Chapter II

Lesson 1: Human Flourishing

Every living creature is meant to fulfill its inherent potential. Just as a caterpillar
transforms into a butterfly, a human being is meant to mature and fully realize their purpose.
St. Irenaeus famously stated, "The Glory of God is man fully alive," emphasizing the
fulfillment of human potential as a divine goal.

Eudaimonia: The Path to Flourishing

⮚ Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) coined the term eudaimonia, meaning "good spirited," to
describe the highest form of human happiness—one achieved through living a
purposeful and virtuous life. But how does one achieve flourishing?
⮚ According to Aristotle, flourishing requires realizing one's potential through
rationality and purposeful living. Ancient Greek thought emphasized that
happiness comes from developing certain virtues that contribute to the greater
concept of the "Good."

The Good According to Aristotle

● The "good" is what enables a being to achieve its true purpose.

● What is beneficial for the individual is considered good.

● Aristotle supported egoism, reason, and the intrinsic value of life, focusing ethics on
personal happiness and well-being.
● Human flourishing requires actively growing, achieving, and fulfilling one’s potential
through rational goals.

Eastern vs. Western Views on Flourishing

● Western Perspective (Aristotle’s View)

⮚ Focuses on individual growth, personal success, and self-actualization.

● Eastern Perspective

⮚ Prioritizes community well-being, where personal flourishing is tied to the

collective good.

Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing

Science and technology can help people live better lives, but they can also cause
harm if used the wrong way. Whether they lead to progress or problems depends on how
people choose to use them. Aristotle divided science into two types:
1. Practical Science – Knowledge used to manage and control aspects of life (e.g.,
economics).
2. Speculative Science – Knowledge pursued simply to understand the truth (e.g.,
mathematics, metaphysics).

Aristotle believed that everything people do is meant to help them live well and reach
a state of flourishing.

Flourishing and Rationality

Flourishing requires rational thinking and a conscious engagement with reality.
Rationality allows individuals to:
 ● Discover values essential for personal growth.

● Act upon their beliefs and shape the world around them.

● Achieve internal and external actualization.

Human Flourishing in Society

⮚ Human flourishing is not just about personal success—it includes dignity, freedom,
diversity, and well-being within a community.
⮚ Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” places “self-actualization” at
the top. This means reaching one’s full potential through creativity, fulfillment, and
appreciation of beauty.
⮚ Scholar Anthony Bradley sees flourishing as a “holistic” state. It includes spiritual,
moral, physical, economic, political, and social well-being, allowing people to live as
they were meant to.

Flourishing and Faith

In the Old Testament, the Jewish concept of shalom represents human
flourishing as a state of peace, wholeness, and well-being. It’s not just the absence of
conflict but a deeper, complete harmony in life.

Kenneth W. Wachter, from the University of California, defines flourishing as a

broad state of well-being that includes mental and physical health, happiness,
purpose, and strong social relationships. It’s about feeling good and functioning well
in all aspects of life.

The Role of Science, Technology, and Spirituality

Human flourishing is influenced by scientific progress, technology, and spiritual
beliefs. Both scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom work together to improve life for
everyone. True flourishing happens when there’s a balance between self-actualization,
ethical responsibility, and community well-being. This balance ensures that human potential
is fully realized in a way that is meaningful and purposeful.
Lesson 2: Technology as a Way of Revealing

The term “generation gap” is attributed mainly to the changes brought about by
technology. Although the original idea is for technology to help everyone, it cannot be denied
that until today, not everyone is comfortable in using the different kinds of technologies.
Mostly those who belong to the older generation think that these technologies are too
complicated to operate.

People from the past and present see success differently because they lived in
different times and environments. The way people live and how society works also shape
their ideas about what it means to have a good life.

The Human Condition before Common Era

● Early humans invented tools and used natural materials to survive.

● Homo erectus discovered fire by striking flints, while Homo sapiens in the Stone Age
sharpened stones to create tools like wedges.
⮚ Homo erectus was an early human that lived a long time ago. They
walked on two legs, made simple tools, and used fire. They were smarter
than earlier humans but not as smart as us.
⮚ Homo sapiens is the species we belong to—modern humans. We have
big brains, speak complex languages, create art, and build advanced
technology. We're the only type of humans left today.
● Since there were no written records, knowledge about this era comes from cave
drawings and artifacts. Later, people discovered metals, which were stronger and
more flexible than stone. They also used fur and animal skin for protection against
harsh weather.
● Tools from stone and flints marked the era of the Stone Age.

● During the advent of our very own Homo sapiens, and humans began to sharpen
stones as one would a knife; an example of this is the simple machine called wedge.
● This particular period proved to be difficult for our ancestors, but in a remarkably
distinct way.”
● People discovered minerals and began forging metalwork.

The Human Condition in the Common Era

For a long time, humans lived peacefully with nature. The first known man-
made extinction happened over 12,000 years ago, possibly due to hunting and fights
over land.

Holocene extinction, also called the sixth extinction or Anthropocene extinction, has
been happening from around 100,000 to 200,000 years ago to today. It refers to the
ongoing extinction of many plants and animals because of human actions.

Humans, driven by the need to survive, found ways to drive away large
animals that threatened their hunting areas or homes. As people began forming
communities, they needed more space and resources, leading to the growth of
civilizations. Over time, people realized that peaceful negotiations could be a better
solution than fighting.
 Technology has played a big role in making life easier and better. Advances
in medicine, technology, health, and education have helped improve life for people,
and these changes keep moving forward.

The following are some of the notable comparisons between the past and the present:
1. Mortality Rate
⮚ Thanks to technology, fewer women and children die during childbirth.
Medical care has helped premature babies survive, and proper care for
mothers helps them recover fully.
2. Average Lifespan
⮚ People live longer now because they fight less, and treatable diseases are
less of a threat. Science has also found ways to improve health and discover
cures for many diseases. Medicine is now easier to get.
3. Literacy Rate
⮚ More people can access education today, leading to a better-informed
society. This helps create a fairer world.
4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
⮚ While GDP doesn’t show how most people live, it helps measure the value of
a country’s goods and services. Higher GDP often means a country is using
technology to increase its production and income.

The Essence of Technology

Humanity has come a long way from its primitive roots, and we often say that we are
more "developed" than before. Today, humans rely heavily on technology in our pursuit of a
better life. We look to nature for resources that help us grow, believing that this growth leads
to improvement. Looking back, this view of technology seems very goal-oriented.

Martin Heidegger
⮚ A philosopher who argued that the essence of technology is different from
its purpose. He explained that technology should not be seen simply as a
tool to reach human goals, nor as something that defines human activity.
⮚ According to Heidegger, technology reveals something deeper about
humanity. Each new technology we adopt shows a different aspect of who
we are, whether it's a positive change or a flaw, depending on how we
interact with it.

Backtracking the Human Condition

Humanity has come a long way from our early days, and it is generally said that we
are more "advanced" now than we were before. Technology has helped improve comfort,
science, and lifestyles for those who can afford it. However, many people around the
world still face struggles like disease, tribe wars, lack of land, and not enough resources.
These people still turn to science or religion to understand their lives and find meaning
through things like honor or strength. Technology hasn’t helped them find deeper
meaning in life.
 Even though life is more advanced, the human condition hasn’t changed much.
Technology has shown us what is good, but understanding a good life goes beyond
technology. Technology is moving fast, but our ideas of right and wrong are not keeping
up, making us question if progress is really leading us to what matters.