Republic of the Philippines

Province of Cotabato
MUNICIPALITY OF MAKILALA
MAKILALA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Course Code : STS-1 Instructor : Angelina Portillo

Course Description : Science, Technology, and Society Mobile # : 09101074283
Module :4 FB/Messenger : Angelina S. Portillo
Credit Units :3
Duration : 2 Weeks

 Objectives
After reading this module, you are expected to:
1. define good the - life
2. explain the concept of the good life by Aristotle
3. identify some famous Filipinos in the field of science
4. list examples of technology and give their benefits and risk to humanity
5. identify moral and in advance technology
6. reflect on the reading material entitled “ why the future does not need us”

 Topics:
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY, AND THE HUMAN CONDITION
Lessons 1. Definition of Good Life
2. Aristotle’s Concepts of Good Life
3. Principles of happiness as a goal of Good life
4. When technology and Human Cross
5. Moral and Ethical Issues in advanced Technology
6. Why the Future Does not need us
III. References:
McNamara, D. J., Valverde, V. M. S., & Beleno, R. B. III. (2018). Science, Technology, and
IV. Society. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.
Serafica, J. P. J., Pawilen, G. T., Caslib, B. N. Jr., & Alata, E. J. P. (2018). Science, Technology,
and Society. Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.
Course Content

Introduction
Everyone is in pursuit of the good life. We do certain things because we want to achieve a life
which will make us happy and content. By studying and working hard, we try to attain this goal not only
for ourselves but also for our loved ones and the rest of humanity. People’s definition of the good life
may vary. However, we recognize universal truths that cut across our differences.

Lesson 1: Definition of Good Life

Nicomachean Ethics and Modern Concepts
 Aristotle, an important ancient Greek philosopher whose work spans from natural philosophy to
logic and political theory, attempted to explain what the good is.

1
 Examples of activities that express virtue:

The 1. A student acts to be the best version of a student by studying well and fulfilling the
activities demands of school.
contrary 2 . An athlete who strives to be the best version of an athlete by training hard as well as joining
to virtue and winning in sports competitions.
are those
which
do  According to Aristotle, happiness is the ultimate end of human action. It is that which people
not pursue for its own sake. (Eg. financial stability for one’s family, the power achieved from winning
result the elections, or the harmony and peace as a reward for taking care of the environment)
in Now such a thing as happiness above all else, is held to be; for this we choose always for itself
and never for the sake of something else, but honor, pleasure, reason, and every virtue we choose
indeed for themselves, but we choose them also for the sake of happiness, judging that by means
of them we shall be happy. Happiness, on the other hand, no one chooses for anything other than
itself (Nicomachean Ethics 2:7).
happiness, as follows:
 Happiness defines a good life. This happiness, however, is not the kind that comes from sensate
1. pleasures. It is that which comes from living a life of virtue, a life of excellence, manifested from
The the personal to the global scale.
lack It is the activities that express virtue that control happiness, and the contrary activities that control
of its contrary (Nicomachean Ethics 1:10)
discipli
ne in eating healthful food eventually makes one sick
2. The
lack of 1. Making sure that one avoids sugary and processed foods to keep healthy;
 The resulting health adds to one’s well-being and happiness
2. Taking care of the environment through proper waste management which results in a clean
environment
 The clean environment adds to people’s well-being and happiness.
These virtuous actions require discipline and practice.
The activities contrary to virtue are those which do not result in happiness, as follows:
concern
1. The lack of discipline in eating healthful food eventually makes one sick
for the
2. The lack of concern for the environment destroys the Earth we live in.

The good life is marked by happiness brought about by virtuous human actions and
decisions that affect the individual self and the greater community.
envir
onment destroys the Earth we live in.

 In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle stated: All human activities aim at some good. Every art and
human inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at same good; and for this
reason the good has been rightly declared as that at which all things aim (Nicomachean Ethics
2:2).
 Everyone is moving towards the good. Thus, completing one’s studies, training for a sport, or
taking a rest is a good. The good is expressed and manifested in many various ways for different
persons and circumstances. The good life, however, is more than these countless expressions of
what is good. It is characterized by happiness that springs form living and doing well.
…both the many and the cultivated call it happiness, and suppose that living well and doing well
are the same as being happy (Nicomachean Ethics 1:4)

