FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences

Accredited level III- ACSCU – ACI

Roxas City, Capiz

GEC 7

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 6:The Good Life

Overview

Everyone is in pursuit of the good life. We do certain things because we want to achieve a life
which will make us happy and content. By studying and working hard, we try to attain this goal not
only for ourselves but also for our loved ones and the rest of humanity. Good life may vary and differ
in the particular, however, we recognize universal truths that cut across differences.

Objectives

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

1. Explain the concept of the good life as posited by Aristotle;

2. Define the good life in their own words; and

3. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life to come up with innovative and creative
solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards.
Module Contents

THE GOOD LIFE

• Aristotle suggested that the good life includes both happiness and engagement (Hestir, 2008),
where happiness is defined as an activity of authentically expressing one’s excellences or virtues (Sutton,
2020).

• Aristotle studies in living the Good Life (nothing to do with looking seductive in dungarees and
willies) included advice like, moderation in all things.

• Spice for the Good Lifeis any good human life should include opportunities to make use of and
develop our capacities to think, to deliberate and to reason.

NICOMACHEAN ETHICS AND MODERN CONCEPTS

• Good life is the happy life or the contemplative life- the life of reason. Thus, Aristotle develops
in the Nicomachean Ethics or Theory of what is the good life for human beings.The good lifeis, for a
human being to live in the way that is most suitable for a human that is according to reason.

• 3 concepts of good life, in the philosophy of Aristotle:

1. The Good Life: Aristotle

2. The Good Life: Plato

3. Aristotle and Virtue Theory

ARISTOTLE ON THE GOOD LIFE

• Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato, and a teacher of Alexander the Great. He
wrote on: physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, linguistics, politics, biology, ethics, and
zoology. His thought of multiple fields was consumed definite for millennia, and his work in ethics and
politics is still widely influenced today. He is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western
philosophy.

• Aristole views on living well begins with consideration of ends and means. Suppose I went a
car- the car is my end or goal.The means I choose depends on which is easier, quicker, likelier to
succeed. Thinking about the goal we are aiming at, and the means we will employ to reach that goal is
practical thinking.Purposeful action contrasts with aimless or thoughtless action, which is action with no
end in view.

• He further said that without a plan for living, we don’t know what we are trying to do or why
we’re trying to do it. We need the right plan, which is one that aims at the final or ultimate end.
What is the final end of human life, the end that all of us ought to aim at.

• For Aristotle, the final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good life.

He states that the good life consists in the possession, over the course of a lifetime, of all those things
that are really food for us.

• According to Aristotle, they are:

1. Bodily goods – health, vitality, vigor, and pleasure

2. External goods – food, drink, shelter, clothing, sleep

3. Goods of the soul – knowledge, skill, love, friendship, aesthetic enjoyment, self- esteem, and
honor.

• The first two goods are limited goods - we can have more of them we need. Goods of the soul-
are unlimited goods - we cannot have more of them we need. But surely knowledge of the good life
isn’t sufficient to actually living a good life. For example, that drinking alcohol is bad to me but do it
any way.
• Aristotle argued that the way to bridge the gap between knowledge of the good life and actually
living it was through the development of a good moral character.And this entails developing good
habits. A good habits allow us perform certain actions without effort. We can have a good habit of
playing the piano, studying hard, or thinking well. We can also habitually make good choices to avoid
overeating or drinking too much for example.

• In summary, the end, good, purpose (or meaning) of human life is to live well. We do thinking
accumulating, over the course of our lives, all the real goods that corresponds to our natural needs; and
we increase our chances of having good lives by cultivating good habits, and in addition, we also need
good luck.

• The onward progress of science and technology is also the movement towards the good life.
Science and technology are one of the highest expressions of human faculties. They allow us to thr

• The onward progress of science and technology is also the movement towards the good life.
Science and technology are one of the highest expressions of human faculties. They allow us to thrive
and flourish in life if we so desire it. Science and technology may also corrupt a person, but grounding
oneself in virtue will help him/her steer clear of danger.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 7: When Technology and Humanity Cross

Overview

The good life entails living in a just and progressive society whose citizens have the

freedom to flourish. The human person has the autonomy to make choices which may enable

the flourishing of his/her self and society. As implied, everyone has absolute moral worth by

virtue of being human.

