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75 views3 pages

Group 4

STS

Uploaded by

Mernalyn Bacur
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Indigenous Science and Technology in the Philippines

4.1 Introduction

This lesson focuses on indigenous science and technology in the Philippines. Filipinos, especially during
the early times, tried to invent tools that will help them in everyday life. They also developed alternative ideas in
explaining various phenomena and in explaining the world around them. This system of knowledge is called
indigenous knowledge, which is the foundation of indigenous science.

4.2 Learning Outcomes


At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
1. discuss the concept of indigenous science; and
2. discuss the contribution of indigenous science in the development of science technology in the
Philippines.

4.3 Indigenous Knowledge System

Indigenous knowledge is embedded in the daily life experience of young children as they grow up. They live
and grow in a society where the members of the community prominently practice indigenous knowledge. Their
parents and older folks served as their first teachers and their methods of teaching are very effective in
transmitting cultural knowledge in their minds. The lessons they learned are intimately interwoven with their
culture and the environment.

Examples of indigenous knowledge that are taught and practiced by the indigenous people are the
following:

1. Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing animals’ behavior and
celestial bodies;
2. Using herbal medicine;
3. Preserving foods;
4. Classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural properties;
5. Preserving and selecting good seeds for planting ;
6. Using indigenous technology in daily lives;
7. Building local irrigation system;
8. Classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;
9. Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits; and
10. Keeping the custom of growing plans and vegetables in the yard.

4.4 Indigenous Science

Indigenous science is part of the indigenous knowledge system practiced by different groups of people and
early civilizations (Gribbin, 2001; Mkapa, 2004; Sibisi 2004). It includes complex arrays of knowledge, expertise,
practices, and representations that guide human societies in their enumerable interactions with the natural
milieu: agriculture, medicine, naming and explaining natural phenomena, and strategies for coping with
changing environments (Pawilen, 2005). Ogawa (1995) claimed that it is collectively lived in and experienced by
the people of a given culture.

According to Cajete (2004), indigenous science includes everything, from metaphysics to philosophy and
various practical technologies practiced by indigenous peoples both past and present. Iaccarino (2003)
elaborated this idea by explaining that science is a part of culture, and how science is done largely depends on
the cultural practices of the people.

Indigenous beliefs also develop desirable values that are relevant or consistent to scientific attitudes as
identified by Johnston (2000), namely (1) motivating attitudes; (2) cooperating attitudes; (3) practical attitudes
and (4) reflective attitudes. These cultural beliefs therefore can be good foundation for developing positive
values toward learning and doing science and in bringing science in a personal level.

Pawilen (2005) explained that indigenous science knowledge has developed diverse structures and
contents through the interplay between the society and the environment. According to Kuhn (1962),
development stages of most sciences are characterized by continual competition between a number of distinct
views of nature, each partially derived from, and all roughly compatible with the dictates of scientific observation
and method. Sibisi (2004) also pointed out that indigenous science provides the basics of astronomy,
pharmacology, food technology, or metallurgy, which were derived from traditional knowledge and practices.

Pawilen (2006) developed a simple framework for understanding indigenous science. Accordingly,
indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge that uses science process skills and guided by
community values and culture.

INDIGENOUS SCIENCE

uses
 Guided by Composed of

Science Process Skills Community Culture and Values Traditional knowledge


Figure 6. The Concept of Indigenous Science


1. Indigenous science process skills such as observing, comparing, classifying, measuring, problem
solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.
2. Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following:
a. The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.
b. The earth is revered as “Mother Earth”. It is the origin of their identity as people.
c. All living and non-living things are interconnected and interdependent with each other.
d. Human beings are stewards or trustee of the land and other natural resources. They have the
responsibility to preserve it.
e. Nature is a friend to human beings – it needs respect and proper care
3. Indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge practiced and valued by people and
communities such as ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous farming methods, and folk astronomy.

Indigenous science is important in the development of science and technology in the Philippines. Like the
ancient civilizations, indigenous science gave birth to the development of science and technology as a field and
as a discipline. Indigenous science helped the people in understanding the natural environment and in coping
with everyday life. UNESCO’s Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific knowledge (199) recognized
indigenous science as a historical and valuable contribution to science and technology.

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