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Eudaimonism

LESSON 1: ● Refers to pursuing the right


actions that lead to one’s
HUMAN well-being
● Virtue ethics- normative ethical
FLOURISHING theories developed by ancient
Greek philisophers
AND SCIENCE ● Arete- “excellence of any kind
that is necessary in order for one
AND individual to flourish and attain
the good life.”
TECHNOLOGY
Hedonism
● Pleasure is the most valuable
Eudaimonia
pursuit of mankind and
● Best captures the concept of
everything that one does is to
Eudamonia
gain pleasure
● From Gree word eu “well” and
● Can be traced back to Aristippus,
daimon or daemon “spirit”
a Greek philosopher who was
● Defined as contented state of
convinced that life’s objective is
being happy, healthy, and
to experience maximum pleasure.
prosperous
● Also understood as the effort to
Eudaimonic well-being
attain self-discovery and
● Another approach to good is from
fulfillment within the setting of
the historical and philosophical
society, each with the right to
teachings of Aristotle
pursue his or her own efforts to
● He assumed that happiness is a
achieve such state
vague idea, emphasizing that not
● An objective state that
all desires are worth pursuing
characterizes the well-lived life as
● Though some may yield pleasure,
an individual’s ideal emotional
they will not always produce
state
lasting happiness
● It is thought of as the highest
human good that is good-in-itself
● Epicurus and other notable
Human Flourishing According to
hedonists agree with Aristiotle
Aristotle
that Eudaimonia is the highest
➢ Nichomachean Ethics
good
- Explained the term Old Testament
Eudamonia in 4th century ➢ The concept of human flourishing
BC in the old testament is best
- However, earlier thinkers described the the world Shalom
such as Democritus, ➢ Shalom means peace, harmony,
Socrates and Plato present and completeness
similar concepts. ➢ Shalom is a sense of wholeness
- Socrates: believed that involving an individual’s
virtue is a sort of relationship with God and His
knowledge (knowldege of creations.
good and evil) ➢ Dr. Neal Platinga on Educationg
- Plato: observed that even for Shalom (2015)- shalom is the
bad people are capable of webbing together of God,
feeling guilty when they do humans, and all creation in
something wrong. He justice, fullfillment, and delight.
claimed that the mind ➢ The Bible equates Shalom to
must govern the spirit, universal flourishing and delight.
emotions, and physical
desires to attain New Testament
eudaimonia. ➢ The concept of human flourishing
- However, aristotle said that in the Bible’s New testament
such happiness is based through the the Beatitudes.
on a life of virtue. ➢ Each beatitude begins with the
- Aristotle stated that greek word makarios meaning
eudaimonia is not an blessed or happy.
instrumental good but ➢ Beatitude- Latin beatus meaning
rather, the ultimate good blissful, happy, fortunate, or
for it is intinsically good or flourishing.
good in itw own sake. ➢ In Classical greek, makar form
makarios refers to the state of
Human Flourishing in the Christian living a life of happiness without
Perspective struggles of difficulties.
➢ St. Augsustine and St. Thomas ➢ Makarios is commonly used as
Aquinas proposed that synonym for eudamonia because
eudaimonia requires one to have both connote happiness, peace of
knowledge of God. mind, and joy.
➢ John Locke, stressed that ➢ Scot McKnight higlighted in his
happiness is pursued through discussion of the beatitudes that
prudence. the entire philosophy of the good
life and the late-modern theory of changes that could reshape the
happiness are at worl when Jesus very essence of humanity and
says ‘Blesses are…’ every aspect of life on our planet
(2016).
Human Flourishing in the ● Stephen Hawking, Stuart Russell,
socio-psychological perspective Max Tegmark, and Frank Wilczek
➢ Science and technology clearly published an open letter “The
affect the human experience and Independent” in May 2014- the
human understanding of emergence of artificial
happiness. intelligence poses a great danger