Human dignity is an ultimate core value of our existence. When we fully recognize and

appreciate this truth in ourselves and in all the persons around us, regardless of their status in

life, then we pave the way for a just and progressive society. It is in this kind of society that we

are able to become fully human - more free, more rational, and more loving. Human beings

become more free when we are empowered to make choices for our flourishing.

We become more rational when we are able to value and apply the principles of logic and
science in our lives. We become more loving when we ensure that human dignity lies at the

foundation of our endeavors, whether scientific or not. It entails knowing one’s fundamental

human rights that must always be protected in the face of changing conditions.

Objectives

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

1. Evaluate contemporary human experience to strengthen the human person functioning

in society;

2. Discuss the importance of human rights in the face of changing social conditions and

technological development; and

3. Identify laws or policies in the country that protect the well-being of the person in

technological advancement and ethical dilemmas.

Module Contents

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) - is a historic document that was

adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its third session on

December 10, 1948 as Resolution 217 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. Of the 58

members of the United Nations, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained, and two did

not vote.

The UDHR consists of the first seven articles, considered as a “milestone document in the

history of human rights”. They are as follows:

ARTICLE I

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with

reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

ARTICLE II

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without

distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, se, language, religion, political or other opinion,

national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be

made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or

territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non self-governing or

under any other limitation of sovereignty.

ARTICLE III

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

ARTICLE IV

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited

in all their forms.

ARTICLE V

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or

punishment.

ARTICLE VI

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

ARTICLE VII

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal

protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in

violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has a long, blood history. Crafted in 1948,

after World War II, the UDHR now serves as a common understanding of what each person’s

fundamental rights are. These rights apply to everyone, everywhere. It is imperative that we

all know and live these rights to prevent injustice and oppression.

HUMANS VS. ROBOTS

The rise of the machines accompanying the progress in science and technology may render

humans useless. Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machinery. Computers become

more and more sophisticated. Robots, usually designed like human beings, are created to

perform complex, repetitive, or dangerous tasks. With the development of artificial

intelligence (AI), robots may also eventually act and decide like humans. In the Philippines that machines
adopt the nature of humans, there is a need to reflect on the ethical problems

posed by such development.

Currently, robots are better than humans at a number of things. Machines can perceive

beyond the human visual spectrum, they need a smaller mass of consumables (e.g., food), they

are more expendable, and they can be built to better tolerate environmental extremes (e.g.
cold and radiation).

As technology advances, more businesses will likely adopt fast-paced robots that can

maximize output and potentially displace humans worker altogether.

The development of society along with science and technology gives rise to more and more

complex issues. What is vital is that, at the very least, we are able to protect and exercise

human rights for everyone in our pursuit of the good life. It is important that amid these

developments, human beings become more free, more rational, and more loving in our practice

of science and technology.

As we examine contemporary issues in science and technology – information, genetically

modified organisms, nanotechnology, and climate change – we keep in mind that the building

of a just and progressive society entails the constant practice of the good. It may be exhibited

in exceptional scientific methodologies, personal virtue, social responsibility, and global

concern.

WHY THE FUTURE DOES NOT NEED US

“Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” is an article written by Bill Joy (then Chief Scientist at

Sun Microsystems) in the April 2000 issue of Wired magazine. While some critics have

characterized Joy’s stance as obscurantism or neo-Luddism, others share his concerns about

the consequences of rapid expanding technology.

He argues that “our most powerful 21st

-century technologies- robotics, genetic

engineering, and nanotechnology are threatening to make humans an endangered species”.

He also argues that human beings face the realistic possibility of extinction because of

competition from intelligent robots, which are made possible by technological advancements.

Human nature may be corrupted when the powers of our mind, our rationality, and our

science and technology become manifest. It we are not able to rein in the vanity and

arrogance that much powers unleash, then we are on the way to destroying the world.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 8: Information Society

Overview

Humans are surrounded on all sides by technology claiming to supply information:

television, smart phones, and internet devices, among others. However, do they all provide

information or just noise? More voices are trying to get our attention but how can we be sure

that they share knowledge and the truth?

Before the printed word, the written word was prevalent. Yet, the intent to carry

information has always been present. Words are informed with meaning given by the speaker

and intended for the listener.