 The ancient Greeks called this concept of “living well” and “doing well” as eudaimonia. The word
came from the Greek word eu meaning “good” and daimon meaning “spirit”. Taken together, it
generally refers to the good life, which is marked by happiness and excellence.
2
  For Plato, change is so perplexing that it can only make sense if there are two realities, the
Summary
Manworld of forms inand
is constantly theofworld
pursuit the goodof matter. Plato
life. Every recognized
person change as when
has his perspective a process
it comesandto a
phenomenonthe
what compromises thatgood
happenslife. inThroughout
the world, that in fact,
history, manit has
is constant.
worked hard in pointing out what
 For Aristotle, he disagreed
amounts to a good, happy life. and forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what
the senses can perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external world that one can
truly understand what reality is all about. Change is a process that is inherent in things (Eg. a
seed that turned to become the plant underwent change).
Lesson
 ForWhen
4: Technology
Aristotle, every humanand Humanity Cross for an end (eg. (1) a boy asks for a burger from a
person aspires
TheFilipino burger joint
ever-growing for the
society haspurpose
made peopleof gettingseefull or tasting the
technology burgerform
as some that of
henecessity.
only sees on TV,
Tracing
back its(2) a girlthe
origins, triesword
to finish her degree
technology came in from
the university
the Greek despite
words here
technēinitial
and failures
logos because
which mean she art
wants to have a license after graduating or to land a promising job in
and word, respectively. The roles played by technology these days are very crucial not only to a few the future).
butNo
also to everyone.
individual, young and old, fat or skinny, male or female—resists happiness. We all want to be
Television Sets, MobileAristotle
happy. As what Phones,is Computers,
claiming, happiness is the be all and end all of everything that we
and Humanity
do. Happiness is the grand motivating force in everything that a person does.
A number of technological devices can be easily found inside the home, the most accessible place
 What Aristotle actually means when we want to be happy, is human flourishing, a kind of
to anyone. Having said that, it can also be easily inferred that these technological devices are some of
contentment in knowing that one is getting the best out of life.
the most popular and most commonly used types of devices across all age groups. To be more
specific,
Lesson these “celebrities”
3: Principles Happiness in as
thethe
field of technology
Goal are television sets, mobile phones, and computers.
of a Good Life
People all over the world use these technologies every day to accomplish different purposes
Materialism
 The atomists, Democritus and Leucippus, were the first materialists in Ancient Greece. Their
primary belief is that the world is made up of and Televisions is controlledare by used
the tiny mainly as a units
indivisible platform
in thefor
world called atomos or seeds. advertisements and information dissemination. It
 For Democritus and his disciples, the world (including remains to human be the most isused
beings) made avenue
up of by different
matter.
advertisement
Atomos simply comes together randomly to form the things in the world. As such, only material companies not only in the Philippines
entities matter. but also all over the world. Various advertising
companies trust that television is still one of the most
 In terms of human flourishing, matter is what makes us attain happiness. We see this with people
used technological devices up until today. It also
who are clinging on to material wealth as the primary source of the meaning of their existence.
serves as a recreational activity and good stress
reliever to most families, especially to Filipino
Hedonism
families. Television also is a good platform for
 The hedonists see the end goal of life in acquiring different propagandas
pleasure, their priority.andFor advocacies.
them, life isLastly,
aboutit can
obtaining and indulging in pleasure because life also be a good way to bond with one’s family
is limited.
 Their mantra: “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow members. we die.”
 Just like their leader Epicurus, they do not buy any notion of afterlife just like the materialists.
Mobile phones are used primarily for
Stoicism communication. It offers services like texting and
calling. In the past, these were the only functions of
 The Stoics promotes the idea that to generate happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and
the mobile phone but as technology progressed,
be apathetic. The original term, apatheia, precisely means to be different.
 Virtue plays a significant there have been many Itadditional features included
For the Stoics, happinessrole caninonlythe beliving and attainment
attained by a careful of the good
practice life.apathy.
of is the constant practice
of the good no matter how difficult the circumstance on mobile may phones, In the
be. It is the present, of
excellence people
characteruse theirthat
empowers one to do and be good. It is cultivated with habit and discipline as it is not a one-timetake
Theism mobile phones to surf the Internet and to
pictures more than text withinor to call people. Thistois the
 deed, but a constant
Most people and series
find the meaning of of actions.
their Everyone
lives using God as has a the capacity
fulcrum of their existence. himself/herself
reason
makewhy more ofand more people all over the world
 beThegood,
theists’but he/shebasis
ultimate also of hashappiness
to be disciplined to
is the communion a with
habitGod. exercising
The worldthe wheregood.we are in
Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and prefer
moral, to buy
intellectual
is only just a temporary reality where we have to maneuver around while waiting for the smartphones
virtue in theover
main the
owes oldits models
birth
ultimate
and growth to teaching
return to the hands of God. (for which reason it where
requires such features
experience are
and not
time), available.
while These
moral make
comes
about astechnological
this particular a result of habit (Nicomachean
device very appealing Ethics to 2:1).
the masses. Additionally, it is very portable and
Humanism
 The onward
convenient because process
it canof fit science and technology
into any spaces, may it be isinside also thethepocket
movement or bag. towards the good life.
 Humanism
Science and is another schoolare
technology of one
thoughtof the which
highestpromotes
expressions the freedom
of human of facilities.
man to carve his own
They allow us to
destiny
thrive andand to legislate
flourish in life ifhiswe own
so laws,
desirefree from theand
it. Science shackles
technologyof a God maythat alsomonitors
corrupt and controls.
a person, but
 For the humanists,
grounding oneselfman is literally
in virtue the captain
will help him/her steerof his clear Computers
own ship. and laptops
They see themselves not merely
to danger. have also become part
as stewards of the creation but as individuals of who many are of in the Filipino
control of households.
themselves and Theretheareworldsome
outside them. This is the spirit of most scientists who thought that the world is a place and space or
Filipino families who own more than one computer
Lesson 2: Concept
for freely unearthing of Good
the world life byin Aristotle
seeking for ways laptop
on how while some own
to improve the livesat least one computer or
of its inhabitants.
 AsAristotle
a resultand
of the motivation of the laptop. However, the number of computers or
How We All Aspire forhumanist
a Good Life current, scientists eventually turned to technology in
order to ease the difficulty of life. Scientists of laptops
today sold per year
meanwhile aremay readynot to beconfront
as high more as the
 He is the first philosopher who approached the problem number ofofreality
mobilefromphonesa “scientific”
and lens and
television the
sets. This is
sophisticated attempts at altering the world for the benefit of humanity.
first thinker who dabbed into the complex problematization of the end goal of life:
because of the relatively higher cost of computers happiness.
 Aristotle vs. Plato: and laptops.
 Plato thought that things in this world are not real and are only copies of the real in the world of
forms while Aristotle claims that this world is all there is to it and that this world is the only
reality we can all access.

