HUMAN FLOURISHING IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 53

CHAPTER 4 To be able to appreciate the fruits of

science and
they must be examined not only for their technology,
Human Flourishing instrumentality but also for
function and
whole. The various their greater impact on humanity
in Science and Technology
as a
gadgets,
all tools that make machines, appliances, and
vehicles are
human lives easier because
they serve as a means to an
end. Their
people with a certain
utility lies on providing
good, convenience, or
knowledge.
Meanwhile, medical research employs the best scientific and
LEARNING OUTCOMES technological principles to come
up with cures for diseases and
ways to
prevent illnesses to ensure a
good quality of life.
At the end of this chapter, the students should
be able to: TECHNOLOGY ASA MODE OF REVEALING
1. discuss what technology reveals; In his seminal work, The Question of Technology, Martin
2. cxamine modern technology and its role in Heidegger urges us to
question technology and see beyond
human flourishing; and people's common understanding of it.

3. explain the role of art in a technological According

ancient doctrine, the essence of a
to
thing
is consideredbe what the thing is. We ask the
to
question
world.
concerning technology when we ask what it is. Everyone
knows the two statements that answer our question. One
The progress of human civilizations throughout says: Technology is a means to an end. The other says:
history mirrors the development of science and Technology is a human activity. The two definitions of
technology. The human person, as both the bearer technology belong together. For to posit ends and procure
and beneficiary of science and and utilize the means to them is a human activity. The
technology, flourishes
and finds meaning in the world that he/she builds. manufacture and utilization of eguipment, tools, and
In the person's pursuit of the machines, the manufactured and used things themselves,
good life, hc/she may and the needs and ends that they serve, all belong to wbat
unconsciously acquire, consume, or destroy what the
echnology is. The whole complex of these contrivances
ts
world has offer. It is thus necessary to reflect on
to
Latin,
the things that
truly matter. Science and technology technology. Technology itself is a contrivance-in
must be taken as an instrumentum. The current conception of technology,
part of human life that merits
reflective and-as the German and a human activity, can
philosopher Martin according to which it is a means

instrumental and anthropological

Hcidegger says-meditative thinking. Science and therefore be called the
5).
technology, despite its methodical and technical definition of technology (Heidegger, 1997, p.
nature, gives meaning to the life of a
person making
his/her way in the world.
 THE HUMAN CONDITION
TECHNOLOGY.
SOCIETY, AND
54 SCIENCE. HUMAN FLoURISHING N
SCIENCE ANO TECHNOLosr
but not necessarily true. The
55
definition is correct
This
entails so much
more meaning
and significance TECHNOLOGY AS POIESIS:
true
Heidegger, however,
asserted that the
true c a n be pursued

other words, the experience and

APPLICABLE TO MODERN TECHNOLOGY?
through the correct. In

is correct lead us to what is true Does the idea that

understanding of what
technology? Heidegger technology
is
poiesis
characterizes modernapply
to modesn
to envision technology as a mode of
Heidegger urged people technoogy as
revealing as it shows so much
more about the human person a
challenging forth since it is
very azzyessive in its
and the world.Technology is a way of bringing a forth, Modern technology may als be a mode actvity.
f revealing but n
the harmonious
making something. By considering technology mode bringing forth that is decribed in his thesis
as a

