College of Hospitality Management

First Semester, AY: 2024 – 2025

MODULE 6
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION
Technology as a Way of Revealing

Course Title: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Course Code: GE 7

Name: _______________________________________________
Course and Year: _______________________________________________
Contact Number: _______________________________________________
Date and Time Allotment: (TTH)
Instructor: Eleanor Mae C. Taban

Introduction

This module entitled Science, Technology and Society and the Human Condition is about Technology as a
Way of Revealing. The progress of human civilizations throughout history mirrors the development of science and
technology. The human person, as both the bearer and beneficiary of science and technology, flourishes and finds
meaning in the world that he/she builds. Comparing the lives of the people before and now will make anyone realize
the changes that happened in society not just in terms in culture, language, or rights but more importantly, changes in
people’s way of life due to the existence of science and technology.

I. Objectives
At the end of the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
1. Explain the concept of human condition before science technology.
2. Identify the change that happened in human condition after science and technology.
3. Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the human being.

II. Lecture

GENERATION GAP
 Attributed mainly to the changes brought about by technology
 The original idea is for technology to help everyone, it cannot be denied that not everyone is comfortable in
using the different kinds of technologies.

1. TRADITIONALISTS (1928 – 1945)

 Valued traditional norms and conservative lifestyles.
 Adopted technology late, with limited engagement in the digital world.
 Focused on stability, formal communication, and face-to-face interactions.

2. BABY BOOMERS (1946 – 1964)

 Emphasized job security and stability, valuing traditional work structures.
 Adopted technology gradually, now using tools like email and smartphones but generally less comfortable
with newer platforms.
 Lean towards conservative social and political values.

3. GENERATION X (1965 – 1980)

 Balances traditional and modern perspectives, valuing both stability and flexibility.
 Utilizes technology for productivity, such as personal assistants and social media.
 Prefers work-life balance and takes a practical approach to both careers and education.

4. MILLENIALS (1981 – 1996)

 Grew up with the rise of the internet and social media, adopting technology early.
 Prioritize work-life balance, remote work options, and social causes in the workplace.
 Highly engaged with social media and value experiences over material goods.

5. GENERATION Z (1997 – 2012)

 Digital natives immersed in smartphones, streaming, and social platforms like TikTok.
  Values flexibility, authenticity, and rapid change, with a strong inclination toward social activism.
 Less likely to pursue traditional education paths, opting for online courses and gig work opportunities.

6. GENERATION ALPHA (2013 onward)

 Exposed to advanced technologies like AI and virtual reality from an early age.
 Comfortable with digital learning and remote interactions, showing different social behavior compared to
older generations.

NOTABLE COMPARISONS
1. MORTALITY RATE
o Due to technology, lesser women and children die during birth, assuring robust population and strong
workforce.

2. AVERAGE LIFESPAN
o Aside from the reason that people engage, less in combat and are less likely to die in treatable
diseases now as opposed to then, science is able to prolong lives by enhancing living status and
discovering different remedies to most diseases.

3. LITERACY RATE
o Access to education provided to more individuals generally creates a more informed public that could
determine a more just society.

4. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUC (GDP)

o Although not an indicator of an average person’s lifestyle in a country, it is often used to determine the
value of the goods and services produced a period of time

THE ESSENCE OF TECHNOLOGY

 Humanity has come a long way from our primitive way.
 Modern humans are reliant on technology in their search for the good life.
 Technology proves to be goal-oriented.
 It assumes that it is instrumental in achieving a goal in mind, that it is purposeful, deliberate craft humans
steer in order to reach some greater good.
 A good life is one which is practical in essence.
 A life which makes use of our labor and which we get compensated fairly

JASON HICKEL
o An anthropologist at the London School of Economics
o Challenges us to rethink and reflect on a different paradigm of “de-development”

Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to “de-develop” rich countries

• The main strategy for eradicating poverty is the GROWTH.
• Growth has been the main objective of development, despite the fact that it is not working.
• Growth isn’t an option.
• Scientists are now telling us that we’re blowing and the hard truth is that the global crisis is due to almost
entirely to overconsumption in rich countries.
• Right now, our planet has enough resources for each of us.
• We should be thinking of ways to get rich countries to “catch down” to more appropriate levels of
development.

SOLUTIONS
• We should improve our lives.
• Rethinking our theory of progress is not only an ecological imperative, it is also a development.
• It is not about giving anything up. It’s about reaching a higher level of understanding and consciousness
about we’re doing here and why.

BACKTRACKING THE HUMAN CONDITION

o Technology’s initial promises proved to be true
o By improving we measure the level of comfort, various scientific breakthroughs and improved lifestyles
o They are still trying to discover and rediscover things that would give meaning to the lives of people –
whether it be honor, strength or merit.
o They are still trying to make sense of their existence in the world, and technology does little aid to pursuit
the life’s meaning.
 o It seems that the human condition, although more sophisticated, is nothing but a rehashed version of its
former self.
o It is true that technology offered us one compelling notion of the truth and the good, such as Aristotle’s
conception of human flourishing.
o Technological advancements are seemingly occurring in a rapid pace that morality cannot quite keep up;
no such consideration was given in the approach in achieving the good life.

Name: _____________________________________________
Course and Year: _____________________________________
Contact Number: _____________________________________
Date of Submission: _____________________________________
Instructor: Eleanor Mae C. Taban

 Note/Reminder:
 Don’t hesitate to ask me if there are some difficulties.
 Always update me upon doing your activity/assessment.
 The deadline of your activities/assessment will be announced in our Group Chat.
 Keep calm and be motivated as always!
 Don’t push yourself to the limit. If you’re tired, then rest. After a while, make a move again.
 Put a smile on your face. 

III. Application/Activity

A. Directions: Answer the given question in NOT MORE than 5 sentences.

1. What would have happened to humankind if technology did not exist?

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2. How would the different areas of the world react to the idea of “de-development”?
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3. How do we know that we are progressing?

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4. What are the indicators of development?

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5. How much do we really need to live long and happy lives?

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IV. Assessment
Directions: 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 (Role-play: Minimum of 3 minutes and Maximum of 5 minutes) where a certain technological
innovation does not exist. You can also seek help from the people in your area. Below are examples you could use:

a. Watch
b. Phones
c. Light Bulbs
d. Cars
e. Printing Press
f. Electricity

Date Finished: _________________________ Signature: _________________________

V. Other References
 Kolbert , R. (2014). The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. London: Bloomsburry Publishing.
 Blitz, M. (2014). “ Undertsanding Heidegger on Technology,” The New Atlantis.
 Holloway, A. (2014). “The Venus Figurines of the European Paleolithic Era”.
 Grayson, D.K. amnd D.J. Meltzer. (2012). “Clovis Hunting and Large Mammal Extinction: A Critical Review
of the Evidnece.” Journal of World Prehistory.
 De Vries, M.J. (2005). Teaching About Technology: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Technology for
Non-Philosophers.