➢ Recent studies show that human to humanity
undeq of human flourishing ● Such technology can outsmart
includes mental and physical humans in terms of business and
health, satisfaction in one’s life, research, manipulate human
meaning and purpose, and social leaders, and develop dangerous
relationships. and highly advanced weapons.
➢ Carol Ryff (1995)- a psychology ● They also noted that the
professor studied different successful creation of artificial
models and theories of happiness intelligence may and will be the
in different subfields of biggest discovery in human
psychology. She concluded that history but would also be the last.
there are six components of
well-being. Martin Heidegger
- German philosopher
1. Personal growth - Best work “The Questionning
2. Self-acceptance Concerning Technology” (1954)
3. Autonomy - His criticisms are rooted in the
4. Environmental mastery idea that solving problems
5. Positive relationships caused by technology cannot be
6. Purpose in life solved by simply improving
technology
The Consequences of Human - Technology is not purely
Flourishing technological
● Modernization advances science, - Technology can be understood
technology, and the human future based on its two functions:
at the cost of nature’s Instrumental and Anthropological
degradation. - Technology is Instrumental
● Gerd Leonhard- there would be because it is a means to an end.
an avalanche of technological
- Technology is anthropological Techne
because it is a human activity. ➢ Technology comes from the
- This definition is not wrong Greek term technikon related to
however, it limits the greek term techne
understanding of technology as ➢ As in technique, is both a skill of
simply a tool for getting things a manufacture and art.
done.
- Heideger sees reality as a result HEIDEGGER’S VIEW ON TECHNOLOGY
of causes or means. How can technology be ‘a way of
revealing’?
Aristotles Four Causes ● everything we perceive or think
1. Material cause (causa materialis) of or interact with “emerges out
or the material out of which an of concealment into
object is made unconcealment,
2. Formal cause (causa formalis) or ● by entering into a particular
the shape or form of the object relation with reality, reality is
as it was produced ‘revealed’ in a specific way
3. Final cause (causa finalis) or the ● technology is the way of
purpose or function of the object revealing that characterizes our
4. Efficient cause (causa efficiens) time
which causes change in an object ● technology embodies a specific
way of revealing the world, a
Bringing forth revealing in which humans take
- the taking of each of the causes power over reality
with meticulous consideration to ● while the ancient Greeks
create the final product. experienced the ‘making’ of
- Falls under two categories something as ‘helping something
namely poeisis and physis to come into being’ – as
Heidegger explains that modern
Poesis technology is rather a ‘forcing
➢ The bringing forth of an object into being’
into existence from creation or ● technology reveals the world as
art, practiced by craftsmen and raw material, available for
potes production and manipulation
Physis
➢ The bringing forth of an object WHY IS TECHNOLOGY NOT A
from nature, which is a HUMAN ACTIVITY?
self-producing process of coming ● According to Heidegger, there is
into existence. something wrong with the
modern, technological culture we ● The age of switches, standing
live in today. In our‘age of reserve and stockpiling for its
technology’ reality can only be own sak
present as a raw material (as a
‘standing reserve’). Technology as Poiesis: Applicable
● This state of affairs hasnot been to Modern Technology
brought about by humans; the ● Modern technology challenges
technological way of revealing nature and demands of its
was not chosen by humans resources that are most of the
● Rather, our understanding of the time, forcibly extractedfor human
world - our understanding of consumption and storage.
‘being’, of what it means ‘to be’ - ● It brings about a “setting upon”
