STS MIDTERM EXAM NOTES

 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: Aristotle and Good Life

It is interesting to note that the first philosopher who approached the problem of reality
from scientific lens is Aristotle who is also the first thinker who dabbled into the complex
problematization of the end goal of life: happiness.
Compared to his predecessor and teacher, Plato, Aristotle embarked on different approach
in figuring out reality. Plato thought that things in this world are not real and are only copies
of the real in the world of forms. While Aristotle puts everything back to the ground in
claiming that this world is all there and that this world is the only reality, we can all access.
Aristotle also forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what the senses can
perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external world that one can truly
understand what reality is all about. Change is a process that is inherent in things. We, along
with all other entities in the world. start as potentialities and move towards actualities. The
movement, of course, entails change.
This can be likened to what Aristotle says that every human person aspires for an end. This
end is happiness or human flourishing. And no one resists happiness because we all want to
be happy.

 Materialism
- The first materialists were the atomists in Ancient Greece. Democritus and Leucippus
led a school whose primary belief is that the world is made up of and is controlled by
the tiny indivisible units in the world called atomos or seeds. Accordingly, the world
including human beings, is made up of matter and there is no need to possess
immaterial entities as sources of purpose. Atoms simply comes together randomly to
form the things in the world. As such, only material entities matter.

 Hedonism
- The Hedonists see the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure. Pleasure has always
been the priority of hedonists. For them life is obtaining and indulging in pleasure
because life is limited. They believe that pleasure give meaning to their life without
thinking of the future. The mantra of this school of thought is the famous, "Eat, drink
and merry for tomorrow we will die.
 Stoicism
- Another school of thought led by Epicurus, the stoics, exposed the idea that to
generate happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic. The
original term apatheia, precisely means to be indifferent. These group believe that
they can do things at their own and believe that happiness can only be attained by a
careful practice of apathy.

 Theism
- Most people find the meaning of their lives using God as the fulcrum of their
existence. The Philippines, as predominantly country, is witness to how people base
their life goals on beliefs that hinged on some form of supernatural reality called
heaven. The ultimate basis of happiness for theists is the communion with God.

 Humanism
- Humanism as another school of thought espouses the freedom of man to carve his
own destiny and to legislate his own laws, free from the shackles of a God that
monitors and controls. For humanists, man is literally the captain of his own ship.
They see themselves not merely as stewards of the creation but as individuals who
are in control of themselves and the world outside them.

 ROBOTICS
- Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering and technology that produces
machines, called robots, that replicate or substitute for human actions.

 ROBOT
- Robot is a programmable machine that can complete a task, while the term robotics
describes the field of study focused on developing robots and automation.
- In terms of etymology, the word 'robot' is derived from the Czech word robota, which
means "forced labor."
  ARTIFICIAL INTELLEGENCE
- Artificial Intelligence is a branch of computer science dedicated to creating
computers and programs that can replicate human thinking.

Advantages of Al
1. Eliminates human error and risk
2. 24/7 availability
3. Unbiased decision making
4. Repetitive jobs
5. Cost reduction
6. Data acquisition and analysis

Disadvantages of artificial intelligence

1. Costly implementation
2. Lack of emotion and creativity
3. Degradation
4. No improvement with experience
5. Reduced jobs for humans
6. Ethical problems

 MORAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Individuals and organizations use technology to enhance their daily operations, be it

business, learning, construction, or medical activities. Advancement in technology does not
elicit ethical or moral issues, but it is the use of technological inventions that raises these
issues.

Ethical dilemmas arise when there are competing goods and competing evils. In regard to IT,
the sharing of private information within an organization raises the question of whether the
action is moral or immoral. Information systems enable people to manipulate records within
a short period, thus raising questions on whether the information is genuine or vague.
The misinformation in technology refers to the spread of false or misleading information
about various aspects of technology, such as its capabilities, risks, and impacts on society.

