| INTRODUCTION | | | | changes. This affirms the materialist assertion that |
| Science and technology are important tools in | | | | everything develops from the transformation of |
| man’s attempts to exist, develop and take | | | | quantity into quality. Thus, scientific and technological |
| charge of his environment. Ever since the discovery | | | | revolution is a special phenomenon connected with |
| of science and its application man has consistently | | | | the conversion of science into direct productive force |
| made efforts to develop various technologies in | | | | of the society, “the radical qualitative |
| order to conquer nature, recreate the world for his | | | | transformation of the structure of productive forces |
| simplicity and benefits. Right from the primitive times, | | | | and the changes in the character and content of |
| man invented bow and arrow, fire, hoes, knives, | | | | human labour”. (Ogundowole 2003, 138). |
| cutlass and so on, in order to deal with the existential | | | | |
| problems nature possesses. Even in the present | | | | With the evolution and development of science and |
| world, the efforts of man are in totality geared | | | | technology, it has become evident that this revolution |
| towards the provision of food, clothing and shelter | | | | has increased production and consumption, particularly |
| and other basic amenities for his survival. | | | | in the developed countries of the world, beyond all |
| | | | | expectations of the past. It is thus possible that |
| Essentially, man is able to maneuver his way around | | | | poverty, hunger, and even unemployment on a large |
| the cosmos and come up with scientific discoveries | | | | scale would be a phase of history. This is why V.G |
| because of his natural endowments. Man is naturally | | | | Afanasiev (2003: 139) notes that: |
| endowed with intelligence. He has the mental and | | | | Science is the generator of ideas: technology is their |
| natural ability to forge ideas and the capacity to | | | | material, substantive embodiment; while production is |
| invent. The capacity to invent makes him a creator | | | | the area where the functioning of technology occurs, |
| or an inventor. Thus, the application of science to | | | | where people use scientific and technological |
| everyday life manifests in the various inventions of | | | | achievements to obtain their necessary material |
| man vis-à-vis the technological developments in | | | | wealth. |
| human society. Science and technology, therefore, | | | | |
| are artificial inventions of man basically put to use for | | | | At this juncture, it is pertinent to mention that the |
| his benefits. | | | | rate of development of science and technology and |
| | | | | its startling achievements in almost every sphere of |
| MAN, HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. | | | | human life, particularly as it enhances productivity in |
| It is pertinent to mention that science does not exist | | | | human society, is not without its side effects. Karl |
| outside the social cultural environment of man. Man is | | | | Marx was one of those who pointed it the evil |
| the creator of science and the inventor of | | | | inherent in the industrialization process. Marx was not, |
| technology. In fact, man could be regarded as the | | | | however, against the development of technology. |
| highest expression of his environment. The | | | | But Marx believed that the industrialization process |
| development of science and technology is usually | | | | was the evil in the dialectical progression of feudal |
| aimed at finding solutions to certain existential | | | | economic modes, which led to the full development |
| problems or difficulties of nature within a particular | | | | of capitalism. Marx admitted that the industrialization |
| socio–cultural environment. Although the nature | | | | of the society occurred, but it only led to the |
| of science suggests an objective application to | | | | polarization of society into two main classes. Marx did |
| universal problems and conditions, which is a | | | | not deny this industrialization, but was annoyed at |
| deductionist approach to science; we cannot, | | | | the exploitation that existed between the bourgeoisie |
| however, deny the fact that it is at first targeted at | | | | and the proletariat. According to Marx (1972: 183): |
| dealing with particularistic instances within a given | | | | Industrialization engenders the polarization of societies |
| environment. | | | | into two classes, the bourgeois those who own the |
| | | | | means of production, i.e. the factories and the land, |
| Historically, man has played a key role in the | | | | and the much larger proletarian working class who |
| development of science and technology. The human | | | | actually perform the labour necessary to extract |
| society, no doubt, has gone through a series of | | | | something valuable from the means of production. |
| evolutions, transformations and as well as revolutions | | | | |
| at every stage of its development. In the early | | | | As a direct effect of the scientific technological |
| Greek period, for instance, philosophy, art and | | | | revolution, Marx opined that rapid advancements in |
| science attracted most wide spread attention. | | | | technology left many skilled workers unemployed, as |
| Science and art were part of philosophy. What | | | | one agricultural and manufacturing task after another |
| existed however was speculative science. This was | | | | was mechanized. Again, Marx pointed out that there |
| the period where Thales lived. He regarded as the | | | | were flights of millions of unemployed people from |
| first notable philosopher and scientist in the western | | | | rural areas or small towns to the large cities as a |
| world. He was the first person to predict an eclipse | | | | result of the search for white collars jobs. Thus, |
| of the sun, which eventually took place in 585 B.C. His | | | | there was the development of large urban population |
| pupil, Anaximander, was the first evolutionist scientist | | | | centers, which actually led to unprecedented |
