MRR 2 - Darwinian Revolution PDF

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Metacognitive Reading Report # 2 Trainee: Mark Laurence V. Miciano

Date:

04/10/2018 Science, Technology and Society

 BEFORE COMPLETING THIS ASSESSMENT, PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS   



FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIO NS.

RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMEN TS OF THE TASK.

ANSWER IN ESSAY FORM.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR HANDWRITIN G LEGIBLE.



REVIEW YOUR WORK BEFORE SUBMITTI NG IT.

 DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! PLAGIARISM IS A MAJOR OFFENSE THAT LEADS TO EXPULSION.

Charles Darwin’s Paradigm Shift Tim M. Berra Topic/Lesson

1. Difficult Concepts (What concepts did you find difficult to understand?) i.

One concept that I found difficult to understand is the contradiction between science and religion. If they both are part of the formation of the society, then why do they need to counteract each other? Argument indeed produces synthesis but in my perspective, religion has to give up to the more efficient way of thinking and discovering, which is the scientific method.

ii. Another idea that was difficult for me to understand is the “special treatment” given to scientific revolutions when indeed all inventions, may it be scientific or technological, contributed to the emergence of new knowledge. Take for example the Mendelian genetics. Though it’s not as impactful as Darwinian Theory of Evolution, it also had contributed and may have been considered as the precursor of many different fields of science. It may also be a paradigm shift in a sense that geneticists after Gregor Mendel’s discovery of the peas and heredity began to change their

perspective and the direction of their research instead of continuing a misdirected one. iii. Lastly, it is also challenging for me to think about the implications of Darwin’s work. Since his evolution theory, many new theories have entered and they also had their fair share of positive and negative impacts. On one side, evolution is beneficial to everyone, for the better understanding of the world. On the other, it also brought about issues that are negative when applied as technology.

2. Insights (What new insights or learnings did you gain in discussion/ activity?) i.

Before reading the article/understanding the lesson, I thought that Charles Darwin is a regular scientist with his share of the discovery of human evolution. Back to my high school, I cared less when it comes to evolution because I thought that it is merely a biological thing, that it is somehow a simple change in a species. Back then, evolution is just a chapter of a book and I have never thought of its implications and societal and scientific value. However, reading the article, I now think that Darwinian evolution is also Darwinian revolution, since it had shifted the paradigm and perception of the world with regards to humans, nature, and species of animals and plants in existence. Charles Darwin made a large impact to how the researchers direct their work, previously misled by the unscientific belief of creation.

ii. Before reading the article/understanding the lesson, I thought both of creation and Darwin’s evolution as correct, depending on the level of objectivity or subjectivity. My belief as a Catholic is that Darwin’s evolution is half-true due to the supernatural being, God, which made us directly human on the sixth day of creation, and not by evolution of apes to humans. This was my belief because I haven’t understood before the relevance of the Theory of Evolution in so much branches of science. However, reading the article, I now realize that to know science is to

transcend from previous beliefs and use the scientific method such as observation and experimentation. I can now be objective, viewing Darwin’s work without the prejudice of my Catholic belief yet not surrendering the faith to science itself. Given this, I now believe that the evolution theory is true because of the overwhelming number of theories that happened after it that is applied in ways unimaginable today. iii. Before reading the article, I thought that Charles Darwin was only focused in the evolution theory. However, reading the article, I now realize that he is a great scientist, because of the numerous scientific achievements that he had accomplished during his lifetime. His tremendous intellectual capacity had discovered much in different fields of science such as botany, zoology, geology, and others. His individual works constitute the life of other scientists. I now realize that what he achieved had made future breakthroughs possible, and if not with his theory, Mendelian Genetics, the Human Genome Project, Genetic Engineering, and so much more will never be possible. His contributions to science made it clear to scientists to consider his movement a revolution.

iv. Before reading the article, I never thought of a paradigm shift. I am not very familiar with it. However, after reading the article, I now knew of the concept of paradigm shift. I am now familiarized with the name of the concept I only known before as a metanoia, a change of belief, or a conversion of ideas. Before, I only knew of the Ptolemaic geocentrism to the conversion to heliocentrism by Nicolaus Copernicus. Now, I have considered it a paradigm shift, as explained by the article, and it lead the world to a better understanding of science and natural laws. Since I have read the article, I now realize that a paradigm shift is one that can revolutionize the minds and effort of each person to discover and unfold the truth that lies underneath and beyond our human capacity of thinking. v. Before reading the article, I thought that self-medication is good for those who cannot afford to have consultation with a doctor. However, reading the article, I now realize that the personal use of antibiotics for example

without a doctor’s prescription will make it possible for the bacteria to survive, develop, and evolve to a stronger one resilient to the antibiotics and will make it void.

vi. Before reading the article, evolution for me is a change in the characteristics of a species to adapt with the environment. Survival of the fittest is the catchword for me back then, not knowing the deep message of the term. However, reading the article made me realize that survival also encompasses competition between predators and their preys, that survival of a species mean that they can adapt with the environment and win the competition with the other species striving for survival.

3. Questions (What questions would you want answers for? Or vague areas you want more explanations about? i.

I have to question the effectivity of Darwin’s survival of the fittest in today’s world. We all know that technology had also changed the world dramatically, so is it better suitable to say that those “fittest” must also be the smartest? In today’s generation, the smartest, which in the earth’s case are humans, can now manipulate everything, almost up to death. If humans can take control of the earth, then is it not “ascension of the smartest”?

ii.

Still, there is not enough explanation of biotechnology for me so I cannot understand its vagueness when written in articles. Maybe, I cannot understand still the implications of biotechnology since for me, it is immoral but beneficial for the survival of the human and animal species.

iii.

Lastly, I am confused in why does the author not give sufficient weight on religion as a competitor to the origin of the animal species. He just focused on the paradigm shift, whilst religion is not much defended....