Done By: Gao Yan 3S2 08 Leong Qi Dong 3S2 16 Samuel Ng 3S2 19 Sha Yicheng 3S2 23 Use of WRAITEC as a questioning and analyzing technique

Question Discuss the power that science and technology wield in modern times.

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC - What? What is the meaning of power? What is science and technology? What do you mean by modern times?

Answer Power is the ability that one can use to get authority. Science is the knowledge that we get from observation and experiment. Technology is the science that is applied to daily manufacture. Modern times can be defined as the period of time beginning from the turn of the century until now.

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC - Reasons Why do humans continually pursue advancement in Science and Technology? Why does Science and Technology have so much influence over human beings?

Answers This is because advances in science and technology can make life more convenient and also can bring us more power. Science and Technology has the ability to greatly influence the lives of the people. Science and Technology can benefit or destroy humans. When it is misused, it could result in a world much like that portrayed inn Blade Runner, dark and desolate with no nature.

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC - Assumptions Are we assuming that Science and Technology will be a threat? Is there an underlying problem that causes science and technology to be a threat? Are we assuming that Science and Technology will one day overcome human intelligence? What other assumptions can we make about science and technology in the future?

Answers We are assuming that science and technology grants power to those who are able to harness it, and hence science and technology might corrupt the individual. However, human greed is the underlying cause if science and technology were to be a threat to humans. We are assuming that humans will one day be unable to control/limit the power science and technology wields. Hence a few select individuals will hold power without any opposition. We can safely assume that Science and Technology will improve exponentially, and that science and technology will sometimes contradict our moral ethnics.

Conclusion By breaking down the assumptions made, we can hence deduce that science and technology are methods of benefiting a certain group of people but yet the nature of the technology which is affected by how humans use it, can not be controlled.

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC–inferences and implications What inferences can we make about science and technology to the human nature? Since science and technology is created replicants, then destroyed them when they felt replicants were a threat to humans. What are the implications of doing morally objectionable things to correct one’s own mistakes?

Answers We can infer that science and technology has the ability to degenerate the human condition. Science and technology may degrade the moral values of humans when humans have everything that they need, where the purpose of technology is to help humans obtain what they need and want.

Conclusion The inferences and implications that are drawn from science and technology show that it

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC - Truth Does science and technology make life easier and more productive? Does science and technology give power to those who wield it, in the movie Blade runner?

Answers it is true that Science and technology improve the standard of our life, and conveniences us a lot. We need not to concern about trifles. For instance, we can use the washing machine to wash clothes instead of washing clothes by hand. As a result we save much time to concentrate on work and study.

Answers Science and technology does seem to bring power only to an exclusive group in the movie, this group being the Tyrell Corporation which possesses the technology to create replicants. The replicants are sold to make the company extremely powerful in Los Angeles while the replicants seem to only benefit an exclusive group living in the off world colonies.

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC – Examples and Evidence What are the evidences of the power that science and technology wields? What are examples of science and technology in daily life that we cannot do without? What evidence is there to suggest that S&T can be detrimental to humans, from the movie?

Answers Scientists have invented nuclear weapons that have the ability to annihilate everything in a large area, giving military power to those who possess these nuclear weapons. Advancements in mechanical engineering has allowed for robots and other machinery to be invented, resulting in a improvement of manufacturing productiveness. Both have resulted in power, in the form of military might and economic power.

Answers Almost everybody uses some form of technology at work, home, or school that we are dependent on. For example, to maintain effective communication, many of us rely on internet and phone technology without which we would not be able to carry out many of our tasks. Similarly, we depend on advancements in medical and sanitary technology to maintain our standard of living and healthcare. Lastly, to support globalisation and international commerce, businesses have to rely on efficient modes of communication and transport, which rely on the advancements of science and technology

Answers The scientists created the Replicants, who although were not intended to harm humanslater revolted and murdered human beings. Similarly, the invention of the fliying car did not serve everyone, as it only provided the police with the means of transport to move to anywhere they wish to, as compared to the other citizens in Los Angeles who still use bicycles as a mode of transport.

Questions for the first component of WRAITEC – Counter-Examples What are some of the counter-examples to show that science and technology do not wield power in terms of authority? Are there counter-examples of science and tech nology bringing benefit to a community exclusively, in the movie?

Answers There are instances where science and technology do not translate into power, in the form of authority. The various forms of recreation such as music and the arts, have been improved by science and technology, such as the use of electronic devices to create and enhance music as well as innovative forms of electronic art.

Answers Science and technology can wield power in modern times that do not benefit a certain group exclusively, as shown in the movie. For example, the inventions such as the picture enhancer did not benefit only a certain group, as seen when it added ease to microscopic observation to many different groups of people, where street vendor could examine the snake skin sample presented to him while Deckard could use it to analyze the photo, and the video conferencing machine managed to improve communication for all.

Overarching Conclusion with the different elements of WRAITEC Hence the conclusion that can be drawn using WRAITEC is that science and technology bring about benefits and greater standards of living, whether to an exclusive group of people or to everyone, depending on how scientific knowledge and technology are implemented by those who possess it.