, and reverse engineering, while acknowledging their multifaceted consequences. Funding inequities are highlighted, emphasizing how affluent nations drive advanced research. The discussion scrutinizes technology transfer, focusing on localization and infrastructure, and extends to global policy variations, including priorities, centralization levels, and regulatory frameworks. Safety, ethics, intellectual property, and data protection are examined for their dynamic impact on societal values. Illustrative examples compare regulatory approaches, educational systems, and trust dynamics within the STS framework in diverse nations, emphasizing policy variations in GMOs and AI. Education systems in the US, Japan, India, and China are compared, exposing distinct approaches and outcomes. Trust in science and technology is dissected, considering societal values, cultural perceptions, and the impact of scientific misconduct on public confidence. Discussions extend to public engagement, power dynamics in knowledge dissemination, and concerns about privacy and data-driven technologies, addressing inequalities in education, infrastructure, funding, and technology access. In conclusion, the chapter underscores the global significance of studying scientific independence.
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- Understanding Technology and SocietySeminal Questions and Enduring Insights, pp. 61 - 80Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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