| in the western world. He held that all living things | | | | conditions of poverty in the slums that housed |
| originated from the sea and began to develop in the | | | | workers for the new factories. At the same time, |
| course of time into various forms by means of | | | | the bourgeoisie class, at only a small fraction |
| adaptation to their environment. He held that man | | | | compared to the proletariat’s size became |
| evolved from the animals. Anaximander also held that | | | | exceedingly wealthy. |
| the earth was not flat but like a cylinder in shape and | | | | As a solution to this situation of unequal distribution |
| is known to have made the first map in history. | | | | of wealth and sheer exploitation of the capitalist |
| Pythagoras the mathematician, Democritus the | | | | system, Marx asserted that the dialectical |
| atomists and Aristotle the greatest scientist in | | | | progression, itself, is a necessary precursor to the |
| Ancient Greece, all lived at this period.(Omoregbe | | | | development of socialism and eventually communism. |
| 2002, 177) | | | | Marx (1972: 209) believed that: |
| | | | | The industrial proletariat will eventually develop class |
| Religion and theology took the centre stage and | | | | consciousness and revolt against the bourgeoisie, |
| became the focus of interest in the middle ages. | | | | leading to a more egalitarian socialist and eventually |
| Ethics, literature and art characterized the renaissance | | | | communist state where the workers themselves |
| age. However, at the emergence of Francis Bacon | | | | own the means of industrial production. |
| who laid the foundation for inductive model of | | | | |
| science, the modern period witnessed the | | | | Marx may not be right with his belief that capitalism, |
| development of empirical and experimental science. | | | | which developed as a result of the industrialized |
| This was the period where two notable doctrines | | | | technological advancements, would collapse and give |
| emerged namely, the Rene Descartes led Rationalism | | | | way to socialism and eventual communism. The |
| and the John Locke led Empiricism. But in the | | | | reality in our world today shows that capitalism, as |
| contemporary period the centre of interest has | | | | against socialism, strives and technology is advancing. |
| progressively shifted to science and technology. | | | | But events in recent time show that advancement in |
| (Fadaunsi 1997, 58). | | | | technology has not solved most of the existential |
| | | | | problems in our world. Advancements in food |
| It is fundamental to mention that the internal factors | | | | agricultural technology, for instance, have not halted |
| and as well as man’s non complacency and his | | | | the shortage of food. Taken that famine is prevalent |
| quest for knowledge in each of the periods in the | | | | in most developing countries, citizens of the |
| history of society informed the shifts in the emphasis | | | | technological advanced countries are also crying fowl |
| for development. | | | | with the high cost of food items in their society. In |
| | | | | fact the United Nations Organizations, early in the |
| Technology is what we know as applied science. It is | | | | year 2008, announced that the entire world was |
| the “systematic study of techniques for making | | | | going through a huge food crisis. |
| and doing things” (Gordon 1942, 20). In a like | | | | |
| mind manner, D.P Lauda and R.D Ryan (1971: 53) see | | | | In the same vein, advancements and revolution in |
| technology as: | | | | science and technology did not stop the economic |
| Man’s effort to cope with his physical | | | | recession that occurred in the United States of |
| environment both that provided by nature and t9hat | | | | America in 2008. Despite its enhancements of |
| created by man’s own technological deeds, such | | | | productivity, scientific and technological revolution did |
| as cities and his attempts to subdue or control that | | | | not stop this economic recession in the U.S which led |
| environment by means of his imagination and | | | | to the loss of over 800 thousand jobs between |
| ingenuity in the use of available resources. | | | | January and September, 2008. The 700 billion dollars |
| | | | | economic bail out plan sent by the erstwhile U.S |
| Technology is the application of the discoveries of | | | | president Bush and approved by the legislature in |
| science to improve the conditions of human life. It is | | | | October 2008 remains to be seen in helping the |
| this application that results in inventions to improve | | | | economic turn around of the country. Even the |
| human welfare in various sectors of human life. | | | | stimulus plan by the current US president Obama has |
| Disciplines like Engineering, Medicine, Information | | | | not made significant contribution to the US economy. |
| Technology, Electronics, Architecture, etc. are applied | | | | |
| sciences.(Omoregbe 2002, 179). | | | | Similarly, the revolution in science and technology has |
| | | | | not stopped the death of a number of little children in |
| The history of technology extends as far as the | | | | China over the melamine contamination of the baby |
| ancestors of man. Technology grows and develops | | | | milk and other diary products. Hence, despite its |
| hand in hand with science. Both of them compliment | | | | potentials in enhancing productivity, its effects on |
| each other. The development of various tools when | | | | labour, human life, job loss, could sometime be |
| man was at the primitive stage in the history of | | | | devastating. |
| society is recorded to be the first technological | | | | |
| revolution. By the time of the Neanderthal Man, a | | | | CONCLUSION |
| degree of specialization in tool making had been | | | | We cannot deny the good that the advancements in |
| achieved. The Cro–Magnon homosapiens | | | | science and technology have done to man in virtually |
| mastered some mechanical principles in pottery | | | | every aspect of his life. We cannot also rule out the |