of revealing, then truth is brought torth. For instance, the of technology as priesis. Modern
and denands of it resources that technoogEY challengEs
truth that the Earth is weeping could be revealed by the are, most of the time, nature
information and data taken by modern devices. Whatever extracted for human consumnption and forcibly
storage. It brings about
truth is uncovered, it will be something more meaningful and
a
"setting upon of the land. Mining is an
example of modeTn
technology that challenges forth and brings about
significant than the superficial or practical use of technology. the setting upon
of land. It extracts minerals from the earth
and forcefully
Heidegger also put forward the ancient Greek concepts the land as a means to fulfil the assigns
of aietbeia, poiesis, and techne. Aletheia means unhiddenness or never-ending demands of pesple.
With modern technology,
disclosure. Poiesis is defined as bringing forth. For Aristotle, revealing never comes to an end.
The revealing always happens on our own terms as
it means
making or producing something for a purpose. It is is on demand. Information at our everything
sometimes used to refer to poetry and
composition. Finally, even out of season,
fingertips,
food harvested
techne (the root word for gravity defied to fly off to
space-such
technology) means skill, art, or is the capacity of the human
person. We no
longer need to
craft. It is a means of
bringing forth something. Thus, in work with the rhythms of nature because we have
learned to
Heidegger's work, technology is a poiesis that discloses or control it. We order nature, and extract,
process, make
reveals the truth. for consumption, and store what we have forced it to ready
reveal.
On the other hand, to think of Heidegger described modern technology as the age of switches,
takes a diferent mindset, a more technology as poetry standing reserve, and stockpiling for its own sake. This
of looking at the world. This
reflective and sensitive way observation is manifest in the mechanization and
perspective is not easy to take digitization of
especially in this era when instant many aspects of our life-from agriculture to communications
and split-second knowledge is demanded and
transportation, among many others.
updates are the
norm, and when the
of fame and fortune is pursuit What kind of unconcealment is it, then, that is peculiar
There so much noise in
is
unceasingly bannered on social media.
to that which results
the world that it would take from this setting upon that hallenges?
disciplined stepping back to see what a Everywbere everything is ordered to stand by, to be immediately
to
appreciate how Heidegger meant and on band, indeed to stand there
just so that it may be on call for
brings forth truth. technology could actually be poetry that a fiurther ordering Whatever is ordered about in this way has
its orwn
standing. We call it the standing-reserve (Heidegger,
1977, p. 5).
 HUMAN CONDITION
TECHNoLOGY, SoCIETY, AND THE HUMAN URISHING
56 $CIENCE,
IN
IENCE AND
'ECHNOLOGY 57
OF THOUGHT
QUESTIONING AS THE PIETY f nature is put in a box or in a
frame so that
stock of things, begin understood and controlled
according
it can be better
In this stepping back and taking
we

of
ie concealed in
enframing as
to
nature is
people's desires. Poiesis
wonder and question. One may
admire the intricacy viewed orderable
to
applications.
and calculable system of information. as an

of mobile
mechanisms and the sophistication
Another may marvel at the people
and circumstances that looking at the world, Heidegger
In

allowed for such technology. There

is so much wealth of calculative thinking and meditative distinguished between
thinking, as
In
mentioned earlier, one orders and thinking. calculative
insights that can be gathered when people stop, think, puts a system
stated to nature so it can be understood
and question. "Questioning is the piety of thought," better and controlled. In
Technology. meditative thinking, lets nature reveal
one
itself
Heidegger in The Question Concerning without forcing it. One kind of to him/her

