Module 2 The Human Person & Good Life

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTOR

Fatima R. Rivera, Gloria Meryl T. Kingat, Tomasa P. Collalad, Jessica Jyra A. Bulatao,
MA Ed PhD MA Ed BS Biology

1. Analyze the human condition to deeply reflect and express

philosophical ramifications that are meaningful to the student as a part
of society
2. Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and
technology so that the student can define for himself/herself the
meaning of the good life
LEARNING 3. Assess the idea of the good life in the light of Aristotle’s Nichomachean
OUTCOMES Ethics.
4. Emphasize happiness and virtues as integral components of the good
life.
5. Cite contemporary issues and formulate solutions guided by an ethical
standard that leads to a good life.

Human Flourishing in Science & Technology

In module 1, the general concepts, definitions, history, and
development of science and technology were presented. This
module introduces philosophical foundations that will examine the
functions, roles, and impacts of science and technology in our
present society. This module focuses on two philosophical ideas,
ENGAGE which are mainly proposed by Martin Heidegger and Jason Hickel. As
a warm-up, read the passage below by Gonzalo Schwarz.

"The quest for human progress and flourishing has always been at the center of
civilization. People always seek to live better lives and provide a better life for their
kids. In the process, they seek to live lives of meaning and aspire to fulfill their
potential. Although societies are made up of heterogeneous individuals with
different preferences, people reliably organize themselves in groups,
communities, or nations to improve the status quo (progress). The quest to live
better and more meaningful lives and to provide a better life for future
generations, especially our children, is as strong a commonality as there exists in
the world."

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 The Question Concerning Technology

This section lets you explore the process of questioning technology. It presents
the key concepts related to Martin Heidegger’s work and how they relate to
understanding technology's essence.
EXPLORE
Martin Heidegger pointed out the following main points in his article "The
Question Concerning Technology:"
✓ The essence of technology is by no means anything technological.
✓ Technology is a way of revealing (the truth).
✓ Modern technology challenges forth (humans exploit nature for the
sake of development).
✓ Enframing is the process of humankind's desire to control everything,
including nature.
✓ The dangers of technology lie in how humans let themselves be
consumed by it.
✓ Art is techne; it is an act of the mind; art is considered a saving power
and the way out of enframing.
✓ Questioning is wisdom gained when people can pause, think, and
question what is around them. It is only through questioning that people
will reflect on who they are in the midst of technological development.

To understand more about the highlights of Heidegger’s philosophy, watch

the video found in the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN0V7qtjmUU

Describe one modern technology that challenges forth. Why

do you consider it as a challenge forth technology?

_______

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 How much is too much?

There is another idea that critiques human flourishing vis-à- vis progress in
science and technology. It is Jason Hickel’s concept of de-development.
Before you continue, reflect on this question:
EXPLAIN

Is it possible for people to lessen

their consumption but remain
happy and contented?

To answer this question, access and thoroughly comprehend the article and
video-lecture by Jason Hickel indicated in the links below.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-
professionals-network/2015/sep/23/developing-poor-countries-
de-develop-rich-countries-sdgs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HckWP75yk9g

People believed that the more they can purchase things and avail
themselves of services, the more 'developed' and 'progressive' are the lives
they lead. However, in his article, Hickel clarified that massive
consumption does not necessarily equate to long and happy lives.

Accomplish the personal consumption check in the next section of this

module to realize what you can reduce or minimize without sacrificing or
improving your daily life quality.

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 My Consumption Check

Think of the daily activities you indulge in. Evaluate whether these activities are
something that you can “de-develop.” What could be the impacts of such
de-development in your everyday life? Write your responses in the table
below. An example is provided for you.

Ways by which I can Impacts of this "de-

"de-develop." development in my life
Example: I will be able to save extra money and
I will lessen my milk tea spend this on school-related things. Also,
consumption from five I will reduce my sugar intake, which
(5) times per week to means I am also taking a healthy lifestyle
only once per week. step.
1

Reflect on the answers you have provided. How do you feel that you can
let go of these activities/things in your daily life? Indeed, you now
undoubtedly appreciate that there are things, especially material ones,
which are worth letting go. Do you agree?

However, take note that, according to Jason Hickel, de- development is not
about totally giving things up. He further reiterates that it is not about living
a life of intended desolation or imposing harsh human abilities restrictions.
Instead, he pointed out that it is about attaining a higher level of
understanding and consciousness about what we are doing here and why.

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 Aristotle and the Good Life

In the previous sections of this module, the human flourishing in the

context of progress in science and technology was discussed.
Furthermore, you were able to differentiate the traditional
ELABORATE framework of progress and development from Hickel’s concept of
de-development. At this point, ponder on these:

1. If you consider yourself successful in attaining progress and

development to satisfy your needs, are you happy?
2. Are you now living a good life? What is a good life to each
one of you?

This portion of the module will let you probe into the good life in the context of
Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle.

Aristotle’s ethical theory is thorough and complex. The Books I-III of the
Nichomachean Ethics (2009) defines the human good, the nature of virtue and
how to acquire it; the necessary conditions related to the agent himself; and the
nature of deliberation and choice. Everyone has a definition of what “the good”
is, such as a good cellphone, good laptop, good outfit, good pen, and a good
pair of shoes, and so on. Looking very carefully, “the good” is directly linked to a
thing’s operation. The proper operation of a cellphone is to communicate, and so
a good cellphone will be able to communicate clearly and efficiently. A thing
operates according to its nature.