develops throughthe ages. In our of the land – Mining is an
time ‘being’ has the character of example of modern technology
a technological ‘framework’, from that challenges forthand brings
which humans approach theworld about the setting upon of land.
in a controlling and dominating ● It extracts minerals from the
way. earth and forcefully assigns the
● Every attempt to climb out of land as a means to fulfil the
technology throws us back in. never-ending demands ofpeople.
The only way out for Heidegger is ● The revealing always happens on
“the will not towill”. our own terms as everything is
● We need to open up the on demand.
possibility of relying on ● Information at our fingertips,
technologies while not becoming food harvested even out of
enslaved to them and seeingthem season, gravity defied to fly off to
as manifestations of an space.
understanding of being ● We no longer need to work with
the rhythms of nature because
Modern Technology to Martin we have learned to control it.
Heidegger: ● We order nature, and extract,
● Challenging since it is very process, make ready for
aggressive in activity. consumption, and store what we
● A mode of revealing – never have force it to reveal.
comes to an end and happens on
our own time.
● Challenges nature and demands
resources for human
consumption and storage.
Questioning as the Piety of ● Essence of technology
Thought ● It is as if nature is put in a box or
in a frame so that it can be better
Piety understood and controlled
● the quality of being religious or according topeople’s desires.
reverent. synonyms: devoutness, ● Poiesis is concealed in enframing
piousness, religiousness, as nature is viewed as an
holiness, godliness, sanctity, orderable and calculable system
saintliness, devotion to God, of information.
veneration, reverence, faith, ● Heidegger distinguished between
religious duty, spirituality, calculative thinking and
sacredness, pietism. meditative thinking.
● For Heidegger, piety means ● Calculative thinking – one
obedience and submission. In orders and puts a system to
addressing what technology has nature so it can be understood
brought forth, one cannot help better and controlled.
but be submissive to his/her ● Meditative thinking – one lets
thoughts and reflections elicit. nature reveal itself to him/her
● In stepping back and taking stock without forcing it.
of things, we begin to wonder ● Enframing is done because
and question. people want security, even if the
● One may admire the intricacy of ordering that happens in
mechanisms and the enframing is violent andeven if
sophistication of mobile the Earth is made as a big
applications. gasoline station from which we
● There is so much wealth of extract, stockpile, and put in
insights that can be gathered standing reserve,ready to be
when people stop, think, and used as we see fit.
question.
● This kind of questioning leads Human Person Swallowed by
one to search for his/her place in Technology
the universe and in the grand
scale of things. ➢ If we allow ourselves to get
swallowed by modern technology,
Enframing: Way of Revealing in we lose the essence of who we
Modern Technology are as beings in thisworld.
Enframing – human orientation toward ➢ If we are constantly plugged
technology, or the way of revealing in online and no longer have the
modern technology. capacity for authentic personal
encounters, then we aretruly ● In doing so, we also become
swallowed by technology. aware of the crisis we have
➢ If we cannot let go of the plunged the Earth into
conveniences and profits brought ● The danger is made present and
about by processes and industries more palpable through our art
that pollute the environment and and poetry
cause climate change, then
technology has consumed our
humanity.
➢ “But where danger is, grows the
saving power also.” (poet
Holderlin), the saving power lies
in the essence of technology as
technology.
➢ The essence of technology is not
found in the instrumentality and
function of machines constructed,
but in the significance such
technology unfolds (Heidegger,
1977)