Objectives

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

1. Determine the human and social impacts of the developments in the information age;

2. Discuss the evolution of technology from the ancient times to the present; and

3. Illustrate how social media have affected their lives.

Module Contents

A. INFORMATION

A word is a combination of sounds that represents something. It is this significance which

makes words distinct from just any kind of vocal utterance. Words are made up of sounds and

yet transmit something more significant. They transmit a message. The words are

“informed” because they carry “information”.

B. THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE

In the human quest for understanding the natural world, the ability to name and classify

objects found in nature was seen as a first step in knowing. Thus, the scientific search for

truth early on recognized the usefulness of language and the ability it gave to make sense of

nature.

The idea of comprehending words as more than just combinations of sounds led the Greeks

to seek out the principles of everyday language. When talking to other people, for example, a

meaningful message is created using ordinary sounds. Its meaning is also not diminished by
multiplication – the speaker can use the same words over and over again to talk to ten, a

hundred, or even a thousand people separately or at the same time. Words, therefore, can

function across space and time without reducing, their meaning.

Plato’s principle of “One and the Many” refers to the underlying unity among diverse beings

in the natural world. For Plato, there is a common intrinsic nature shared by different objects,

which determines their real sense. Biologists devised a way to illustrate this principle using a

system differentiating between genus and species. Many species belong in one genus.

In the 21st century, we are aware more than ever that there is rich diversity in nature, which

technology has allowed us to discover (BANWA Natural Science, 2008).

C. MATHEMATICS AS THE LANGUAGE OF NATURE

Technology in the modern world is the fruit of science. Because the scientific method

helped people discover how nature behaves, they were able to control nature with technology.

A more accurate statement is: Since people have discovered the laws and language of nature,

they can develop technology that uses these laws and language for their benefit. This

language is mathematics, the great combination of Isaac Newton. Nature can be understood

because it speaks in the language of mathematics and the human brain, to a certain extent, can

comprehend this language (Wigner, 1960).

D. TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD

The ability to think and conceptually comprehend nature and the principles it follows

eventually leads to science. Western thinkers harnessed the forces of nature after

understanding them better. Lost in antiquity is the first sailing vessel that worked through the

power of the wind. Hero of Alexandria would invent a primitive steam engine in the first

century (Paul Davies, 1990).

E. THE PRINTING PRESS AND BEYOND

The power of the eidos, or idea, would be witnessed in the succeeding centuries of

development in the West. The ancient fascination with language gave rise to the preservation

of the words of earlier people at the same time when the West weakened itself due to

internecine warfare and conflicts. Throughout this dark period, the importance of the word-
the power to be informed as a human being- led to the transmission of ideas through hand-

copying. From this manual action would arise the technology that would transform cultures-

the printing press. The development of the printing press, which may be regarded as the

beginning of a true revolution, could be dated to the 15th century.

In the age of information, the transmission of ideas has undergone changes. Meaning and

depth are no longer conveyed strictly by rhetoric but rather by its electronic replacement, the

digital signal or digit. Such a digital world is a direct offspring of the progressing world of

technology built upon the many advances in science (Toffler, 1984).

F. THE WOLRD WIDE WEB

A more modern example of technology feeding upon itself is the 20th

-century tour of force:

the World Wide Web through the internet. Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented it as a way of

addressing data processing and information sharing needs among scientists for the European

Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). CERN’s atom smasher produces a huge amount of

scientific data every second. It thus required better data analyzers to work on the gathered

information in coordination with each other. While the telegraph and telephone had allowed

the transmission of information to transcend physical boundaries, processing a veritable ocean

and mountain of scientific data generated by the atom smasher needed a new medium.

The technology applied when a sailor rigs up a piece of cloth to catch the wind is the same

one that produces modern machines and devices, albeit less complex. Nevertheless, human

beings have always found a way to address their needs and discover new frontiers with

scientific thinking. Considering the many benefits we get from these technologies, we must

also be responsible in utilizing them to avoid harming others and ourselves.

QUESTIONS FOR RELECTION

1. Which developments in the information age brought significant changes in a way you

live your life today?

2. How did the transmission of information evolve from the ancient times up to the

present?
3. How did the printing press change the course of history? What ideas were spread

using this invention?

4. Social media is a technology which facilitates the sharing of information, ideas, and

other content in different parts of the globe. If social media was deactivated for a

month in the country, what could possibly happen?