Normally, piety is associated with being religious. For than the other. The human
thinking is not in itself better
person has the faculty for both and
Heidegger, however, piety means obedience and submission. would do well to use them in
synergy. However, people also
In addressing what technology has brought forth, one cannot want control and are afraid of
help but be submissive to what his/her thoughts and reflections
unpredictability,
so calculative
thinking is more often used. Enframing is done because
clicit. Sometimes, thinking brings forth insights that the mind want security, even if the people
has not yet fully understood or developed. There are times ordering that happens in enframing is
violent and even if the Earth is made as a
when one's thinking brings forth eureka moments. big gasoline station
Whatever from which we extract, stockpile, and
put in
standing-reserve,
understanding is found becomes significant because it is evoked ready to be used as we see fit.
by questioning who or what we essentially are in the world.
For example, it is a known truth that we, human beings
and everything around us, are made of the same substances HUMAN PERSON SWALLOWED
that constitute the stars. Therefore, we actually arc stardust.
Do we just take this matter-of-factly or do we wonder at its BY TECHNOLOGY
significance? It is when we start questioning that we submit
ourselves to our thoughts. This kind Though it is true that the individual takes part in the
of questioning leads one to revealing of nature, limits must still be recognized. Humans
search for his/her place in the universe and in the scale of grand do not really call the shots on this Earth. If we allow ourselves
things. It is through this process that one builds a way towards
knowing the truth of who he/she is as a being in this world. to get swallowed by modern technology, we lose the essence of
who we are as beings in this world. If we are constantly plugged
online and no longer have the capacity for authentic personal
encounters, then we are truly swallowed by technology. If we
ENFRAMING: WAY OF REVEALING cannot let go of the conveniences and profits brought about by
IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY processes and industries that pollute the environment and cause
climate change, then technology has consumed our humanity.
The way of
revealing in modern technology is an Nevertheless, as the poet Holderlin, "But
expressed by
enframing. This enframing that challenges forth and sets where danger is, grows the saving power also." The saving
nature way of
upon
is a
looking at
reality. In simpler terms, it is as
 HUMAN CONDITION
SoCIETY, AND THE
58 SCIENCE, TECHNOLoGY, HUMAN FLOURISHING IN SCIENCEAAND TECHNOLOGY
as technology. Essence is
59
power lies in
the e s s e n c e of technology Heidegger proposes art
as a
as that which
endures. Heidegger way out of this
the way in which things are,
"essence of technology is nothing
With art, we are better able to see the enframing.
further asserted that the reality. It leads us
away from calculative
poetic in nature in
essence of technology
is not foundin thinking and towards
technological" (1977). The meditative thinking. Through meditative
function of machines constructed, but thinking, we will
the instrumentality and recognize that nature is art par excellence. Hence,
unfolds. nature is the
in the significance such technology most poetic.
He also expressed that the problems brought
various
There was a time when it
about by human's dependence on technology
c a n n o t be simply
bore the name techne. Once the
was not
technology alone that
resolved by refusing technology altogether.
He stated:
truth into the
revealing that brings forth
splendor of radiant appearance was also called
Thus we shall never experience our relationship to techne.
the essence
of technology so long as we merely represent
Once there was a time when the
and pursue the with it, or evade it.
technological, put up bringing-forth
true into the beautiful was called techne. The
of the
Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to technology, poiesis of the
fine arts was also called techne.
whether we passionately affirm or deny it. But we are
delivered over to it in the worstpossible way when we At the outset of the
destining of the West, in Greece, the
regard it as something neutral; for this conceptionmakes of it, to arts soared to the supreme
height of the revealing granted
which today we particularly like to pay homage, us
them. They illuminated the presence [Gegenwart] of the
utterly blind to the essence of technology (1977, p. 1). gods and the dialogue ofdivine and human destinings. And
art was called simply techne. It was a single, manifold
revealing It was pious, promos, i.e., yielding to the bolding
ART AS A WAY OUT OF ENFRAMING sway and the safekeping of truth.
The arts were not derived from the artistic. Artworks
Enframing, as the mode of revealing in modern technology, were not enjoyed aesthetically. Art was not a sector of
tends to block poiesis. The poetry that is found in nature can cultural activity.
no longer be easily appreciated when nature is enframed. If the
What art-perhaps only for that brief but
Earth has just become a gas station for us, then we have become was

modest n a m e
enframed as well. In modern technology, the way of revealing magnificent age? Why did art bear the and
is no longer poetic; it is challenging. When instruments are techne? Because it w a s a revealing that brought forth
It was
observed linearly, its poetry can no longer be found. For made present, and therefore belonged within poiesis.
in all the
example, the watermill is a primitive structure compared to the Sinally that revealing which bolds complete sway obtained
iPhone model is just an obsolete and in
Jine arts, in poetry, poetical that
everything
hydropower plant; or the first
piece of machine. People no longer realize how the watermill is poiesis as its proper n a m e (Heidegger, 1977, p. 13).
more in tune with the rhythms of nature or how much
genius
went into the building of the first iPhone.
 HUMAN CONDITION
TECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY,
AND THE HuMAN FLOURISAING IN SCIENCE AMD TECHNOLOr
1
60 SCIENCE
61
at technology, will
one
When meditatively looking than Though enframing happens, it cannot
begin to question its significance
in his/her life more in
out the completely sruff
poetíc character of technology. We ponder
its instrumental
use. Technology
is normally thought of as and question
it. In s0 technology
doing, we also become aware of the crísis
but Heidegger asserted that it is
that which solves problems,
Again, it is in questíoning
we have plunged the Farth into. The danger is made present
something that must be questioned. and more palpable through our art and
In the nuclear age, we view poetry. Amid this
that w e build a way to understand. realization, we remain hopeful because, as the poet Holderlin
calculative thinking in
nature as a problem
to be solved. The put it, "...poetically man dwells upon this Earth" (Heidegger,
technical and scientific manner is 1977, p. 13).
which w e perceive nature in a
in the modern world. On the other
becoming more important
that provides a way for us to
hand, it is meditative thinking
are. It grounds us so as
remain rooted in the essence of who we
not to let our technological devices
affect our real core and warp
our nature.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
four mechanical.
conception of the
Aristotle's causes was

As explained by Heidegger: 1. How is technology a mode of revealing?

