4. Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved
knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
The relentless improvement of tools has transformed the pursuit of knowledge, raising the
question of whether improved tools always lead to improved understanding. In this
question, tools refer to methods, instruments, or systems used to acquire or communicate
knowledge, while improved knowledge is defined as insights that are more accurate,
comprehensive, or impactful in addressing challenges or understanding the world.
Although better tools often refine or expand knowledge, they do not always lead to
improvement, as they may introduce biases, prioritise efficiency over depth, or shift focus.
This essay assesses this question through the natural sciences and the human sciences, two
areas of knowledge that both utilize tools but differ in their approach to understanding.
Within the natural sciences, tools such as the development of microscopes and DNA
analysis have broadened the scope of knowledge available, yet may sometimes create
ethical issues when providing knowledge. In the human sciences, tools like improved survey
data provide new perspectives on issues, but may also actually end up reinforcing
pre-existing biases. These AOKs were chosen because of their complementary perspectives:
the natural sciences focus on data and accuracy, while the human sciences emphasize the
study of human behaviour and society. Together, they offer a comprehensive framework for
evaluating whether improved tools always result in improved knowledge or if their impact
depends on the broader context and limitations shaping their use.
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In the natural sciences, there is often an assumed correlation between improved tools and
advancements in knowledge. An example of this relationship is the invention of the
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microscope, which revolutionised biology by allowing scientists to closely examine actual Other
cell structures. This advancement in technology provided essential insights into the
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structure and function of cells, providing the foundation for the science of microbiology and
modern medicine. Though the basic microscope did lead to many improvements in
knowledge, the subsequent improvements in the tool led to further advancements in
science. The later development of the electron microscope, in the 1930s, allowed scientists
to study cells and viruses in greater detail than before, on a molecular level (Johnson, 2023).
This research later enabled further breakthroughs in medicine, such as the development of
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antibiotics. Even in other fields, the use of electron microscopy has led to advancements in
knowledge. In engineering, for example, this tool was how carbon nanotubes were
discovered (Haavisto, 2022), and this has been a vital resource in engineering due to the
material’s strength and conductivity.
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On the other hand, not all tools have consistently led to improved knowledge, as seen
through the use of radium. Initially, when Marie Curie discovered radium, it was seen as a
marvel that would cure diseases. According to her and her husband’s research, the element
would destroy diseased cells faster than healthy cells so could be used as treatment for
tumours, and further research also led to the belief that it could be used in cosmetic
products such as toothpaste (The Nobel Prize, 2019). This perception about the usefulness of
radium persisted until the harmful effects of exposure to radium became evident. In the
1910s, the ‘Radium Girls’, factory workers who painted watch dials with radium paint,
suffered severe health effects. In many cases, the Radium Grils would consume trace
amounts of radium, applying it to their teeth to ‘give their kisses a pop’, or sprinkling it into
their hair (Stockton, 2017). This exposure to radium caused multiple girls to develop
radiation-induced cancers, or lose their jawbones due to necrosis (Morgan, 2022). Though
the effects of radium exposure were awful and widespread, the employers of the Radium
Girls initially dismissed the dangers, as they prioritised profits over safety. The tragedy of
the Radium Girls showed the importance of assessing tools before promoting the
widespread adoption of them, and highlighted the gap between technological
advancement and ethical responsibility.
The human sciences, furthermore, have also seen significant advancements in knowledge
due to improvements in tools. One example of improved tools within the human sciences is
the development of the survey methodologies, which has revolutionised data collection and
processing. The development of the internet has caused major advancements in survey
methodologies, enabling researchers to reach wider and more diverse audiences. Surveys
are critical tools in fields like behavioural economics, where they gather insights and
information into human behaviours, trends, and decision making choices. By enabling the
collection of large amounts of data across diverse populations, the use of the internet in
survey making has become essential to identifying policies and developing business
strategies. For example, surveys have been used by firms all over the world to help with
marketing strategies and assess consumer responses to preferences in products (Alvarez
and Marsal, 2019). Behavioural economists also emphasise the importance of survey
design, where even the phrasing of questions can affect consumer responses, showing the
importance of interactions between cognitive biases and decision making. In recent years,
survey websites such as the World Happiness Report, have begun to use behavioural
insights to address challenges like response biases, therefore improving the reliability of
the knowledge produced (Adler, 2016). By refining survey methodologies, human scientists
can create more accurate data to reflect on the complexities of human behaviour,
supporting the advancement of knowledge.
