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Social Context of Technology and Science Curriculum

(Previously known as the “Connections”)

ISAT 131 Technology, Science, & Society

1. Philosophical Foundations of Science and Technology
   • Definitions of science the scientific method; the nature of scientific inquiry; definitions of technology and engineering
   • The meaning of paradigmsin scientific disciplines; recent theories about scientific inquiry (Thomas Kuhn, Karl Popper, Paul Feyerabend, Mary Midgeley, etc.)
   • Epistemology, what we mean when we say we know something, how societies adopt epistemological views, etc.
   • The nature of problem solving; analysis of complex problems; reductionist approaches, such as the systems approach, and their limitations
   • Logic – inductive logic, deductive logic, rhetorical logic (analysis of arguments, etc).
2. The Social Sciences
   • The meaning of the term “social science” and its implications
   • Similarities and differences between the natural sciences and the social sciences
   • Analytical methods employed in the social sciences (quantitative and qualitative methods)
3. The Relationship of Science and Technology with Humans
   • Impacts of science and technology on individuals and society, influence of society on development of science and technology
   • Critical theory - technological determinism; social construction; the debate of value-laden technology vs. value-neutral technology
   • Social systems as a form of “technology” - applying the principles of problem-solving and design to social systems
   • Risk assessment and future studies
4. Ethics
   • Definitions of normative ethics and ;descriptive ethics; distinctions between ethics and professional codes of ethics
   • Ethical theory (deontological ethics, utilitarianism, social contract theory, Kantian ethics, virtue ethics, etc.)
   • Application of ethical theory to real-world scenarios

The course concludes by examining some reasons that society might want to encourage, limit, or shape technology, based on its potential benefits and harms. ISAT 231 continues with this theme, analyzing strategies and options for promoting, restraining, or shaping technology.

ISAT 231 Political Economy of Technology and Science

1. The Economic System
   • The “science of economics” contrasted with “the economic system
   • Microeconomics; cost-benefit analysis, the forces of supply and demand; economic efficiency
   • Macroeconomics; macroeconomic policy; international economics
2. Political Systems
   • The basic structure and functioning of government; Legislative • Executive • Judicial
   • Principles of federalism and inter-governmental relationships
   • The workings of federal administrative agencies, administrative procedure, rulemaking procedure
   • Political systems as social technology; the design of political systems
3. International Relations
   • The concepts of “power” and conflict in the international arena
   • Regime governance and issues and problems in international relations
   • The United Nations and other structures to facilitate international solutions to global problems
   • International trade and international trade agreements
4. The Promotion and Regulation of Technology in the ISAT Sectors
   • Selected case studies in, or a comprehensive survey of the regulation of each ISAT Sector, including key agencies, important substantive laws & regulations, etc.
   • Legal and regulatory issues common to all ISAT sectors, such as Intellectual property law
   • Comparisons and contrasts of regulatory mechanisms used in the various sectors
   • ISAT 231 thus prepares students for the regulatory classes they will take in their senior year.

Themes of the Course:

1. Strategies and Options for Shaping Science and Technology The course will compare and contrast the following as means towards the goal of shaping technology: - Non-regulation through the economic market - Government regulatory approaches to shaping technology - Non-government approaches to regulation (such as standards-setting organizations and professional codes of ethics)
2. Social Systems as a Form of Technology Political systems, economic systems, business enterprises, and non-profit organizations are all types of “social technology” that can be designed to achieve various purposes