Science, Technology, and Society
Hand out Title: Human Flourishing under the Human Condition
Prepared by: Mark Aron S. Mactal
In this lesson, will identify the different conceptions of Human Flourishing. Determine the
development of the scientific method and validity of science. Critic human flourishing vis-à-vis
progress of science and technology to be able to define for themselves the meaning of a good life.
WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
• In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be defined
by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.
• To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do something
good or positive.
• To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in the brain as
a reward for behavior that prolongs survival.
• The hedonistic view of well-being is that happiness is the polar opposite of suffering, the
presence of happiness indicates the absence of pain. Because of this, hedonists believe
that the purpose of life is to maximize happiness, which minimizes misery.
• Eudaimonia, a term that combines the Greek words for "good" and "spirit" to describe the
ideology. Eudaimonia defines happiness as the pursuit of becoming a better person.
Eudaimonists do this by challenging themselves intellectually or by engaging in activities
that make them spiritually richer people.
EUDAIMONIA
good spirited”
coined by Greek philosopher Aristotle
Describes the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans.
“human flourishing”
ARISTOTLE
Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life with other people. Aristotle taught
that people acquire virtues through practice and that a set of concrete virtues could lead a
person toward his natural excellence and happiness.
According to Aristotle, there is an end of all of the actions that we perform which we desire
for itself. This is what is known as eudaimonia, flourishing, or happiness, which is desired
for its own sake with all other things being desired on its account. Eudaimonia is a
property of one's life when considered as a whole. Flourishing is the highest good of
human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim. It is success as a human being.
The best life is one of excellent human activity.
From Nicomachean Ethics ( the philosophical inquiry into the nature of the good life for a
human being.)
Human flourishing arises as a result of different components such as
• Phronesis
• Friendship
• Wealth
• Power
In ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these will surely bring the seekers happiness,
which in effect allows them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the Good.
As time changes, elements that comprise human flourishing changed.
People found means to live more comfortably, explore more places, develop more
products, and make more money.
Humans of today are expected to become “man of the world.”
Supposed to situate himself in a global neighborhood, working side by side among
institutions and the government to be able to reach a common goal.
Difference Conceptions of Human flourishing
literature, sciences, and art
Eastern for a greater cause
• Focus is community Western
centric • More focused on the
• Individual should sacrifice individual
himself for the sake of • Human flourishing as an end •
society Aristotelian view
• Chinese Confucian system • • Aims for Eudaimonia as the
Japanese Bushido ultimate good
• Encourage studies of
Science, Technology and Human Flourishing
• Every discovery, innovation, and success contributes to our pool of human knowledge. •
Human’s perpetual need to locate himself in the world by finding proofs to trace evolution. •
Elicits our idea of self-importance.
• Technology is a human activity we excel in as a result of achieving science. (Heidegger) •
Good is inherently related to the truth.
Science as Methods and Results
• Science stems from objectivity b rought upon by a rigid method
• Claim to reason and empiricism
Steps in Scientific Method
In school, the scientific method is introduced in the earlier part of discussions. Even
though the number of steps varies, it presents a general idea how to do science:
1. Observe and determine if there are unexplained occurrences unfolding.
2. Determine the problem and identify factors involved.
3. Through past knowledge of similar instance, formulate hypothesis that could explain the
said phenomenon. Ideally, the goal is to reject the null hypothesis and accept the
alternative hypothesis of the study “to count as significant” (can also be separated into
additional steps such as “to generate prediction” or “to infer from past experiments”).
4. Conduct experiment by setting up dependent and independent variables, and trying to see
how independent ones affect dependent ones.
5. Gather and analyse results throughout and upon culmination of the experiment. Examine
if the data gathered are significant enough to conclude results.
6. Formulate conclusion and provide recommendation in case others would want to
broaden the study.
Verification theory
A discipline is science if it can be confirmed or interpreted in the event of an alternative
hypothesis being accepted.
Premium on empiricism
Takes into account those results which are measurable and experiments which are
repeatable.
VIENNA CIRCLE
- group of scholars who believed that
only those which can be observed should be regarded as meaningful
Reject those which cannot be directly accessed as meaningless.
Falsification Theory
As long as an ideology is not proven to be false and can best explain a phenomenon
over alternative theories, we should accept the said ideology.
Allowed emergence of theories otherwise rejected by the verification theory.
Encourages research in order to determine which among the theories can stand the test of
falsification
KARL POPPER
• aim at the production of new, falsifiable predictions
• scientific practice is characterized by its continual effort to test theories against experience
and make revisions based on the outcomes of these tests