For enturies philosophy has taugbt that there are four 2. In your daily experience of technology, what else is revealed
causes: (1) the causa materíalis, the material, the matter
out
you aside from its function?
ofwhich,for example, a silver chalice is made; (2) the causa 3. Why should technology be questioned?
formalis, the form, the shape into wbich the materialenters
4. How is questioning the piety of thought?
(3) the causa finalis, the end, for example, the sacrificial
rite in relation to which the chalice required is determined 5. How does art provide a way out of enframing?
as to its form and matter; (4) the causa efficiens,
which
brings about the effect that is the finished, actual chalice,
in this instance, the silversmith. What technology is, when
represented as a means, discloses itself when we trace ACTIVITY
instrumentality back tofourfold causality (1977, p. 2).
Though correct in the four causes, Aristotle remained in the art that you feel best
Form five groups and pick a work of
mechanical and did not allow for a larger truth to disclose
sense
discuss among yourselves how
itself. The poetic character may be hidden but it is there. For reveals technology. Reflect and Ground your
example, the ancient Greek experience of cause is aition or the artwork describes and reveals technology.
in this chapter.
indebtedness, not cause and effect. Thus, the Greeks revere the discussion from the concepts learned
sun because they are indebted to it, and not because the sun is
the cause of energy Earth. Aition is
forth.
on
responsible for bringing
 JIMAN FLOURISHING AS REFLECTED IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT
63
CHAPTER5
Forget 'developing' poor countries,
Human Flourishing 's time to 'de-develop' rich countries
Jason Hickel
as Reflected
in Progress
and Development Heads of state are
gathering in New York to sign the UN's new
Sustainable development goals (SDGs). The main objective is to
eradicate poverty by 2030. Beyoncé, One Direction and Malala anre on
LEARNING OUTCOMES board. It's set to be a monumental international celebration.
Given all the fanfare, one might think the SDGs are about to
offer
the students should a fresh for how to save the world, but beneath all the
plan
At the end of this chapter, hype, ie's
business as usual. The main strategy for
eradicating poverty is the
be able to:
same: growth.
1. critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the Growth has been the main object of development for the past 70
progress of science and technology;
years, despite the fact that it is not working. Since 1980, the global
2. explain Hickel's paradigm of economy has grown by 3807%, but the number of people living in

"de-development"; and poverty on less than $5 (£3.20) a day has increased by more than 1.1
billion. That's 17 times the population of Britain. So much for the trickie
3. differentiate it from the traditional notions
down effect.
of growth and consumption. Orthodox economists insist that all we need is yet
growth. more
More progressive types tell us that we need to shift some of the
yields
of growth from the richer segments of the population to the poorer
How do know that
are
we
the indicators
we are
progressing? What ones, evening things out a bit. Neither approach is adequate. Why?

