This document discusses human flourishing and the relationship between science, technology, and the human condition. It identifies different conceptions of human flourishing and examines how the development of science and technology has impacted and revealed truths about the human experience over time. The document explores these topics through lessons that analyze the human condition before and after the introduction of science and technology, and how technology has served to both help and hinder human flourishing.
This document discusses human flourishing and the relationship between science, technology, and the human condition. It identifies different conceptions of human flourishing and examines how the development of science and technology has impacted and revealed truths about the human experience over time. The document explores these topics through lessons that analyze the human condition before and after the introduction of science and technology, and how technology has served to both help and hinder human flourishing.
This document discusses human flourishing and the relationship between science, technology, and the human condition. It identifies different conceptions of human flourishing and examines how the development of science and technology has impacted and revealed truths about the human experience over time. The document explores these topics through lessons that analyze the human condition before and after the introduction of science and technology, and how technology has served to both help and hinder human flourishing.
This document discusses human flourishing and the relationship between science, technology, and the human condition. It identifies different conceptions of human flourishing and examines how the development of science and technology has impacted and revealed truths about the human experience over time. The document explores these topics through lessons that analyze the human condition before and after the introduction of science and technology, and how technology has served to both help and hinder human flourishing.
Condition HUMAN FLOURISHING 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. Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing - Eudaimonia, literally “good spirited,” a term coined by Aristotle to describe the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans; has often been translated into “human flourishing” - it as a combination of well-being, happiness and flourishing - It is the ultimate goal of a human being, a part of her function. Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing - Western civilization tends to be more focused on the individual; based on an individual’s values rather than his belief that the state is greater than him. - The east are more community- centric; community takes the highest regard that the individual should sacrifice himself for the sake of the society. - 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; - the end goals of both science and technology and human flourishing are related; in that the good is inherently related to the truth, are two concepts about science which ventures its claim on truth. Science as Method and Results • The Scientific Method: 1. Observe 2. Determine the problem 3. formulate hypothesis; reject the null hypothesis 4. Conduct experiment 5. Gather and analyze results 6. Formulate conclusion and provide recommendation • Verification Theory (Alfred Jules Ayer Theory) - The earliest criterion that distinguishes philosophy and science - The idea proposes that a discipline is science if it can be confirmed or interpreted in the event of an alternative hypothesis being accepted. - Several budding theories that lack empirical results might be shot down prematurely, causing slower innovation and punishing ingenuity of newer, novel thoughts. - This theory completely fails to weed out bogus arguments that explain things coincidentally. Is it really raining? • Falsification Theory - Karl Popper is the known proponent of this view. - Asserts that as long as an ideology is not proven to be false and can best explain a phenomenon over alternative theories - Allowed emergence of theories otherwise rejected by verification theory - Encourages research in order to determine which among the theories can stand the test of falsification - Science is all about falsification and not confirmation. All swans are white. Science as a Social Endeavor - A new school of thought on the proper demarcation criterion of science emerged. - Explores the social dimension of science and effectively, technology - The new view perpetuates a dimension which generally benefits the society. Sciences cease to belong solely to gown wearing, bespectacled scientists at laboratories. Science and Results People who do not understand science are won over when the discipline is able to produce results. - In this particular argument, however, science is not the only discipline which is able to produce results— religion, luck, and human randomness are some of its contemporaries in the field. - For some communities without access to science, they can turn to divination and superstition and still get the same results. - Science is not entirely foolproof, such that it is correct 100% of the time. Science as Education In the Philippines, a large distribution of science high schools can be found, forging competition for aspiring students to undergo rigorous science and mathematics training based on specialized curricula. - As students are preconditioned that the field would later land them high-paying jobs and a lucrative career after graduation. - Simply mastering science and technology would be inadequate if we are to, say, socialize with people or ruminate on our inner self. - A true eudaimon recognizes that flourishing requires one to excel in various dimensions, such as linguistic, kinetic, artistic, and socio-civic. LESSON 2: TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING LESSON OBJECTIVES At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to: • Explain the concept of human condition before science and technology; • Identify the change that happened in human condition after science and technology; and • Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the human being. The Human Condition Before Common Era The Human Condition Before Common Era - Homo erectus have been using fire to cook, all the while without realizing the laws of friction and heat. The Human Condition Before Common Era - Tools from stone and flints marked the era of the Stone Age, during the advent of our very own Homo sapiens. The Human Condition Before Common Era - People discovered minerals and began forging metalwork. The Human Condition Before Common Era - Fur clothing and animal skin are primarily used for comfort against harsh winds. They begin to cover themselves up out of necessity. The Human Condition Before Common Era - People of the time had also painstakingly wrought and hewed said figures in honor of some deity; initial roster of primitive gods includes objects they encounter through their day-to-day lives. The Human Condition in the Common Era - Driven by their primal need to survive, humans were quick to find ways to drive off other megafaunas threatening a prospective hunting spot. - The ongoing extinction of several species—both flora and fauna—due to human activity - The Human Condition in the Common Era - They began to hunt, farm, and produce things with prospect of profit. - When they could not sell products, they used their skills and got compensated for it—bringing forth a specialized group of artisans. - Physical strength was valued at most, although there appeared to be as many intellectually gifted figures just the same. The Essence of Technology - Modern humans are reliant on technology in their search for the good life. Humans are reduced into the amount of productivity they are able to render during their lifetime. - The Essence of Technology - By too much reliance on technology, humans lose track of things that matter, reducing their surroundings to their economic value. The Essence of Technology - Martin Heidegger argued that its essence, or purpose, and being are different from each other. - 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. - Heidegger's philosophical analytic focused on the human being's existence in their world as an individual and within their social context. From this standpoint, both world and being are viewed as inseparable. DISCUSSION POINTS 1. What would have happened to humankind if technology did not exist? 2. Do you agree with Martin Heidegger in his idea that technology should only be seen as one of the approaches in perceiving truth? What are other possible approaches we should consider? PROCESSING QUESTIONS 1. Role-playing. Try to imagine the world without technology. How do you think your day-to-day life would be like? Do this by illustrating a scenario where a certain technological innovation does not exist. Below are examples you could use: a. Watch b. Phone c. Light bulbs d. Cars e. Printing Press f. Electricity 2. Philosophical Debate. Discuss whether technology is a means to an end or an end in itself. The class will be divided into two groups. The first group supports the notion that technology is an instrument to achieve human goals, and the second group supports the notion that technology is what humanity does. List down pertinent points and construct an individual position paper regarding your stance. LESSON SUMMARY • Science and technology has been part of human activity since the beginning of our species. • It has aided us in survival and helped us outsmart our adversaries. • However, it also leads us to a paradox in which we are only able to see the world in the lenses of technological innovations. • Advancements in the field expose us to previously unknown predicaments, effectively helping us to reveal our own natures and enforcing one perspective in finding the truth.