5. Social media also poses certain risks especially in the dissemination of false information.

As a student, how will you use social media to ensure that you do not propagate

inaccurate and unreliable information?

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 9: Biodiversity, Nano World and Gene Therapy

A. ON BIODIVERSITY

Overview

From the early times, when ancient philosophers of nature tried to explain all things as

coming from the elements of water, fire, air, or earth, science sought for the common

characteristic, a unifying element, in all of nature’s many phenomena. There was a growing

awareness of how all living things are related to each other, an idea called biodiversity.

This recognition started when naturalists began to classify organisms in the natural world

using taxonomy, a system devised by Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus. Taxonomy is the

hierarchical system of classifying and naming organisms. It builds on the ability of the mind to

find the common in the diverse, the One in the Many. It is a system commonly used today and

shows that though the living organisms in the world are so diverse, they still share many traits.

One of the basic laws of the living is that of self-preservation. An organism will sacrifice all

it has to ensure its survival. However, with a limited amount of resources, how do the many

living organisms of a diverse region survive? The energy needed to live is shared among the

elements of the living world, or passed on from one to another.

Objectives

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

1. Determine the interrelationships of society, the environment, and health;

2. Explain the process of genetic engineering; and

3. Discuss the ethics, implications, and potential future impacts of GMO’s.

Module Contents

1. BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Biodiversity International has released a module entitled “Law and policy of

relevance to the management of plant genetic resources (Bragdon, et al., 2005) which aims

to help professionals in managing, conserving, and using plant genetic resources for food

and agriculture. Modern biotechnology paves the way for new developments on food and

agriculture. It aims to develop new precision tools and diagnostics; speed up breeding

gains and efficiency; develop pest- and disease-resistant crops; combat salinity; drought,

and problems of agriculture; enhance the nutritional quality of food; increase crop varieties

and choice; reduce inputs and production costs; and increase profits (Bragdon, et al., 2005).

2. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

A GMO is a plant, animal, microorganism, or other organism whose genetic makeup

has been modified using recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene

modification, or transgenic technology. It is the result of a laboratory process where genes

from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially inserted into the genes of an

unrelated plant or animal, also called genetic engineering (GE) or genetic modification (GM).

Because this process involves the transfer of genes, GMO’s are also known as “transgenic”

organisms.

Genetic modification aims to address issues with regard to food security, agriculture,

drug production, and nutrition. The information about the microbe and its reproduction

mechanism are contained in its gene structure.

In the process of recombinant DNA technology, the needed information for an organism

can be “borrowed” from another. Such a process means that a farmer can “design” an

organism to have the characteristics necessary to address particular issues. For example, a

farmer may want the crops to have less chance of getting bruised due to rough handling. If an
organism containing a gene that prevents bruising in the mature fruit employing the science of

genetics) could be found, then this characteristics could then be used to modify the crops

through the process of recombinant gene technology.

3. CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

The protocol is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling,

transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMO’s) resulting from modern biotechnology

that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human

health. It takes a precautionary approach by making sure that countries are provided with the

data necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms

into their territory.

The Philippines recognizes the technologies that can be of particular help for its

development. Since the Philippines is one of the biodiversity “hotspots” in the world, it is

helpful to know how biotechnology will progress in the country. It was noted that the

Philippines has 3.8 points on its interest in food and biotechnology.

Questions for Reflection

1. What role does the environment play in addressing the needs of a society?

2. How can people maintain the rich biodiversity in nature?

3. What are the pros and cons of genetically modifying crops?

4. Will you eat GMO’s? Why or why not?

B. ON NANO WORLD

Overview

In the pursuit of science and technology, humans are now dealing more and more with a

world not seen by the naked eye. This is no surprise as the study of science keeps leading us

beyond the world of everyday. The information we search for is always available in nature but

we need tools to harvest it. The nano world, like the other scientific principles, provides both

knowledge and instrument to control nature.

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

1. Define the major potential and realized impacts of nanotechnology on society;

2. Analyze nanotechnology through the conceptual STS lenses; and

3. Examine the costs and benefits to society of nanotechnology.

Module Contents

1. WHY NANO?

The term “nano” refers to a unit meaning one billionth or ten raised to negative nine. For

example, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Hence, “nano” expresses a very tiny

amount or size.