However, despite their various uses, surveys in behavioural economics do have some
limitations too. One criticism of surveys is that they are reliant on self-reported data, which
can be affected by social biases, misinterpretations of the questions, or inaccuracies. For
instance, behavioural studies on the concept of ‘anchoring’ show how initial information
presented in a survey, such as about a product or service, can skew further responses,
leading to potential misrepresentation of the population (Alvarez and Marsal, 2019). This
raises the question of how objective and reliable any knowledge and information that is
derived from this type of data can be. Ethical concerns have also risen in the field of
behavioural economics, around the issue of manipulative surveys. These types of surveys
have been critiqued for leaning into cognitive biases to exploit consumer vulnerabilities to
improve marketing processes for businesses (Adler, 2016). These practices challenge the
sample sizes - how it heads to better outcomes
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idea of whether all tools always lead to improved knowledge or whether they may
sometimes produce skewed results. These limitations suggest that whilst tools like surveys
have advanced the field of human sciences, they have also created challenges that hinder
the total improvement of knowledge. [I didn’t have time for the draft but I was thinking I
should maybe have another example for something negative in the human sciences here
because this bit feels a bit unclear with just the survey points]
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In conclusion, whether the ever-improving tools in an area of knowledge always lead to
improved knowledge tends to be based on the application of these tools, the ethical
considerations taken when using them, and the social context in which they are used. In the
natural sciences like the microscope have expanded the boundaries of understanding and
has enabled discoveries that were previously unimaginable. However, instances like the
misuse of radium is a reminder that with progress comes significant challenges and risks as
well, which begs the question of if new developments always lead to a net improvement in
knowweldge. In the human sciences, tools such as surveys have improved the ability to
compare and examine human behaviour, yet ethical dilemmas and data reliability issues
may undermine the quality of knowledge generated. This emphasises that any
advancements in tools should be always scrutinised to ensure their contributions are
beneficial to society.
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Ultimately, the relationship between improving tools and advancements in knowledge is
significant, and reflects the potential for progress as well as the risks of any unintended
consequences. In my opinion, improvements in tools will not always advance knowledge,
as, seen in the examples provided, there may be limitations in the ways that these
developed tools are used, which can impact the overall quality of advancements in
knowledge.
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Bibliography
Adler, Matthew D. (2016). Behavioral Economics, Happiness Surveys, and Public
Policy. Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 7(1), pp.196–219.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/bca.2016.4.
Alvarez and Marsal (2019). Survey Design Best Practice – Behavioural Economics
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https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/insights/survey-design-best-practice-behaviou
ral-economics-offers-new-clues.
Haavisto, V. (2022). Suddenly I See: How Microscopes Made Microbiology Possible.
[online] ASM.org. Available at:
https://asm.org/Articles/2022/June/Suddenly-I-See-How-Microscopes-Made-Micro
biology-P.
Johnson, V. (2023). Unlocking the Secrets of Life: How the Invention of the
Microscope Advanced Cell Theory. [online] All Optica. Available at:
https://alloptica.com/how-did-the-invention-of-the-microscope-help-cell-theory/.
Morgan, K. (2022). The Radium Girls’ Dark Story Still Glows With Death and Deceit.
[online] HowStuffWorks. Available at:
https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/radium-girls.htm.
Stockton, R. (2017). The Unbelievable True Story Of America’s Radium Girls. [online]
All That’s Interesting. Available at: https://allthatsinteresting.com/radium-girls.
The Nobel Prize (2019). The Nobel Prize | Women who changed science | Marie
Curie. [online] Nobelprize.org. Available at:
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