| making and by the period of the Neolithic Man, man | | | | fact that man is the instrument of change in the |
| had fairly advanced in tool making crafts.(Ndubuisi | | | | scientific technological revolution. In order words, |
| 2002, 132). | | | | science and technological developments cannot be |
| | | | | made possible without man being at the centre of its |
| By the 16th century, Francis Bacon advocated | | | | creation and inventions. This makes B.M Kedrov and |
| experimental science and suggested that scientists | | | | S. Shukhardin (2003: 139) consider that “scientific |
| should study the methods of craftsmen. Technology | | | | and technological revolution is an integral phenomenon |
| continued to grow with development of iron bridges, | | | | encompassing the whole |
| steam engines and textile machinery. This period | | | | ‘man–science–production’ |
| witnessed the complimentary roles of science with | | | | system”. |
| technology. For instance, Edison, the inventor of the | | | | |
| first practical lighting used the scientific ideas of | | | | We must however emphasize that science and |
| Faraday and Henry, who had earlier experimented on | | | | technology is like a double–edge sword. It has |
| electricity. Bell, the inventor of the telephone also | | | | both positive and negative sides. While its success |
| developed it on the scientific ideas of | | | | has tremendously improved the quality of human life, |
| Helmholtz.(Ndubuisi 2002, 133). | | | | its negative side is highly devastating to human life. |
| | | | | |
| ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY | | | | Man faces serious danger of the destructive side of |
| There is no gainsaying the fact that the revolution | | | | technology in the areas of air pollution, pollution of |
| that takes place in science and technology in human | | | | seas and rivers, the depletion of the ozone layer, |
| society is by no mean feat. With the aid of | | | | toxic waste, etc. The destructive effects of |
| technology, man has been able to put to use his | | | | technology on mankind could also be seen in the |
| ideas of almost a perfect, seamless society with the | | | | areas of the manufacture of weapons of mass |
| aid of various gadgets he develops for his benefits. | | | | destruction, in particular the manufacture of chemical |
| The world today, particularly in this 21st century, | | | | weapons, atomic bombs, biological and nuclear |
| experiences economic and political growths as a | | | | weapons.(Omoregbe 2002, 181). |
| result of scientific and technological advancements. | | | | |
| There are advancements and breakthroughs in the | | | | The history of modern world has shown that |
| areas of power and energy, transportation, | | | | powerful countries that have developed these |
| communication, medicine, architecture, agriculture, | | | | weapons of mass destruction are usually tempted to |
| industry, military technology, computer, space | | | | use it on weaker countries. The atomic weapon of |
| shuttles, biotechnology etc. | | | | mass destruction used by the United States of |
| | | | | America, during the Second World War, over |
| That advancement in science and technology has | | | | Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan is still fresh in our |
| contributed to the enhancement of productivity and | | | | memory. This is why presumably most other |
| increased economic growth in human society is an | | | | countries, like Iran, Korean, India etc., are developing |
| understatement. The fact is evident that science and | | | | nuclear weapons for themselves in order to protect |
| technology has a large interaction to productions in all | | | | themselves and wade off the threat of attack. |
| sphere of human society. The industrial revolution | | | | There are various other threats that the |
| which occurred in Europe in the 18th century marked | | | | advancements and revolution in science and |
| the beginning of an economic growth and revolution. | | | | technology pose to mankind, but these destructive |
| This industrial revolution showed a massive social, | | | | elements of science and technology are not enough |
| economic, and technological change, which | | | | excuses to deny the obvious that almost everybody |
| commenced with the introduction of steam power, | | | | anywhere in the world has benefited positively from |
| fuelled primarily by coal. The technological and | | | | it. It has improved man’s condition of life by |
| economic progresses recorded of the industrial | | | | making the necessities of life, like food; shelter; |
| revolution gained momentum with the introduction of | | | | clothing; transportation; communication; health; etc., |
| steam powered ships, boats and railways. However, | | | | more easily available. |
| at the turn of the 19th century, the revolution | | | | |
| spread throughout Western Europe and North | | | | It is therefore our position that the positive elements |
| America, and eventually impacting the rest of the | | | | that can be derived from the science and technology |
| world. (Wikipedia) | | | | are of great importance to man. Man must therefore |
| | | | | ensure that science and technology must be to his |
| The events following the enhanced productivity of | | | | service and oriented towards human affairs. Man |
| labour characterized by the industrial revolution which | | | | must avoid the wrong usage of technology as this |
| had spread across the world led to the ‘second | | | | may lead to his self destruction. The wrong usage of |
| industrial revolution’ beginning around 1870. This | | | | science and technology poses more serious threats |
| second industrial revolution gradually grew to include | | | | to world peace which man has been trying to attain |
| “the chemical industries, petroleum refining and | | | | since the beginning of the world. |
| distribution, electrical industries and the automotive | | | | |
| industries”.(Ndubuisi 2002, 151). In fact, the | | | | REFERENCES |
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