In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of joints—which enable our bodies to move—as well as advancements in artificial joints and wearable robot technology.   Why are joints important? As smart technology has advanced, people have become able to accomplish more tasks without moving around as much as they used to. With just a smartphone, we can talk to people far away without even...

In this blog post, we will examine whether the theory of evolution and creationism can be recognized as science, based on major theories in the philosophy of science.   Introduction A 2012 survey conducted by Gallup Korea found that 45% of respondents believed in the theory of evolution, while 32% believed in creationism, indicating that over 30% did not accept the theory of evolution. Since...

In this blog post, I’ll examine the history of the philosophy of science and the direction contemporary philosophy of science should pursue, and I’d like to explore with you why discussions about the limits of science are important.   The Meaning and History of the Philosophy of Science What exactly is “philosophy of science”? Many people probably think, “Science is boring enough as it is...

In this blog post, we’ll explore how Scientific Management is applied to workstation design and factory layout to boost productivity and work efficiency.   The Beginnings of Scientific Management and Industrial Engineering Industrial engineering is the discipline that studies efficiency. It investigates ways to make systems operate more efficiently, and historically, there have been two...

In this blog post, we examine the extent to which scientists should bear legal responsibility for the social and environmental problems caused by the adverse effects of chemical substances.   Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ is a seminal work that exposed the harmful effects of chemical use on the environment. Since the book’s publication, controversy surrounding the use of...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of the psychological concept of “frames” for scientific thinking and the advancement of science, and examine why this way of thinking is essential for scientists and students of science and engineering.   Thinking That Breaks Free from Frames and the Beginnings of Science The name Columbus is one that everyone reading this has likely heard at...

In this blog post, we will examine the relationship between science and society, focusing on the issue of the value neutrality of science and technology and the social responsibility of scientists.   The Meaning of Value Neutrality and Discussions on Science The term “value neutrality” refers to an approach in scientific research that focuses solely on objective facts and seeks to exclude...

In this blog post, we will examine various perspectives on the absoluteness of scientific theories and consider, based on the philosophy of science and historical examples, whether scientific theories must necessarily be absolute.   Some people believe that scientific theories must be absolute. Here, “absolute” refers to a state that is free from value judgments, possesses mathematical...

In this blog post, we will examine the debate surrounding “intelligent design,” scientific paradigms, and various perspectives on the relationship between science and intelligent design.   Paradigms and the New Questions Raised by Intelligent Design Living in the 21st century, everyone has likely heard the term “paradigm” at least once. A paradigm is a framework of perception that...

In this blog post, we’ll examine how scientific advancement affects human evolution and consider the implications of technological progress for human adaptation and evolution.   Living organisms are generally sensitive to temperature and their environment. For many plants and animals, their habitable range is limited by various environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity...