Some social functions of scientific knowledge are the improvement in the quality of life, the identification and solution to the problems facing humanity, the improvement in the use of resources or the education of society.
Science and technology have developed at an unimaginable speed in recent years. As a consequence of this our society is totally immersed in this world and products from scientific knowledge are everywhere.
Without a doubt, science and technology are extremely important elements of today's human culture. Thanks to scientific knowledge society has achieved a better quality of life.
A better educated and informed society on the scientific issue results in a more cultured and more critical society.
The importance of science and technology is increasing as the world immerses itself in a knowledge society.
Main social functions of scientific knowledge
1- Improvement in the quality of life
Scientific knowledge can be considered as a social good that enriches humanity.
Thanks to scientific research in the various fields, scientific knowledge can be generated day by day and thus allow a better quality of life for society. An example of this is advances in medicine.
He knowledge has a social function whether at the individual, family or social level. Scientific knowledge is at the disposal of society. The way in which it is used is both individual and collective responsibility.
2- Identify and solve the problems facing humanity
Scientific knowledge allows solving many of the problems that society faces regardless of the country where it is located.
Research gives us guidelines to understand how the world is along with its social problems.
As we understand the problems that afflict us as a society, the greater the possibilities of transforming these situations into something positive.
Society has more and better tools to undertake the search for knowledge and solve the problems that afflict it.
You may be interested The 6 Steps of the Scientific Method and its Characteristics .
3- Improving the use of resources
The knowledge generated as a result of scientific investigation makes it possible to take advantage natural resources and energy as the advances in the biomedical sciences more efficiently to mention a few.
This saves time, money and at the same time saves many lives and natural resources.
Scientific knowledge allows a better use and management of renewable resources, "cleaner"energies and apply it to everyday life.
4- Educating society
As scientific knowledge gains battles within the social aspect, this gives us as a result that we have a better educated society and therefore a better life.
Scientific knowledge offers answers about the functioning of things, society and the world in general. Improves cognitive habilyties and pragmatic, thus offering an improvement in the social sphere.
Today science provides adequate models and representations of reality that allow us to explain the whys of the world and society.
In addition, science provides analysis, evaluation and processes for decision making in society.
References
- The social function of scientific culture - Juan Ignacio Pérez culturacientifica.com.
- The Social Sciences in the Scientific Context. Universitat de Barcelona ub.edu.
- The Social Function of Science. Foundation Pedro Garcia Cabrera fundacionpgc.wordpress.com.