Try to answer the questions:

“Are you living a good life?”

“Are you happy?”

To seek answers to these questions, there has to be a standard to serve as a guide

towards living a good life amid scientific progress and technological
advancement.

The Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics

The Nichomachean Ethics [abbreviated as NE or EN] is a treatise on moral life and

happiness anchored on human nature's unique essence. This is very much needed
in defining what a good life is. Good judgment requires one to find the mean
between extremes. For one to do this, she/he must have both general knowledge
and particular experience. Practical wisdom is the intellectual virtue (intellectual
virtues are higher than moral virtues), which governs deliberation and action.

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 In the table below, you will find some examples of the golden mean taken from
Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics (Book II):

Happiness, for Aristotle, is not something that comes to us from the outside.
Rather, happiness emanates from within. Happiness is an activity, not a passivity;
that is, it is not something that happens to you or comes to you from without. It is
an activity rooted in human choices. In other words, if someone is unhappy, it is
because he has not chosen well.
Moreover, if one is happy, it is only because he has chosen well. Remember,
a good man is one who reasons well and chooses well. Hence, a good man is a
happy man. According to Aristotle, happiness is going to result from making
choices that promote the fullness of one’s nature. Human nature has specific
powers; namely, intellect, will, and the concupiscible and irascible appetites. Thus,
human happiness is going to lie in the perfection or right ordering of those human
powers. Habits, obviously good habits, perfect these particular powers of the soul.
A good habit is a virtue, while a bad habit is a vice. Thus, happiness is an activity
following perfect virtue. Virtue is two-fold: intellectual virtue (wisdom, science,
understanding of first principles), and moral virtue (prudence, justice, fortitude,
temperance). Moral virtues are habits that make their possessor morally good. On
the other hand, intellectual virtues do not make a person morally good, but wise,
or knowledgeable, or learned.
A key component of Aristotle’s theory of happiness is the factor of virtue. He
contended that if one aims for happiness, one must possess complete virtue or
good moral character. Aristotle identified friendship as being one of the most
important virtues in achieving the goal of eudaimonia. He highly valued friendship
and described a virtuous friendship as the most enjoyable combining both
pleasure and virtue. He continued to put forward his belief that happiness involves,
through the course of an entire life, choosing the greater good, not necessarily that
which brings immediate, short term pleasure. Hence, to Aristotle, happiness can

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 only be achieved at the life-end: it is a goal, not a temporary state of being. He
believed that happiness is not short-lived:

Is a person who is successful in life automatically becomes happy

according to Aristotle? Why or why not?

_______

“For as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one
day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.”

The essence of technology is the main argument discussed by Martin

Heidegger in his article, The Question Concerning Technology.

De-development is a concept introduced by Jason Hickel. The idea is that the

rich countries should slow down in their consumption so that emerging nations
can "catch-up."

Human flourishing is a concept developed by Aristotle. It means that each

KEYPOINTS being has a specific responsibility to struggle, advance, and build his/her best
nature to attain eudaimonia.

Eudaimonia comes from two Greek words: eu, which means good, and
daimon, meaning spirit. Combining the two root words, eudaimonia means
happiness or welfare.

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 Human Flourishing and STS

Now that you have understood the ideas presented by Martin Heidegger and
Jason Hickel, you will now connect their concepts to the classical Aristotelian
notion, eudaimonia.
EVALUATE
Aristotle defines eudaimonia as "good-spirited," which is the pinnacle of
happiness that humans attain. Eudaimonia or good- spirited is translated to
human flourishing in literature, likening humans to flowers in achieving their full
bloom.

According to Aristotle, human flourishing arises from different components

such as phronesis, friendship, wealth, and power. In ancient times, people
assert that acquiring all these qualities will surely bring happiness and a good
life.

However, as time changes, the elements of true happiness changes as well.

Our concept of human flourishing today differs from what Aristotle has
perceived initially.

3-2-1 Exit Ticket

To conclude today’s lesson, fill in the table below.

3 things I learned from 2 things I want to learn 1 question I have

this module more about

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 Before you end today, check/color the emoji that reflects how you got on in
today’s lesson.

CHEd Recommendations

• Heidegger: The Question Concerning Technology. (2020).

Retrieved 20 October 2020, from
http://www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/heidegger/guide1.html
REFERENCES
• Jason Hickel | Global Development Professionals Network | The
Guardian. (2020). Retrieved 20 October 2020, from
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jason-hickel

• Quinto, Edward Jay M. and Aileen D Nieva (2019). Science,

Technology and Society: Outcome-Based Module. C & E, Inc.
Quezon City, Philippines.

• Smith, Jack (2019). The Aristotelian Good Life and Virtue Theory.
International Business and Social Sciences. Vol. 10. No 1.

• The Good Life: Aristotle (video) | Khan Academy. (2021). Retrieved

14 January 2021, from https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-
content/wi-phi/wiphi- value-theory/wiphi-good-life/v/the-good-
life-aristotle

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