STS AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

The Human Person flourishing in terms of science and technology

Introduction: Human Flourishing and Its Connection with Science and Technology

Human flourishing refers to the realization of a person’s potential, encompassing aspects like happiness, well-being,
intellectual growth, and moral development. In the context of science and technology, this concept explores how these
innovations impact individuals and society. Science, through discovery, and technology, through invention and
innovation, both play a significant role in advancing human life.

However, the relationship between technology, science, and human flourishing is complex and multifaceted. While
science and technology bring comfort, efficiency, and new possibilities, they can also raise ethical dilemmas and alter the
way we understand the world and ourselves.

A. Technology as a mode of Revealing

The German philosopher Martin Heidegger introduces an important concept about technology in his essay "The
Question Concerning Technology." He argues that technology is not merely a tool or a means to an end but a way
of revealing truth or aletheia. According to Heidegger:

Science and Technology must be taken as part of human life that merits reflective and as the German
Philosopher, Martin Heidegger says - meditative thinking. Science and Technology, their methodical and technical
nature, gives meaning to the life of a person making his/her way in the world. To be able to appreciate the fruits
of science and technology, they must be examined not only for their function and instrumentality but also for
their greater impact on humanity as a whole. This definition is correct but not necessarily true. The "true" entails
so much more meaning and significance.

HEIDEGGER BELIEFS IN THIS CONCEPT

 True can be pursued through the correct - the experience and understanding of what is correct lead us to
what is true
 He argued people to envision technology as a mode of revealing as it shows so much more about the
human person and the world
 He put forward the ancient Greek concepts of aletheia, poiesis, and techne
 Alethia - unhiddenness or disclosure - Poeisis - defined as bringing forth
 Aristotle - means making or producing something for a purpose - e.g. poetry and composition - but for
Heidegger not easy to take because of so much noise in theworld due to present social media - entails
discipline to appreciate how technology could be poetry that brings forth the truth
 Techne (the root word for technology) - skill, art, or craft - means of bringing forth something - NOTE:
technology is a poiesis that discloses or reveals the truth

TECHNOLOGY as POEISIS: APPLICABLE to MODERN TECHNOLOGY

1. Technology as Poiesis (Creation): Heidegger sees technology as a form of poiesis, which is an act of bringing
something into being, like art. In this sense, technology reveals what is otherwise hidden in nature. For
example, modern medical technology uncovers hidden aspects of human biology, leading to new treatments
and understanding of diseases.
  Heidegger characterises modern technology as a challenging forth since it is very aggressive in its
activity
 Modern technology according to him maybe a mode of revealing but not as the harmonious bringing
forth
 Modern technology, according to him, challenges the nature and demands of its resources that are,
most of the time, forcibly extracted for human consumption and storage. It brings about a setting
upon the land. E.g Mining - a modern technology that challenges and brings about the setting upon
of land where it extracts minerals from the earth are forcefully assigned the land as a means to fulfil
the never-ending demands of people.
 For Heidegger - revealing never comes to an end, it always happens in our terms as everything is on-
demand
 We order nature, extract, process, make ready for consumption, and store what we have forced it to
reveal
 He described modern technology as the age of switches, standing reserve, and stockpiling for its own
sake - manifest in the mechanization and digitization of many aspects of our life - from agriculture to
communications and transportations among many others.

ENFRAMING: WAY OF REVEALING IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY

Enframing - nature is put in a box or a frame so that it can be better understood and controlled according to
people's desires.

Enframing (Gestell): Heidegger warns that modern technology can reduce the world to a "standing reserve"
(Bestand), where nature and even human beings are seen as resources to be optimized and exploited. This
way of revealing the world can strip it of its richness and mystery, leading to a more mechanized and
impersonal view of life.