Art as a Way Out of Enframing


● Heidegger proposes art as a way
out of this enframing. With art,
we are better able to see the
poetic in nature inreality.
● It leads us away from calculative
thinking towards meditative
thinking.
● Through meditative thinking, we
will recognize that nature is art
par excellence.

Art as a Way Out of Enframing


● Though enframing happens, it
cannot completely snuff out the
poetic character of technology.
● We pounder technology and
question it.
- Dr. Ron Jenson’s 5Ps
Lesson 2: The power, prestige, pleasure,
position, and prosperity
Good Life - Success is not the ultimate
good because it is still
Based on hedonistic Theory dependent on validation of
● One’s “good” is a matter of how society
he or she feels regarding the 2. Pleasure
quality of his or her experiences - Not the ultimate goal, but
● It identifies self-interest with good in moderation
happiness that hedonists define - Self-focused pleasure is
as the presence of pleasure and not a long-term happiness
absence of pain - Best king: being involved
in worthwhile activity
Based on Preference theory 3. Relationships
● A person’s “good” is what wants - Essential to a good life
most for himself or herself - Meaningful, pleasant
● Example, some people prefer relations wtih mutual
material wealth over prestige, admiration are necessay in
fame, or a good reputation a good life
4. Reasons and virtues
Based on Objective List Theory - One of the elements of the
● A person’s “good” includes at ultimate good
least some elements that are - Reason is the
independent of personal contemplation of
preferences and consists of unchangeable truths
valuable experiences such as - Practically, it is the
meaningful relationships, capacity to make decisions
friendships, accomplishments, in the sphere or what can
etc. be changed
- Central parts of the good
Susan Wolf states that happiness and life: theoretical and
meaningfulness are important elements practical reasons
of a good life. 5. Character and spirituality
- Individual’s character is
Antonia Macaro’s components of a good the root if his or her inner
life based on the writings of Aristotle strength
1. Success and material comfort - King Solomon Book of
Ecclesiates- to fear God
and keep his according to one;s value.
commandments are Having dreams and joy i
fundamental duties of a life
man ➢ Sixth: values, spirituality, and
being at peace
Steps Toward the Good life -two most central themes: peace
➢ A study by Anne Birgitta Pessi and safety in literal aspect,
(2008) provides a novel arrow (peaceful home) peace of soul in
model that illustrates the steps relation to one’s “wholesome”
toward a good life basic values
➢ Last step: meanigful work and/or
Relationship- balance- health- secure hobbies
income - fulfilling oneself - values and
spirituality - work and pleasure
Science and technology as a means to
➢ The most central step toward a achieve a good life
good life concerned relationships. ➢ Progress os ST can be seen as
- Based on survey by Pressi, parallel to how humans move
most important and central toward what is perceived as the
themes concerned the good life
family, esp. The house and ➢ Nonetheless, good life is a moral
children. concept, human virtues must be
➢ Second step is balance, constantly be kep in mind
contentment, and safety ➢ The ultimate good is the measure
- Significant theme: peace of the value of all human
of mind, elements of activities
equilibrium, safety, being ➢ And the ultimate value of life
at peace with oneself, measures how well one has lived
contentment, and up to his or her full potential as a
physical/psychic/mental human being
well-being. ➢ Technological progress as a
➢ Third step is health means to achieve a good land
➢ Fourth is income or finances fulfilled life must be necessariyly
➢ Fifth: fulfilling one’s self equate to advancements that are
- Most significant theme: anchored in balance and human
meaningfulness. This values
include having meaningful
things to do, a purpose in
life, reaching goals, living
Assembly in 1948. It is considered to be
Lesson 3: when the foundation of international human
rights law and has been translated into
technology and over 500 languages. Here are three
important points about the Universal
humans cross Declaration of Human Rights:

WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY The UDHR was created in


CROSS response to the atrocities committed
during World War II, as a means of
In recent years, technology has ensuring that such violations of human
advanced at an unprecedented pace, rights would never happen again. The
transforming the way we live, work, and declaration represents a collective effort
interact with the world around us. From by the international community to
artificial intelligence and robotics to establish a common standard of human
biotechnology and nanotechnology, rights that should be respected and
emerging technologies are opening up protected by all nations and peoples.
new possibilities for human development
and progress. However, as technology The UDHR has inspired the
and humanity cross paths, questions development of other human rights
arise about the impact of these treaties and conventions, including the
technologies on our lives and society as International Covenant on Civil and
a whole. What are the ethical and social Political Rights, the International
implications of these technologies? How Covenant on Economic, Social, and
can we ensure that they are used for Cultural Rights, and the Convention on
the benefit of all, rather than just a few? the Rights of the Child. These treaties
In this context, it is crucial to explore have helped to further clarify and
the intersection of technology and expand upon the rights and freedoms
humanity and to critically examine the outlined in the UDHR, and have helped
opportunities and challenges that arise to ensure that these rights are
when these two domains converge. recognized and protected around the
world.

