Science, technology and social change | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

• Ogburn's perspective on the impact of technology on social change can be summarized as follows: Technology transforms society by altering our surroundings, leading us to adapt to these changes. Typically, this alteration pertains to our material environment, and we adjust to it accordingly. Technological advancements can have profound effects on society, often leading to significant shifts in institutions and customs, sometimes referred to as a "revolution."
• In our current era, invention and discovery play crucial roles. This period is often referred to as the "age of power" or the "scientific age." Some argue that the most noteworthy and widespread phenomenon of our time is not capitalism but mechanization, with modern capitalism possibly emerging as a byproduct of this transformation. Mechanization has not only reshaped the economic structure of society but has also steadily devalued traditional forms of social organization and established ideologies.
• Our long-held attitudes, beliefs, and traditions have crumbled in the face of technological progress. Craftsmanship, the traditional social hierarchy, gender roles, and the significance of birthright have all been disrupted by mechanization. For example, consider the changing status of women in the industrial age. Industrialism has dismantled the domestic system of production, drawing women out of their homes and into factories and offices, where they earn wages. This shift has ushered in a new social role for women. Similarly, the invention of gunpowder revolutionized the very tactics and strategies of warfare.
• In essence, technology is a driving force behind societal transformation, affecting various aspects of our lives, from our economic structures to our deeply ingrained cultural norms and traditions.

The Impact of Technology on Society

Standardization of Goods

• Modern technology has enabled the mass production and efficient distribution of standardized goods.
• This has led to increased productivity and the emergence of service-oriented roles, such as engineers, bookkeepers, and buyers.
• Standardization has revolutionized both production and distribution.

Changes in Production Technology

• Technological advancements have prompted a shift in the social status of industrial workers.
• The rise of service-oriented professions has paralleled this change.
• Technological innovations have reshaped the workforce and societal functions.

Impact of Atomic Energy

• The advent of atomic energy has had a profound impact on society, both as a tool of destruction and a potential source of prosperity.
• Its use in warfare resulted in the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• In peacetime, it holds the promise of abundance.
• Atomic energy symbolizes the dual nature of technological progress.

Automobile's Social Influence

• The automobile has expanded social relationships and altered the communal nature of neighborhoods.
• It has facilitated mobility and changed the way people interact.
• Automobiles have transformed the fabric of communities.

Changes in Living Standards and Class Structures

• Technological advancements have elevated living standards and transformed class structures.
• The rise of the middle class and the erosion of traditional folkways are outcomes of these changes.
• Changes in living standards and class structures are deeply intertwined with technology.

Impact on Agriculture

• New agricultural tools and chemical manures have increased agricultural production.
• Fewer people are required for farming, leading to rural-to-urban migration.
• Agricultural technology has transformed rural communities and urbanization.

Evolution of Communication

• Changes in communication technology have revolutionized social interactions.
• Speech, gesture, writing, and radio communication are essential techniques.
• Communication technology shapes the scope and character of social organizations.

Influence of the Printing Press

• The printing press revolutionized knowledge dissemination by enabling cheap and easy reproduction of information.
• It played a significant role in the rise of science and the accumulation of knowledge.
• The printing press accelerated cultural changes and promoted the diffusion of ideas.

Cultural Impact

• The printed word facilitated cultural changes, education, politics, and trade.
• It bridged the gap between urban and rural life, influencing societal preferences.
• The printed word transformed entertainment, education, and societal values.

Technological Advancements as Catalysts

• Technological innovations have acted as catalysts for societal transformations.
• They have spurred changes in economic structures, communication methods, and cultural norms.
• Technological advancements have been driving forces behind social evolution.

Influence of Communication Technology

• Inventions like radio, telegraph, and telephone have significantly impacted business, recreation, public opinion, and the development of new organizational methods.
• Radio, in particular, has far-reaching effects across various aspects of society.
• Communication technology has transformed the way people connect, gather information, and entertain themselves.

Transformation of Transportation

• Transportation plays a crucial role in conquering physical space and enabling mobility.
• Modern society heavily relies on local transport and automobiles for daily life.
• The interruption of transportation would disrupt modern society.
• Transportation is essential for daily life and economic activities.

Spatial Aspect of Social Relationships

• Changes in transportation methods have altered the spatial relationships among individuals and groups.
• Rapid transportation means have fostered intercontinental trade and global interdependence.
• Enhanced mobility has reduced cultural isolation and contributed to a sense of universal brotherhood.
• Transportation's role in shaping social relationships is fundamental.

The Era of Airplanes

• Airplanes represent the latest innovation in transportation, offering swift deliveries.
• The development of cities is a significant outcome of transportation advances.
• Mobility has led to the breakdown of cultural isolation and increased interconnectivity.
• Airplanes have revolutionized transportation and cultural diffusion.

Cultural Diffusion through Transportation

• Steamships, railroads, automobiles, and airplanes have played roles in lessening cultural isolation.
• These transportation developments have promoted cultural uniformity.
• Economic integration among regions, nations, and the world at large is facilitated by transportation.
• Transportation has fostered cultural exchange and economic integration.

Societal Impact

• Transportation innovations have led to the breakdown of family and community ties.
• Individualism has replaced traditionalism, and bureaucracy has grown in power.
• Human relations have become more impersonal and secondary.
• Transportation's societal impact includes changes in social bonds and values.

Derivative Influences of Inventions

• Inventions often have secondary and tertiary effects beyond their primary purpose.
• For example, the cotton gin's influence extended to the growth of slavery and the Civil War.
• Inventions are typically one of several factors contributing to specific outcomes.
• Inventions have complex and multifaceted societal effects.

Cumulative Impact of Inventions

• The convergence of multiple inventions can have significant combined effects.
• Innovations in manufacturing, communication, and transportation have collectively contributed to urbanization.
• The development of modern lighting technology, influenced by urbanization, led to the invention of internal combustion engines.
• Multiple inventions can collectively shape societal transformations.

The Role of Cities

• Cities have emerged as a result of technological progress in various domains.
• The urban environment gives rise to challenges such as crime, family disintegration, and expanded state control.
• Many urban issues are outcomes of transportation and communication inventions.
• Cities are at the center of technological and societal change.

Thorsten Veblen has summarized the impact of the technology in terms of following points

1. Impact on social life

• Individuality
• Problems of housing
• Disparity of sex ratio
• Crime, corruption and competition.
• Decline of community life
• Psychic conflict and disease

2. Impact on family life

• Disorganization of joint family
• Employment of women
• Decrease in the function of the family
• Love, inter-caste, late marriage and divorce

3. Impact of economic life

• Development of capitalism
• Large scale production and development trade
• Division of labour and specialization
• Economic depression and employment
• Higher standard of living
• Industrial dispute, disease and accident

4. Impact on religion

• Secularization

5. Impact on rural society

• Migration
• Agricultural Development
• Mechanization of Agriculture
• New Class Formation