not,
of development? More often than Because even at current levels of average global consumplion, we're
development equated with growth and greater
is
Overshooting our planer's bio-capacity by more than 50% each year
consumption. The more that a population is able
to consune, the In other words,
growth isn't an option any more-weve already
wealthier it is. Likewise, the more
that a person is able to grown too much. Scientists are now telling us that we're blowing
is on the
buy stuff, the higher he/she past planetary boundaries at breakneck speed. And the hard trulh
is already
development scale. The
planet, however, s that this global crisis is due almost entirely to overconsumption in
overburdened with human activities.
It is about time that rich countrles.
we rethink our
standards of
development if we truly want to live the good lite. Right now, our planet only has enough resourcesor
Jason Hickel, an
School of
Economics,
anthropologist at the
London U to consume 1.8 global hectares annuall
reflect on a different challenges rethink and
us to that measurea resource une and waste. This fou
paradigm of "de-development.
 THE HUMAN CONDITIOON
SoCIETY, AND
64 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MAN FLOURISHING AS REFLECTED IN
PROGRESS AND
DEVELOPMENT 65
consumes. By contrast
theaverage person
in Ghana or Guatemala 70% of people in middle-
consume about 8
hectares per person and high-income countries
people in the US and Canada times their fair share.
many
overconsumption is putting planet and society at
our belleve
while Europeans consume 4.7 hectares
majority also believe we should strive to buy and own
risk. A similar
of development? Economist doing so would not compromise our less, and that
What does this mean for our theory happiness.
Peter Edward argues that instead
of pushing poorer countries to "catch something wrong with the dominant model of People sense thereis
economic progress and
be thinking of ways to get rich countries they are hungry for an altemative narative.
up with rich ones, we should levels of development. We should
to catch down to more appropriate lives at
The problem is that the pundits
promoting this kind of transition
look at societies where people live long
and happy relatively are using the wrong language. They use terms
not as basket cases that need such as de-growth,
low levels of income and consumption zero growth orworst of
allde-development, which are technically
to be developed towards western models, but as exemplars of efficient accurate but off-putting for anyone who's not
terms are repulsive because they run
already on board. Such
living. against the deepest frames we
How much do we really need to live long and happy lives? In the use to think about human
progress, and, indeed, the purpose of life
US, life expectancy is 79 years and GDP per capita is $53,000. But itself. It's like asking people to stop
moving positively thorough life, to
stop leaming, improving, growing.
many countries have achieved similar life expectancy with a mere
fraction of this income. Cuba has a comparable life expectancy to the Negative formulations won't get us anywhere. The idea of
US and one of the highest literacy rates in the world with GDP per state" economics is a step in the right direction and is
"steady-
growing in
capita of only $6,000 and consumption of only 1.9 hectares--right at popularity, but it still doesn't get the framing right. We need to reorient
the threshold of ecological sustainability. Similar claims can be made of ourselves toward a positive future, a truer form of
progress. One
Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Tunisia. that is geared toward quality instead of
quantity. One that is more
Yes, some of the excess income and consumption we see in the sophisticated than just accumulating ever increasing amounts of stuf
rich world yields improvements in quality of life that are not captured by which doesn't make anyone happier anyway. What is certain is that
GDP as a measure is not going to get us there and we need to
ife expectancy, or even literacy rates. But even if we look at measures get rid
of it.
of overall happiness and wellbeing in addition to life expectancy, a
number of low- and middle-income countries rank Perhaps we might take a cue from Latin Americans, whoare
highly. Costa Rica
manages to sustain one of the highest happiness indicators and life organizing alternative visions around the indigenous concept of buen
expectancies in the world with a per capita income one-fourth that of vivir, or good living. The west has its own tradition of reflection on the
the US. good life and it's time we revive it. Robert and Edward Skidelsky take
us down this road in his book How Much is Enough? where they lay out
in light of this, perhaps we should regard such countries not as the possiblity of interventions such as banning advertising. a shorter
underdeveloped, but rather as appropriately developed. And maybe we
working week and a basic income, all of which would improve our lives
needto start calling on rich countries to justify their excesses. while reducing consumption.
The ideaof"de-developing rich countries might prove to be a strong Either we slow down voluntarily or climate change will do it for us.
rallying coy in the global south, but it will be tricky to sell to westemers. ignoring the laws of nature. But rethinking our theory of
Tricky, but not impossible. According to recent consumer research, We can't go on
 HUMAN CONDITION
AND THE
SOCIETY,

66 SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY,
HUMAN FLOURISHING AS REFLECTED IN PROGRES AND DEVELOPMENT 67
also a developmen
Imperative, it is 3. What is the standard response
an ecological
progressienotonly herd-won galns against
poverty wi to
eradicating poverty?
not act soon, all our
one,if we do collapse and mass ramine
reemerges to
evaporate, aofood systems
since the 19 century.
anextent not seen it's certalnly not about livina
notabout giving anything up.And
Jhisle potential 4. What is the threshold of the Earth for
harshlimits on human
alife of voluntanry mlsery orimposlng higherlevelof understanding and sustaining life? adequately
On thecontrary,IP's aboutreaching a
we're doing here and why.
consoloueness about what
it's time to 'de-
'developing' poor countries,
Source HIckel, J (2015) ForgetThe Guardlon. Retrieved from https://www
deveiop'richcountrles.
theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/

ep/23/developing-poor-countrles-de-develop-rich-countries-sdasl
5. According to the majority of people in middle- and high-
income countries, what puts the
planet and society at
risk?

E E READING EXERCISE

6. How many hectares should each of us consume

After reading the article, answer the following questions on the
annually
based on the resources available in the planet?
spaces provided.
1. What is the main objective of the Sustainable
Development Goals of the United Nations?
7. What are two indicators of the quality of life given in the
article?

2. What is the standardized unit that measures resource use

and waste?