UDHR Despite its universal recognition,


the principles of the UDHR continue to
The Universal Declaration of Human be violated in many parts of the world.
Rights is a milestone document that was Some governments and groups continue
adopted by the United Nations General to discriminate against individuals based
on their race, gender, religion, or other
status, and to deny them their basic work and education, and the right to
human rights. As such, there is a participate in government and to enjoy
continued need to promote and protect social security. The declaration also
human rights, and to hold violators prohibits discrimination on the basis of
accountable for their actions. race, color, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or
The UDHR also recognizes the social origin, property, birth, or other
importance of collective action and status.
international cooperation in promoting
and protecting human rights. The 3 The Universal Declaration of
declaration emphasizes the need for Human Rights has had a profound
individuals, organizations, and impact on the development of
governments to work together to create international human rights law and has
a world in which human rights are been used as a basis for many other
respected and protected for all. This human rights treaties and declarations.
includes efforts to promote education The declaration has inspired numerous
and awareness about human rights, as national and international human rights
well as initiatives to support individuals organizations and has been used as a
and communities whose rights are being tool for advocacy and education on
violated. human rights issues. Despite its
importance, however, the Universal
1 The Universal Declaration of Declaration of Human Rights is not
Human Rights outlines the fundamental legally binding, and many governments
rights and freedoms that are inherent to and individuals continue to violate its
all human beings, regardless of their principles and provisions.
race, gender, religion, nationality, or any
other status. The declaration recognizes
that all human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights and that
these rights are universal, inalienable,
and indivisible.