The six included aspects of this misinformation are:

1. Fake news about new technologies

- Some individuals or organizations may spread false information about upcoming
technologies to create hype or drive sales.

2. Exaggerated claims about existing technologies

- Companies may overstate the capabilities of their products or services to attract
customers.

3. Scaremongering
- Some people may spread misinformation about the potential harms of new
technologies, such as health risks from mobile phones or privacy concerns related to
data collection.

4. Conspiracy theories
- There are many conspiracy theories circulating online about the true intentions
behind the development of certain technologies, such as 5G networks or artificial
intelligence.

5. Lack of understanding about technology

- Many people may not fully understand how certain technologies work, which can
lead to misconceptions and fears.

6. Bias in reporting
- Media outlets may have biases towards certain technologies or companies, which
can influence the information they present to the public.
TELEVISION, MOBILE PHONES, COMPUTER, HUMANITIES.

 TELEVISION
- is a system for transmitting visual images and sound that reproduced on screens,
chiefly used to broadcast programs for entertainment, information, and education.
The television set has become a common place in many households, businesses, and
institutions.
- It is a major vehicle for advertising.

 PURPOSE
TV programs provide news, information, and entertainment to people all over the world. It is
one of the most important and popular forms of communication.

 IMPACT

Positive
- Television is not all bad. There are several informative shows that can help in keeping
a person updated of current affairs in the country and the world. Educational, and
values-promoted shows serve as wonderful learning resource that assist in
intellectual growth of a person. There are some channels that telecast only
educational content.

Negative
- Just like any other technology, television can also prove destructive when you don't
use it in the right way. Limited and right exposure can help you save from these side
effects. Children are not mature enough to choose the right channel to watch.
Watching inappropriate content can adversely impact their innocent minds. It can
bring changes in their interaction and behavior.
  MOBILE PHONE
- a mobile phone (or cellphone) is a portable telephone that can make and receive
calls over a radio frequency link while the user is moving within a telephone service
area, as opposed to a fixed-location phone (landline phone).

 PURPOSE
Mobile phones are used for a variety of purposes, such as keeping in touch with family
members, for conducting business, saving photos and videos for remembrance, being
updated in the news, sports and events.

 IMPACT

Positive
- Increased Connectivity: Smartphones have revolutionized the way we communicate
with each other. With just a few taps on our screens, we can send text messages,
make phone calls, or video chat with people across the globe. This level of
connectivity has made & easier to stay in touch with loved ones, regardless of where
they are in the world.

Negative
- Addiction: Smartphones have the potential to be addictive, and many people
struggle to put them down. The constant notifications, social media updates, and
other distractions can make it difficult to stay focused on other tasks.
  COMPUTER
- is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to
store, retrieve, and process data.

 PURPOSE
The purpose of the computer is to manipulate information, or data. It has the ability to
store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type
documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web.

 IMPACT

Positive
- It makes the work simple and less time consuming, we can store so many information
on computer which makes easy to handle the information for business applications
we can perform multitasking and multiprocessing capabilities of data.

Negative
- Technology addiction: many people spend excessive amounts of time on their
phones, computers and other devices leading to a range of negative health effects
such as eye strain, sleep deprivation, and increased stress levels.

 HUMANITIES
- is a field of study that explores various aspects of human society and culture. It
encompasses subjects like literature, philosophy, art, music, history, and more.
  PURPOSE
Its purpose is to help is understand and appreciate the human experience it covers subjects
like literature, philosophy, art, music, and more. By studying humanities, we can gain insights
into different perspectives, develop critical thinking skills, and foster empathy and
understanding.

 IMPACT
Positive and Negative
- Humans impact the environment in a negative way when the activities do not take
into consideration the impact on the world's natural ecosystem. Human activities can
endanger species, but humans can also protect endangered species and preserve
wildlife. Humans can produce trash and oil spills, but they can also come up with new
ways to clean the ocean in beneficial ways. Human activities can cause deforestation,
but in turn, they can come up with new types of agriculture that takes up less space,
but produce more green.