SCITECH TOPIC 5

THE HUMAN PERSON FLOURISHING IN TERMS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LESSON OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

• identify different conceptions of human flourishing;

• determine the development of the scientific method and validity of science;

and

• critic human flourishing vis-à-vis progress of science and technology to be

able to define for themselves the meaning of a good life.

HUMAN FLOURISHING

• Eudaimonia, literally “good spirited,” is a term coined by renowned Greek

philosopher Aristotle (385-323 BC) to describe the pinnacle of happiness that is
attainable by humans.

• This has been translated into “human flourishing”

• Human flourishing is defined as being “good spirited” in the classical Aristotelian

notion.

• It arises as a result of different components such as phronesis (Greek term for

wisdom or intelligence), friendship, wealth, and power.

• In the Ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these qualities will surely
bring the seekers happiness, which in effect allows them to partake in the greater
notion of what we call the GOOD.

• As times change, elements that comprise human flourishing changed, which are
subject to the dynamic social history as written by humans.

• Our concept of human flourishing today proves to be different from what Aristotle
originally perceived then- humans of today are expected to become a “man of the
world”.
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• Competition as a means of survival has become out of date; coordination is the

new trend.

• Western civilization tends to be more focused on the individual

• Eastern civilization are more community-centric.

• The Chinese and the Japanese encourage studies of literature, sciences, and art,
not entirely for oneself but in service of a greater cause.

• The Greek Aristotelian view, on the other hand, aims for eudaimonia as the
ultimate good.

• Flourishing borders allowed people full access to cultures that as a result, very
few are able to maintain their original philosophies.

• It is in this regard that we would tackle human flourishing-in a global perspective

and as a man of the world.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND HUMAN FLOURISHING

• According to Heidegger “ Technology is a human activity that we excel in as a

result of achieving science”

• The end goals of both science and technology and human flourishing are related,
in that the good is inherently related to the truth.

• The following are two concepts about science which ventures its claim on truth.

SCIENCE AS METHOD AND RESULTS

• For the most part, science’s reputation stems from the objectivity brought upon by
an arbitrary, rigid methodology whose very character absolves it from any
accusation of prejudice.

• Such infamy effectively raised science in a pedestal untouchable by other

institutions- its sole claim to reason and empiricism-garnering supporters who want
to defend it and its ways.
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General idea of how to do science:

• Observe

• Determine the problem

• Formulate hypothesis

• Conduct experiment

• Gather and analyze

• Formulate conclusion and provide recommendation

TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING

• Comparing the lives of the people before and now will make anyone realize the
changes that happened in society not just in terms of culture, language, or rights
but more importantly, changes in people’s way of life due to the existence of
science and technology.

• The term “generation gap” is attributed mainly to the changes brought about by
technology.

• Although the original idea for technology is be comfortable in using the different
kinds of technology, mostly those who belong to the older generation think that
these technologies are too complicated to operate.

The Human Condition Before Common Era

• Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved way for the invention of several
developments.

• Gifted with brains more advanced than other creatures, humans are able to utilize
abundant materials for their own ease and comfort.

• Homo erectus have been using fire to cook and marked the era of Stone Age
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• Homo sapiens humans began to sharpen stones as one would a knife; an

example of this simple machine is wedge.

• Changes in their protective covering out of necessity, and gradually, added more
to their garments.

• What does this tell of them and their philosophies?

• Were they perhaps proud to show off their hunt and how good of a hunter they
were?

• Were they concerned with social standing and stratification?

• How about the meaning of life?

• Were they also curious on finding explanations to certain phenomena?

• It seems that they have found their answer in the person of religion through
different figures in honor of some deity.

• Different tribes have different gods.

• Nevertheless, it can be positively inferred that like the people of today, our
ancestors also found the need to explain things in a way that makes sense to them.

• They quickly realized that there are events outside of their control and attempted
to justify things as being a work of a supernatural being.

The Human Condition in the Common Era

• For a long time, humans were content with their relationship with nature.

• Earliest case of man-made extinction occurred over 12 000 years ago, possibly
brought upon by hunting and territorial disputes.

• The Holocene extinction, also called the sixth extinction or more aptly
Anthropocene extinction, occurred from as early as between 100 000 to 200 000
years up to the present.
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• It pertains to the ongoing extinction of several species-both flora and fauna- due
to human activity.

• People then had a new objective-gather as much products as possible.

• They have to turned to wealth as one of their goals as humans and ultimately as
civilizations, for they perceived that those who have many, live comfortably and
thus are generally happier than those who do not have sufficient wealth.

• Thus, they began to hunt, farm and produce things with prospect of profit.

• Humanity became more complex.

• The primary goal was not merely to survive, but to live the good life.

• Technology has been instrumental in all of these because in searching for the good
life, people were able to come up with creations that would make life easier, more
comfortable, and more enriching.

• Position-wise, the humans of today are much better off compared to humans
several centuries ago.

• Advancements in medicine, technology, health, and education ushered in

humanity’s best yet, and show no sign of stopping.

Below are some of the notable comparisons then and now:

1. Mortality Rate

2. Average Lifespan

3. Literacy Rate

4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The Essence of Technology

• Humanity has indeed come a long way from our primitive ways, and as a general
rule, it is said that we are more “developed” than we were before.

• Modern humans are reliant on technology in their search for the good life.
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• We see ways and means from nature to utilize and achieve growth- a goal that
we believe would bring forth betterment.

• It assumes that it is instrumental in achieving a goal in mind, that it is a purposeful,

deliberate craft humans steer in order to reach some greater good.

• One philosopher by the name of Martin Heidegger identify that technology can
either be perceived as first a means to achieve man’s end and second, that which
constitutes human activity. The second perspective paints technology in such a
way that each period reveals a particular character regarding man’s being.

• Rather than thinking that humans have a clear idea of what to expect in a good
life, it can be stated that technology allows humans to confront the unknown and
see how they would react.

• This is the danger presented by too much reliance on technology.

• Humans lose track of things that matter, reducing their surroundings to their
economic value.

• After all, it was science and technology that gave us explanations, which worked
for us and benefited us.

• It will be absurd to venture the dark and the unknown, but it should be done in
order for us to retrace our steps to be able to achieve the Good.