Reaction Paper on Western Science and Traditional Knowledge by Fulvio Mazzocchi PDF

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Catubig, Noveghale G.STS031 B2/MReaction Paper: Western Science and Traditional KnowledgeFulvio Mazzocchi’s article, Western science and traditional knowledge: Despite their variations, different forms of knowledge can learn from each other, states the two different cultures – the western science an...

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Catubig, Noveghale G. STS031 B2/M17 Reaction Paper: Western Science and Traditional Knowledge Fulvio Mazzocchi’s article, Western science and traditional knowledge: Despite their variations, different forms of knowledge can learn from each other, states the two different cultures – the western science and the traditional knowledge. Western science favors analytical and reductionist methods as opposed to the more intuitive and holistic view often found in traditional knowledge. Western science is positivist and materialist in contrast to traditional knowledge, which is spiritual and does not make distinctions between empirical and sacred. Western Science is objective and quantitative as opposed to traditional knowledge, which is mainly subjective and qualitative. Western science is based on an academic and literate transmission, while traditional knowledge is often passed on orally from one generation to the next by the elders. Western science isolates its objects of study from their vital context by putting them in simplified and controllable experimental environments – which also means that scientists separate themselves from nature, the object of their studies; by contrast, traditional knowledge always depends on its context and articular local condition (Nakashima & Roué, 2002). Aside from differentiating the two forms of knowledge it also pinpoints how the two different forms of knowledge can emerge through dialogue. It is through dialogue that new insights have emerged from ancient Greek academies to today’s laboratory meetings and scientific conferences. A dialogue can catalyse the development of shared meanings, which are key factors in binding people and societies together as vehicles of social cohabitation (Bohm, 1996). The article is very much related to my subject as it focuses on science and society. It shows and differentiates western science and traditional knowledge but it tells the readers how these two different forms of knowledge can learn from each other. It complements the present world today as science is widely used in today’s generation not just by scientists but for everyone most especially the students and the young learners all over the world. One example I can give that can be related to the topic and today’s problem is health and medicine which was also stated in the article. Here in the province, there is a lot of “albularyo” or in English, they call it “witch doctor” that is said and believed to have the ability to heal sick people through their natural and herbal medicines. There are a few patients I know that went to the hospital to seek the help of the experts or the doctors but, during the checkups and diagnosis, there is nothing found. They have no other choice but to go to the “witch doctor” and seek their help instead and they will be given such herbal or natural medicines, and as much as I know, that sick person is now doing well. By this example, I can say that the doctors

Catubig, Noveghale G. STS031 B2/M17 are those who have this what is called western science while the “albularyo” or the “witch doctor” are those who have traditional knowledge where their expertise about such natural and herbal medicines came and was taught to them by their ancestors. Nowadays, there are a lot of medicines that are created by the experts that are made of natural and herbal ingredients through studying the specific plant and this is what I can say that has become the product of western science and traditional knowledge. Upon reading the article I was confused at first as it uses science-related languages and the article is too long, it took me a few hours to finish reading and understand its content but at the same time, it enlightened me as the work increased my knowledge because it had emphasized the differences of the two forms of knowledge – western science and traditional knowledge, and how can the two different types of knowledge be bonded together to widen one’s understanding. The article was able to explain it well for the readers and provided other references for the topic. It was also able to highlight the important points and in each part or paragraph, there is an essence and there is no bias between the two forms of knowledge. I recommend this article, Western science and traditional knowledge to other people especially to the students and young learners like me because it is very important to know the significance, the role, and the meaning of science, indigenous knowledge, and the society itself. It makes the readers specifically the curious ones to consider traditional knowledge and link it with modern science to create a product that could be useful in our generation today. In conclusion, traditional knowledge came first, but as time passed by, the curiosity of the human mind wouldn’t be satisfied if it wouldn’t be given what it seeks and this became the birth of western science. There is a quote by Tim Minchin that states, “Science is Simply the Word We Use to Describe a Method of Organizing Our Curiosity”. From the article, I agree with the point “any form of knowledge makes sense only within its own cultural context” because we cannot compare two different things with the same criteria, they vary differently. Western science and traditional knowledge constitute different paths to knowledge, but they are rooted in the same reality. We can only gain from paying attention to our cultural history and richness (Mazzochi, 2006)....