2 The Universal Declaration of


Human Rights includes 30 articles that HUMANS VS ROBOTS
cover a wide range of human rights Human vs robots is a topic that has
issues. Some of these articles include gained increasing attention in recent
the right to life, liberty, and security of years as technology has advanced and
person, the right to freedom of thought, robots have become more prevalent in
conscience, and religion, the right to various industries. Here are three
important points to consider when the potential impact of technology on
comparing humans and robots: social relationships and human identity.
Human beings have unique qualities The development of robots and AI has
that robots cannot replicate. For the potential to revolutionize a number
example, humans have emotions, of industries and improve quality of life
intuition, and creativity that allow them for many people. For example, robots
to make complex decisions and adapt to can be used to perform dangerous or
new situations. While robots can be difficult tasks, such as search and
programmed to simulate some of these rescue operations, or to provide care for
traits, they cannot match the depth and the elderly or disabled.
complexity of human thought and Overall, the relationship between
experience. humans and robots is complex and
The use of robots in certain industries multifaceted, and it raises a number of
can have unintended consequences for important ethical, social, and economic
human workers. For example, the questions. As we continue to develop
automation of manufacturing and and integrate robots into our lives, it will
assembly jobs can lead to widespread be important to carefully consider the
job loss and displacement of workers. It potential benefits and drawbacks of this
can also lead to a widening gap technology and to work towards a future
between skilled and unskilled workers, in which humans and robots can coexist
as those with technical expertise are in a way that promotes human dignity
needed to maintain and program the and well-being.
robots.
The development of advanced artificial
intelligence has raised concerns about 1 Humans possess unique
the potential for robots to become qualities that robots do not have, such
autonomous and make decisions as emotions, creativity, and empathy.
independently of human control. This These qualities enable humans to
has led to debates about the ethics of perform tasks that require social skills,
allowing robots to make decisions that critical thinking, and decision-making
could have life-and-death consequences, abilities that robots cannot replicate.
such as in the use of autonomous While robots can perform repetitive and
weapons or in self-driving cars. mundane tasks with high precision and
The integration of robots into society efficiency, they lack the cognitive
raises important questions about the flexibility and intuition that humans
role of technology in our lives and the possess.
extent to which we are willing to cede
control and decision-making power to 2 Robots have some advantages
machines. It also raises questions about over humans, such as their ability to
work continuously without breaks, their
precision, and their resistance to The idea that the future doesn't need us
fatigue, which makes them ideal for was introduced by Bill Joy, a computer
tasks that are hazardous or repetitive scientist and co-founder of Sun
for humans. Robots can also operate in Microsystems, in his 2000 essay titled
environments that are too dangerous or "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us." Here
inaccessible for humans, such as outer are four reasons why the future may not
space, deep underwater, or nuclear need us and one reason why it does:
power plants.
1 Technology is advancing at an
3 The rise of robots and exponential rate, and there is a risk that
automation has raised concerns about we may lose control over it. As we
the displacement of human workers, the develop more powerful and intelligent
impact on the economy, and the ethical machines, there is a possibility that they
implications of delegating tasks to may become self-replicating or
machines. As robots become more self-improving, leading to an
advanced and capable, they may replace uncontrollable and unpredictable
humans in certain jobs, leading to job scenario known as the technological
losses and economic inequality. There singularity.
are also ethical concerns about the use
of robots in military applications and the 2 Automation and artificial
potential for robots to be programmed intelligence are replacing human labor in
to harm humans. many industries, leading to job
displacement and economic inequality.
In conclusion, while robots can perform As machines become more capable,
some tasks more efficiently than they may take over not only manual
humans, they lack the emotional labor but also cognitive tasks that were
intelligence and creativity that humans once considered the domain of humans.
possess. As technology continues to
advance, it is important to consider the 3 Emerging technologies such as
impact of robots on society and to genetic engineering and nanotechnology
ensure that their use aligns with ethical may pose new risks to human health
and moral values. and the environment. These
technologies could be used to create
new forms of biological weapons, or to
manipulate the environment in ways
that could have unintended
consequences.
WHY THE FUTURE DOESN'T NEED US
4 The accelerating pace of qualities to create a more equitable,
technological change is outstripping our sustainable, and just society.
ability to understand and manage it. Our
legal and regulatory frameworks are In conclusion, while there are many
struggling to keep up with the rapid reasons why the future may not need
pace of technological innovation, leaving us, it is important to recognize that
us vulnerable to the unintended human qualities such as empathy and
consequences of new technologies. creativity will be essential for creating a
better world. As we move forward, we
However, there is one reason why the must work to ensure that our
future does need us: technological innovations align with our
values and goals as a society.
COUNTER
Humans possess a unique CONCLUSION
capacity for innovation and creativity,
which can drive scientific and In conclusion, the intersection of
technological advancements. Our ability technology and humanity is a complex
to imagine new ideas and solutions, and and rapidly evolving topic that touches
to collaborate with others to bring them on a number of important subtopics,
to fruition, is essential for solving including the Universal Declaration of
complex problems and creating new Human Rights (UDHR), the relationship
opportunities. between humans and robots, and the
question of whether or not the future
Humans have a deep sense of needs us.
meaning and purpose, which can help
us navigate the uncertainties and The UDHR serves as a crucial framework
challenges of the future. Our values, for ensuring that the development and
beliefs, and sense of identity give us a use of technology is grounded in a
sense of direction and motivation, and commitment to human rights and
can help us build resilient communities dignity. It highlights the importance of
and systems that can adapt to change. recognizing the inherent worth and
value of every human being, and
Humans have the capacity for provides a set of guidelines for
empathy, creativity, and compassion, promoting equality and justice in the
which are essential for addressing the face of technological change.
complex social and environmental
challenges facing our world. As we The relationship between humans and
confront the challenges of the future, robots is a multifaceted issue that raises
we will need to draw on our human important ethical, social, and economic
questions. While robots can be used to
perform a wide range of tasks and
improve quality of life in many ways,
their integration into society can also
have unintended consequences, such as
job displacement and loss of autonomy.

Finally, the question of whether or not


the future needs us is a contentious
one, with arguments on both sides.
While some argue that technological
advancements will render human beings
obsolete, others contend that our
unique qualities and capacities as
human beings will always be necessary
and valuable. Ultimately, the future of
technology and humanity is in our
hands, and it is up to us to shape it in a
way that reflects our values and
aspirations for a just and equitable
society.

1. Promote diversity and inclusion


Technological advancements should be
developed with the needs of diverse
communities in mind, and their voices
should be included in the development
process. This ensures that technology is
inclusive and accessible to all and that
the rights of marginalized.

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