Blog #2
Piriyapong Nhuthep
Alvin and Heidi Toffler’s Theory
#1 How did the Renaissance impact the use of scientific principles and technological advancement?
Since the Renaissance began during the time of religious turmoil, when the Churches and their systematic belief were not as tight as before. People in these era, freed from the strictness of the religious strings began to ponder about their own qualities and existence. They start questioning and doubting about things around them, not to let God be their judge first handed. With that, transformation took place. Scholars were made and humanism were introduced. As the impact, the ideas of art, philosophies, politics and science flourish to the fullest. Intellectuals from the Renaissance period such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo Galilei or Isaac Newton, have shape the world we live in today.
#2 What impact did the use of science and technology during the Industrial Revolution have on society?
Coming to the point of Industrial Revolution, science and technologies were introduced in forms of machinery. Factories were built and mass production were initiated requiring laborers. Within this period, globalization originated (partly), with transportation made easier for export and import of product. Money and economic became a big deal and people from all around the country would flock to the industry zone looking for opportunities. The market and factories became the center of living at the times.
The consequences of Industrial Revolution however left quite a big scar on society. With Industrial Factories requiring manual labors, whats left is an unskilled workforce rather than a skilled one. Before,there would many craftsmen who specialize in his profession but with the revolution, jobs were made to require little to no skills to operate the machinery hence contribute elimination of these adept workers. Speaking in modern days, DIY and handmade product that requires one creativity wouldn't exist within the industrialization time.
Another impact industrialism have done was creating social cleavage in gender equality as well as the segregation of producer and consumer. Most men went to work while his wife stayed home dealing with first wave duties, creating a gap between the opportunities between genders. This also caused nuclear family to be a thing. As for the split of producer and consumer. With industrialization, everyone became dependent on the center market or other people services rather than the production of themselves.
#3 What is Toeffler’s Third Wave theory and where do you think Thailand is in his suggested theory of change?
Toeffler’s Third Wave theory explains the evolution of mankind within 3 segments of time. It shows the historical trend how we came to be from simple hunter-gatherers, to agriculturist then to the peak of controlling nature’s element with ease through technology.
I think Thailand belongs amid the second on its way going to the third wave. While I can’t deny that everything nowadays is connected globally and that Thailand is among them. Not all part of Thailand are in the context of Toeffler’s third wave. In a general mindset, I would say that most part of Thailand are still agricultural powerhouse, focus on the tradition of producing agricultural product rather than hi-tech gadgets.