100 Years of Thai ScienceSeminar at BITEC, August 7, 2013

Soraj HongladaromPhilosophy, Chulalongkorn University

Outline• Thai science: only 100 years?• What is science?• Thai culture in the context of world history• Thai science at the periphery• Paths for the future

Only 100 Years?• Distinction between modern science and ancient

science• Modern science arose in conjunction with the

emergence of modern era in the 17th century Political Economic Cultural Epistemological

• Thai science (and technology) as integral part of Thai culture

Compared to India and China• Question: Why did Thai science not become

as advanced as science and technology in India and China?

• Thai culture as “surface culture” or “aesthetic culture”

What is Science?• Very difficult to define exactly• Attempt to understand the nature around us in

a systematic manner.• Science today intertwined with technology -

attempt to gain control over nature for immediate gains.

• “Technoscience”

Thai Culture and Thai Science at the Periphery

Why isn’t There a Thai Nobel Laureate in Science?

Paths for the Future• “Grand coalition” between science, civil

society, industry, education, government• Move from periphery to center

(But then one has to answer the question of identity.) No question as to why there should not be plurality of

centers.• Science is not limited to labs or classrooms --

it permeates every aspect of life (so are philosophy, literature, history, etc.) - spirit of critical inquiry.