3
 Personal computers and laptops also have useful set
of functions and roles. Although most of the functions
found in these technological devices are now also
available in mobile phones, they still offer their own unique
features that make them attractive. For example, they can
be used to surf the Internet and communicate. They also
have features like calendar, calculator, music player, movie
player, camera, and many more. Moreover, they can be
used for playing games whether online or offline.

Lesson 5: Moral and Ethical Issues in Advanced Technology

Individuals and organizations use technology to enhance their daily operations, business, learning,
construction, or medical activities. Advancement in technology does not elicit ethical or moral issues,
but it is the use of technological inventions that raises these issues.
Ethical dilemmas arise when there are competing goods and competing evils, In regards to IT, the
sharing of private information within an organization raises the question of whether the action is moral
or immoral. Information systems enable people to manipulate records within a short period, thus
raising questions on whether the information is genuine or vague.
In addition, will genetic engineering improve the quality of life or destroy it? These are some of
ethical dilemmas that are yet to be solved. Furthermore, biotechnology raises some moral issues. It is
difficult to justify the use of living organisms during research and other technological discoveries. For
instances, vitro fertilization enables women who are not in a position to have their own children to
undergo the process. Religious groups are opposed to such practices because their belief does not
agree with them.

Similarly, the uses of technology have the capability of making many innocent people to suffering;
this is a moral concern. For example, nuclear technology has the potential of killing many people, and
consequently destroying the environment. This raises some health problems. People affected by
nuclear emissions, such as those witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are deemed to be genetically
impaired. Such affects can affect the next generations of affected individuals.

The use of computers also raises health issues. Even though computer makes our work easier, it
is evident that prolonged use of computers results to repetitive stress injuries.

Almost every day, people of influence claim that machines will soon threaten the existence of
humanity. According to Stephen Hawking, a well-known cosmologist, 'The development of full artificial
intelligence could spell the end of the human race,' and Elon Musk, a renowned inventor and investor,
insists, 'I think human extinction will probably occur, and technology will likely play a part in this.'

In order to understand, attaching scientific labels to the stages of industrial and technological
development. There have essentially been three stages of development up to now. The first, putting
machines - trucks, ships, winches - to work; the second, making these machines automatic, as seen
in the industrial production and autopilot in planes, by designing them to follow pre-calculated and
stored patterns; the third, programming these automatic machines to learn and store new patterns.
Through the observatory process in stage three, robots and machines would be able to cope with
unknown or unexpected situations, such as offering better service for unpredictable consumer
behavior or navigating tricky traffic. Sophia, a robot which is inspired by Audrey Hepburn's features,
was the first robot to receive citizenship.

