Science, Technology and Society

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT Session

6 2 3
Human Flourishing

 Read course and unit objectives

 Read study guide prior to class attendance
 Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
 Proactively participate in classroom discussions
 Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
 Answer and submit course unit tasks

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

1. Identify different concepts of human flourishing.
2. Relate human flourishing to the progress of science and technology.
3. Critique human flourishing vis-a vis the progress of science and technology.

Hickel, J. 2015). Forget ‘developing rich countries, it’s time to de-develop ‘rich countries.
http://www.the guardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/sep/23/ developing-
poor-countries-de-develop-rich countries-sdgs
 Human flourishing is defined as an endeavor to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment within the
context of a larger community of individuals. This also means access to the pleasant life, the engaged
or good life and the meaningful life.
(Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson, 2005), stated that human flourishing requires the
development of attributes and social and personal levels that exhibit character strengths and virtues
that are commonly agreed across different cultures.
According to Aristotle, there is an end of all the actions that we perform which we desire for itself.
Flourishing is the greatest good of human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim. The good is
what is good for purposeful and goal-directed entities. He presented the various popular conceptions of
the best life for human beings; (1) a philosophical life, (2).life of pleasure and (3) a life of political
activity.
Eudamonia means good spirit is a property of one’s life when considered as a whole. It is formally
egoistic in that a person’s normative reason for choosing particular actions stems from the idea that he
must pursue his own good or flourishing. It also implies a divine state of being that humanity is able to
strive toward and possibly reach.
Happiness is “doing well” and” living well”. It is a pleasant state of mind.
Verbally there is a very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior
refinement say that is ( Eudaimonia), and identify living well and faring well with being happy; but with
regard to what ( Eudaimonia) is they differ, and the many do not give the same account as the wise…
(Nicomachean Ethics 1095a17).
Epicurus identifies that the eudaimon life is the life of pleasure maintains that life of pleasure
coincides with the life of virtue. He understands Eudaimonia as a more or less continuous experience of
pleasure and, also freedom from pain and distress. Virtue is only instrumentally related to happiness.
Socrates believed that virtues such as self-control, justice, courage, wisdom, piety and related
qualities of mind and soul are absolutely crucial if a person is to lead a good and happy life. Virtues
guarantee a happy life Eudaimonia
For Plato, Eudaimonia depends on virtue (arête) which is depicted as the most crucial and the
dominant constituent of euddaimonia.
Pyrrho, founder of Pyrrhonism, a school of philosophical skepticism that places the attainment of
ataraxia (a state of equanimity) as a way to achieve Eudaimonia. Pyrrhonist practice is for the purpose
of achieving epoch.
Dasein” which literally means “being there” focuses on the “mode of existence”
Eudemonia is consists of Greek words “eu” which means “good” and “daemon” which means “spirit”.

Dayrit, F. (2011). Sustainable Development: An Evolving Paradigm for the 21 st Century. Stellar
Origins, Human Ways.

Study Questions

After Reading the article “Forget ‘developing rich countries, it’s time to de-develop ‘rich countries”
by Jason Hickel. Answer the following questions;

1. What is the standard response to eradicating poverty?

2. According to the majority of people in middle-and high-income countries, what puts the
planet and society at risk?
3. What are the two indicators of the quality of life given in the article?
4. According to Hickel, what must be done instead of urging poor countries to “catch up with
rich ones?

Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics.1095a17.

Eudaimonia- Wikipedia. en.m.wikipedia.org.
McNamara, DJ., VAlverde VM, Beleno III, R. Science, technology
and Society.C&E Publishing Inc. 2018. Chapter 7 pp. 78-80. ISBN:
978-971-98-0935-7