Introduction Even at the cost of oversimplifying somewhat, we may distinguish three main arguments in favour of the distinction or even separation between science and technology⁽¹⁾: 1) the distinction between so-called 'pure' science and its technical applications: the technique would later apply knowledge acquired in the first place and in a completely autonomous way by pure science; 2) the independence, and perhaps superiority, of the technical mastery of certain processes with respect to their theoretical understanding; 3) science and technology are similar in that both are a kind of knowledge, but they are different because they have a life of their own and developed differently in different times and places. According to this point of view, science and technology are in a relation of unity and distinction to one another: they are similar in respect of one set of its qualities, and yet dissimilar with respect to one or more of the others.