BARBADO, ROMUELLE B.

MAY 29,2020
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ASSIGNMENT 6. DOCUMENTARY FILM ANALYSIS

1. Why was C.C Lewis very much a skeptic and critic of scientism? Was he against science?
C.S. Lewis is not against science but he is against the excessive and improper handling of science
itself which is called scientism characterized by excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge
and techniques because it may lead to improper handling which may lead to its corruption of its
power.
2. How did C.S. Lewis explain the following:
A. Science as Religion
Humans are like computers programmed to seek answers to the unknown. Science
somehow answers the fruits of their curiosity in a more elaborated way which makes them be
against the church and somehow make science as their religion and pay honor and respect to
known scientists and makes these scientists such as Charles Darwin as their god.
B. Science as Credulity
As what I have written in the paragraph above, humans always seek answers which makes
them vulnerable for being easily drawn to information dressed and supported by science. People
wants reasons, concrete reasons that would satisfy them and it is what makes them gullible.
C. Science as Power
Science bring good things but there is danger to it. It allows us to control and manage
things in our desire and often times, some people abuses it just like what they did on Germany,
the Holocaust because of scientific experiments and in Alabama, for using human guinea pigs.
3. Why C.S. Lewis think that modern science is far more dangerous than magic?
Because science is continuous in its conquest for answers and is more controlled by
humans which can be corrupted and use it in evil.
4. Why did C.S. Lewis become increasingly concerned about the rise of scientocracy? How does
scientocracy relate to scientism?
Because it lets science be in control of a government made for people. A government is
made for people with the help of facts, justice,rights and human essence while science are more
concerned in facts and fact-based reasons which is often not emphatic to human.
5. Based on what you learned in the documentary film, how does scientism pose a threat to the
human person flourishing in science and technology? Why should science be guided by an ethical
basis that is not dictated by science itself?
Excessive belief in science (scientism) could lead to inhumane actions imposed by those who
holds the power. Science should be guided by ethical basis in order to make sure that human rights
and human dignity is not compromised.

EXERCISE 1. Compare and contrast each pair of terms related to Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics as
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discussed in this section.

1. Instrumental Good - Ultimate Good
Both terms are used to describe acquiring good however one was temporary and the other was
good itself.
Instrumental good are things that we use to acquire good in life such as wealth, pleasure, honor
and fame but those things are only temporary and does not totally give us a concrete and long lasting
happiness. So it will often result in us craving and desiring for more greater good.
On the other hand, ultimate good is good itself. It is long lasting and it makes us see all the good
things in life no matter how cruel the world is and it drives us to do well in everything we wish to do.
It gives us contentment and happiness which will inspire us to do good things everyday and in
everything.

2. Pleasure - Happiness
These two things are essential in human life for it allows us to enjoy this temporary thing we are
given, our life. However, these two are different things, pleasure is short-lived or transitory, it is
taking something for oneself, it can be achieved by substances or material things and it is experienced
alone. While on the other hand, happiness is long-lived, it is about giving onto others, it cannot be
achieved with substances or material things and it is experienced in a community or social group.

3. Virtue -Vice
Both terms deal with human behaviour which explains the good and the bad sides of every
human. Virtue is a pattern of behaviour that is usually beneficial to an individual or a society.
On the other hand, vice indicates the bad sides of people. It is the behaviour of an individual
which often results to a harmful circumstances to an individual or society.

4. Intellectual Virtue- Moral Virtue

Virtue is the driving force of every human being to do well on things and it is divided into two
types: Intellectual virtue and moral virtue.
Intellectual virtue is learned through education, time and experience. It can be earned through
going to non-formal-acquired through self-taught knowledge and skills, and formal means- acquired
knowledge and skills through formal institutions.

5. Science and Technology - The good Life

Science and technology helps us to have a convenient and developed life. In general, it is just a
tool for us humans to attain a good life but with the guidance of virtues.
The good life is the state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous in the way one thinks, live and
acts. The path of good life consists of virtues of thought and character which are the two mediators
between excess and deficiency.

EXERCISE 1. Reading and Comprehension Task

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1. What is the human rights-based approach to science, technology and development?

The approach is concerned with the well-being of human as its center or guide to development.
It addresses the inequalities, discrimination and unjust power relations which are often comes with
the development of technology.

2. How do the documents and their key principles presented in Table 2 position human rights in the
intersection of technology and humanity?
The documents are geared towards giving protocols that ensures the well-being of humans as
well as their participation and being given aright to become a beneficiary of any development.
In addition to that, the documents also promote having all states to develop and produce
appropriate education and researches for people which will benefit them, economically, socially,
culturally and environmentally.

3. Why should human rights be at core of scientific and technological advancement?

Because scientific and technological advancement is a creation of man which helps man to attain
the good. And in the process, we should ensure that our safety, dignity and rights shall be respected.
We create these things for development and be the catalyst for unity of every race, therefore human
rights should be the core for man will create and man will also be the one who’ll benefit.

4. What is the danger of using human rights as merely decorative moral dimension of scientific and
technological policies?
We are humans and we are susceptible to temptations and evil desires. Using human rights as
mere decorative moral dimension will result into corruption and inequality towards human beings.
The one who holds the technology might have the opportunity to abuse it in his quest to self
satisfaction.

5. Do you agree with Mukherjee’s assertion that a human rights-based approach to science and
technology, and development can form the very heart of sustainable futures?Explain.
Yes. Because if we value human rights, we will also value our resources. There will be a close
relation and interaction between rich and poor countries and will assist them to know what is needed
and what is not and will result in balancing the excess and scarcity. There will be equal sharing of
opportunities to develop for every side is aware that everyone has the right to live a good life and
they will be responsible in taking care of the environment for they will be aware that the resources
they use are from the environment itself.