Stage 1 machinery led to unemployment for a significant number of workers, no question about it.
However, these jobs were often either too strenuous, impossible or sometimes deadly for humans.
Consider logging, transporting heavy items or mining. We should be grateful that these jobs are now
primarily done by machines since these jobs often proved more dangerous than productive when
performed by people.

However, many more have also lost jobs thanks to stage 2 machines, a robotic trend with no end
in sight. The automatization of office-related tasks, food production and services along with robotic
assembly lines are some examples. Studies have shown that more than half of all jobs have either
already been lost or will be lost to robots within the next 15 years.

4
 The Role of Robots
The first two scenarios entail our extinction, but even the third option is bad. In this last scenario,
the elite would fulfill all physical
Robotsand
playpsychological
different roles needs
not onlyofinthe
themasses, whilepeople
lives of the at thebut
same
also time
in
engineering the massesthe to sublimate their desire for power. In this case, the masses might
society as a whole. They are primarily used to ease the workload of be happy,
but they wouldn't be free.mankind. They were invented to make life more efficient and less stressful.
They perform complicated activities which human beings are incapable of
Joy asserted that: doing. On the other hand, they perform the simplest tasks at home so that
Accustomed to living withmasters
their almost can
routine scientific
perform the breakthroughs,
complex ones we havestressing
without yet to come to terms
themselves
with the fact that the most
over compelling 21st-century
the simple tasks. There aretechnologies--robotic,
also robots which are genetic
made forengineering,
pleasure. To and
nanotechnology-pose abe different threat than
more specific, thesethe technologies
types that have
of robots perform come
activities before. Specifically,
to entertain people.
robots, engineered organisms,
They canand nanobots
be usually foundshare a dangerous
in amusement amplifying
parks or exhibits. Infactor: They
addition, can
there
self-replicate. A bomb isare
blown
alsoup onlyrobots
some once-but
whichonewerebot can to
made become many,
serve as a toy.and
Theyquickly get out of
also perform
control. different activities but they are usually child-friendly.

Each of these technologies also offers untold promise: The vision of near immortality drives us
forward; genetic engineering may soon provide treatments, if not outright cures, for most diseases;
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Robots
and nanotechnology and nanomedicine can address yet more ills. Together they could significantly
extend Justourlike
average Life span
any other and improve
technological the quality of our
advancements, lives. Yet,
robotics with
also eachdifferent
faces of these problems
technologies, and
adilemmas.
sequence of small,the
Although individually sensible
idea is to help advances
people and makeleads to lives
their an accumulation
a lot easier thanofbefore,
great power and,
it is still not
concomitantly,
immune to different greatethical
dangerdilemmas
(Joy, 2000).
and possible undesirable outcomes. One of the dilemmas faced
by robots is safety. Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot? It
Joy findstothese
is important know whoarguments both
should be convincing
blamed and whoand troubling.
should be heldAbout this time
responsible if suchJoy read
thing Hans
happens.
Moravec's book Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind where he found predictions similar to
Another dilemma is the emotional component. This may seem a little absurd as of the moment, but
Kurzwei''s. Joy was especially concerned by Moravec's claim that technological superiors always
looking at how fast technology progresses nowadays, it is not completely impossible for robots to
defeat technological inferiors, as well as his claim that humans will become extinct as they merge with
develop emotions.
the robots. Disturbed, Joy consulted other computer scientists who, for the most part, agreed with
these predictions.
Summary
Joy's worries
In our modern focus on the
times, theretransforming technologies
are different of the
advancements 21 century--genetics,
given nanotechnology,
by science and technology. However,
and robotics (GNR). What is particularly problematic about them is their potential to self-replicate.
there are still problems faced by these technological advancements specifically on the ethical aspects This
makes them
in nature andinherently
mankind. more dangerous
It is now impossiblethan 20th-century
for technology andtechnologies-nuclear,
humanity not to crossbiological,
paths andandit is
chemical weapons-which are expensive to build and require rare raw materials.
necessary that ethics be enforced in the field of technology to ensure safety and morality of these By contrast,
21st-century
advancements technologies allow for small groups or individuals to bring about massive destruction. Joy
to living things.
also argues that we will soon achieve the computing power necessary to implement some of the
Lesson 6: envisioned
scenarios Why the Future Does Not
by Kurzweil Need
and Us
Moravec, but worries that we overestimate our design abilities.
Suchhubris may lead to disaster.
Each person in the society is directly or indirectly affected by technology. And most people today
survive their everyday
For example, lives iswith
robotics great reliance
primarily motivatedto by
the the
different
desiretechnological advancements
to be immortal--by already
downloading
availableinto
ourselves to the masses.
them. Moreover,
But Joy doesn'tTechnology
believe thatmade our be
we will liveshuman
easier after
and more convenientorthan
the download thatever
the
before!
robots would be our children. AS for genetic engineering, it will create new crops, plants, and
eventually new species including many variations of human species, but Joy fears that we don't know
Bill Joy (1954) is an American computer scientist who co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982 and
enough to safely conduct such experiments. And nanotechnology confronts the so-called "gray goo"
served as chief scientist at the company until 2003. His now famous Wired magazine essay, "Why the
problem-self-replicating nanobots out of control. In short, we may be on the verge of killing ourselves!
future doesn't need us;"(2000) sets forth his deep concerns over the development of modern
Is it not arrogant, he wonders, to design a robot replacement species when we so often make design
technologies. Joy traces his worries to a discussion he had with Ray Kurzweil at a conference in 1998.
mistakes?
He had read an early draft of Kurzweil's The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed
Human Intelligence
Joy warns: and found itof
The experiences deeply disturbing.
the atomic Subsequently,
scientists he encountered
clearly show the need toarguments by the
take personal
Unabomber the
responsibility, Teddanger
Kaczynski.
that Kaczynski argued
things will move toothat
fast,ifand
machines
the waydo all of a
in which society’s
process work, as they
can take on a
inevitably
life of its own. will,We
then weascan:
can, they 23 did, create insurmountable problems in almost no time flat. We must
do more thinking up front if we are not to be similarly surprised and shocked by the consequences of
oura)inventions.
let the machines make all the decisions; or
b) maintain human control over the machines.
Joy concludes that we ought to relinquish these technologies before it's too late. Yes, GNR may
bring happiness
If we choose and"a"
immortality,
then we arebut at
should we riskof
the mercy the survival
our or theIt species
machines. for such
is not that goals?give
we would Joythem
thinks not.or that they would take control, rather, we might become so dependent on them that we would
control
have to accept their commands. Needless to say, Joy doesn't like this scenario. If we choose "b" then
Science and technology may be the highest expression of human rationality. People are able to
control would be in the hands of an elite, and the masses would be unnecessary. In that case, the tiny
shape or destroy the word with it. Theoretical physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson, in the
elite:
documentary The Day after trinity (1981) shared his thoughts and sentiments as a scientist taking part in the
development of nuclearthe
1) would exterminate power.
masses;
2) reduce their birthrate so they slowly became extinct; or