 Heidegger's view - distinguished between calculative thinking (one orders and puts a system to
nature so it can be understood better and controlled) and meditative thinking (one lets nature reveal
to itself to his/her without forcing it), thus calculative thinking is more often used because people
want control.
 Enframing is done because people want security

HUMAN PERSON SWALLOWED by TECHNOLOGY

 We are swallowed by technology if we are constantly plugged online and no longer have the capacity for
authentic personal encounters.
 If we cannot let go of the conveniences and profits brought about by processes and industries that
pollute the environment and cause climate change
 Holderlin - a poet who stated but where the danger is, grows the saving power also. - the saving power
lies in the essence of technology as technology.
 Essence is how things are, as that which endures.
 Heidegger - the essence of technology is not found in the instrumentality and function of machines
constructed, but in the significance, such technology unfolds

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 reality, it leads us away from calculative thinking and
towards meditative thinking - through meditative thinking
  we will recognize that nature is art par excellence, nature is almost poetic.

2. Risks of Technological Revealing: When technology is seen purely as a tool for control or profit, it risks
alienating people from the natural world and their humanity. Technology has the power to reveal truth, but
it can also obscure the deeper meaning of life if not used mindfully.

Example: Medical Imaging (MRI and CT Scans)

Medical imaging technologies like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans
illustrate Heidegger's concept of technology as revealing. These technologies enable doctors to see inside
the human body in ways that were impossible before, revealing hidden aspects of biology and disease.
 Revealing Hidden Truths: MRI and CT scans allow for early diagnosis of diseases, such as tumors or
internal bleeding, without invasive surgery. This is an example of technology bringing forward
aspects of reality (the human body's internal state) that were previously concealed.
 Enframing Risk: However, there is also a risk of enframing in medical technology. When healthcare
becomes heavily reliant on diagnostic machines, patients may be treated as "cases" or "objects" to
be scanned and diagnosed, rather than as individuals with complex emotional and personal needs.
This can depersonalize healthcare and reduce human interaction between doctors and patients.

B. Human Flourishing in Science and Technology

Human flourishing involves more than mere survival or economic success—it encompasses intellectual growth, moral
integrity, emotional well-being, and the fulfillment of one’s potential. In the context of science and technology, human
flourishing is influenced in both positive and negative ways:

Positive Impacts:

Positive Impacts:
 Improved Quality of Life: Science and technology have brought about innovations in healthcare, transportation,
communication, and agriculture that have improved people's quality of life. Lifesaving medical procedures, faster
global travel, and instant communication across the world all contribute to well-being.
 Education and Knowledge Expansion: Technology enables access to vast amounts of information and learning
resources, promoting intellectual growth. Digital tools allow for personalized learning and access to education for
people in remote or underserved areas.
 Solving Global Problems: Advances in science and technology can address some of humanity's most pressing
challenges, such as climate change, poverty, and disease. Innovations in renewable energy, food production, and
medicine have the potential to create more sustainable and equitable societies.

Challenges and Ethical Concerns:

 Loss of Human Connection: The increasing use of technology in daily life may lead to a reduction in face-to-face
interactions, potentially diminishing meaningful human relationships.
 Digital Divide: While technology improves many aspects of life, not all people have equal access. The digital
divide can further exacerbate social inequalities and limit the potential for flourishing for certain groups.
 Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy: As AI and automation advance, concerns arise about job displacement,
privacy, and the ethical use of technology in areas like surveillance and decision-making.

Ethical Use of Technology for Flourishing:

 The key to ensuring that technology contributes to human flourishing lies in ethical considerations. People must
ask questions like: How does this technology serve humanity? What are the unintended consequences? Is it
being used to enhance well-being, or does it detract from human dignity?

 Technologies such as AI, biotechnology, and genetic engineering hold enormous potential but must be guided by
moral and ethical principles to ensure that they contribute positively to society and do not undermine human
values.

Balancing Innovation with Humanity:

 To truly flourish, society must strike a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving
human-centered values such as empathy, creativity, and connection.

 Education in ethics and humanities must go hand-in-hand with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math) fields, ensuring that future generations are not only capable of developing new technologies but also
thinking critically about their societal impacts.