Just as we not aware of the air we breathe or the molecules constantly feeding our cells at

every second, we are also not conscious of these very little particles. Since the nano world

cannot be seen by the naked eye, it was only recognized and identified after technology has

allowed for the discovery of nanostructures. Without the microscope and its attendant

technology, people would not even be aware of how this tiny world surrounds and affects us.

Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter on an atomic or subatomic scale.

Some innovations developed in this field include microprocessors and strain-resistant fabrics.

In the future, as nanoscience and nanotechnology progress, more breakthroughs are expected

to arise in the different fields of science, hopefully resolving problems in health, environment,

and security, among others.

Questions for Reflection

1. What are other examples of nanostructures?

2. How can nanotechnology address problems in the environment?

3. What is another example of a nanotechnology and how does it work?

Supplemental Activity

Watch the video on You Tube titled “The Next Step in Nanotechnology (George Tulevski)” by

TED Talks. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions. Submit your answers

afterwards.

1. Why is nanotechnology likened to creating a statue out of a pile of dust?

2. Why is nanotechnology a difficult science?

3. What does nature show about building organisms from the bottom up?

4. How can chemistry help in nanotechnology?

C. ON GENE THERAPY

Overview

When identifying the contribution of technology to biology, the first place to look would be

the field of human health. The whole vast concerns of human health including aging, disease

treatment and prevention, and diet and general lifestyle have greatly benefited from

technology. Medicine is one example of a scientific and technological innovation that made a

breakthrough in the area of human health. Before aspirin was even understood at the nano

level, it had been known for its effects. Pain and various forms could be relieved and softened

by this medicine. The aspirin was already an “old” technology in the areas of nano and gene

science can be incorporated to medicine. If new discoveries on the areas of molecular and

atomic physics are applied to the biological basic building blocks- the genes- even greater

technologies for human health may be found.

Objectives

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

1. Describe gene therapy and its various forms;

2. Discuss the prevalence of gene therapy in daily life; and

3. Explore the opportunities that may be opened by gene therapy in the future.

Module Content

A. What we should know about stem cell treatment in the Philippines

Manila, Philippines – In recent years, it’s common to hear beauty doctors in the

Philippines offering stem cell therapy as if it is a new-found medical fountain of youth, the

answer to all medical worries.

In various media platform, there are bombardment of advertisements from various

hospitals and clinics packaging stem cell therapy as “cure-all” remedy.

With such medical breakthrough, it begs the question on how equipped we are in

offering such services. We can’t help but ask the parameters on distinguishing the real

experts from seemingly fly-by-night clinics and medical centers.

Filipino-American doctor-lawyer Samuel Bernal, an expert in the fields of regenerative

medicine and regulatory law, said the public should take a lot of precautions.

“Be careful. Number one, stem-cell therapy is not a cure-all” (medical procedure),” he

said in an interview with the INQUIRER a few weeks after receiving the 2012 Presidential

Award for Filipino individuals and Organizations Overseas at the Malacañang Palace.

“He said that the goal of stem-cell therapy is not a longevity-anti-aging program. Stem

cell therapy is actually trying to allow the body to heal itself”. Educated at Johns Hopkins’

and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Bernal is currently a Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the

University of California-Los Angeles, member of American Association of Clinical

Oncologists, the American Association of Cancer Researchers, and a recognized cancer

investigator with the US National Institutes of Health.

As a lawyer, his legal expertise includes cases on medical malpractice, medical product

liability, as well as Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC)

regulations in the testing, approval, advertising, and marketing of health products.

He explained stem cell treatment requires “analyzing at the molecular level what is

causing the problem or (what could be done) to prevent the problem”. “Stem cells are

just a small part of the molecular approach to medicine”.

Suppose scientists would like to fashion a gene to counter cancer cell growth. After

several steps of developing the technology, its success would still depend on its science and

implementation. To achieve the goal, the harmful gene has to be found among the 46

such structures in the ordinary cells of the person.

The specific part of the gene doing the problem should be identified. Afterwards, that

section of the gene must be removed and replaced with the “correct” or developed gene

part to complete the therapy. This process would then correct the misinformation
encoded in the whole gene.

The financial cost of this therapy is not trivial. Each of the steps mentioned requires

expertise and technological skill. Therefore, gene therapy can be costly.