The reading this week by Ede and Cormack shows that there are various political, economic, and psychological forces that always lead to discovery of new inventories. According to the introduction to Chapter 10: In A History of Science and Society, Volume II, there are various forces that lead to the discovery of Sputnik. Throughout the history and the establishment of different technical aspects and progress, including the discovery and invention of Sputnik, this reading demonstrates that all are done for the purposes of targeted gains.
According to the book, the majority of the new discoveries have always been taking place for the purpose of political gains, as observed in the past approaches made by leaders of different nations in increasing power. Chapter 10 of the book “A History of Science and Society, Volume II”, demonstrates that the discoveries were made for political, economic, and psychological gains. The political, economic, and physiological gains were the central theme during the scientific discoveries (Ede & Cormack, 2012).
This book was written from a historical perspective showing how different leaders and rulers of different nations took advantage of the discoveries that were made in their countries to boost their political and economic status (Carnes, 2007). They also used them to gain psychological control, both for their citizens and other conflicting nations. The book illustrates how countries like France, the United Kingdom (UK), Soviet Union, and Germany took advantage of the discovery and invention of Sputnik. They used the discovery to travel to the moon among other distance regions to prepare for war and attacks (Barbier, 2011).
Ede and Cormack illustrates how North Atlantic Trade Organization was formed with the prime objective of fostering trade agreements and removing trade restrictions among the trade partners. They suggest this was meant to improve the economic status of the member countries by enhancing trade and other commercial activities among the member nations. The end of the chapter illustrates that there was an initial agenda and prime reason as to why the treaty was established. Finally, Ede and Cormack give the reasons for the formation of NATO during the 1950s, after 2nd World War, including joining political and military power among the member countries. This was meant to fight those emerging nations that showed military stability and a threat to the NATO, as well as emerging economically powerful nations that are a threat to NATO (Grant, 2001).
References
Barbier, E. (2011). Tracking the Sputnik Economy. The Economists’ Voice, 8(1).
Carnes, M. (2007). The Columbia history of post-World War II America. New York: Columbia University Press.
Ede, A. & Cormack, L. (2012). A History of Science in Society, Volume II: From the Scientific Revolution to the Present. University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division; 2 edition.
Grant, R. (2001). NATO. New York: Franklin Watts.