3) become benevolent shepherds to the masses.

5
 I have felt it myself. The glitter of nuclear weapons. It is irresistible if you come to them as a
scientist. To feel it’s there in your hands, to release this energy that fuels the stars, to let it do your
bidding. To perform these miracles, to lift a million tons of rock into the sky. It is something that gives
people an illusion of illimitable power, and it is, in some ways, responsible for all our troubles--this,
what you might call technical arrogance, that overcomes people when they see what they can do with
their minds.
V.
Summary Activity/ Exercises:
Genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics are too dangerous to pursue; we should abandon them. I
A.
think Joy's call for relinquishment is unrealistic. The real danger is not that machines will overthrow us...
but that we give them too much authority…Or that we become too much like them! Embrace
technology but don’t become it.
Gra
phic Organizer. Using a graphic organizer, list down some technology you see or use at home,
at school or in your community, and in social media. Categorize them according
to their purpose as Transportation, Communication, Agriculture, Education, and
Medical Technology.). Describe briefly how you or the community use these
technologies you listed below.

TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATION AGRICULTURE EDUCATION MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

B. Video Critic. Watch and reflect on the Video about Sophia the AI Robot which once said that
it would destroy humans. Then, answer the question that follows.

Criteria: Content - 15 Organization - 3 Mechanics - 2

1. Is it really the fault of these technological devices for bringing undesirable consequences to the
people? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

VI. ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION:

A. True or False. Below are statements that describe the principles of happiness as a goal for a good
life. Write True if the statement is correct and False if the statement is incorrect.
Write your answer on the space provided before the number.

9
 _____________ 1. The hedonists do believe in the notion of afterlife.
_____________ 2. Epicurus led the stoics who espoused the idea that to generate happiness,
one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic.
_____________ 3. The famous mantra: “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die”,
emanated from the materialists.
_____________ 4. We may not realize it but the end goal of everything that we do is happiness.
_____________ 5. Humanism is a school of thought which promoted the idea that God is the
fulcrum of our existence.
_____________ 6. The humanists promote the idea that man is literally the captain of his own
ship.
_____________ 7. Scientists of today are motivated by the humanists as they can now turn to
technology in order to make life activities easier.
_____________ 8. The ultimate basis of happiness for atheists is their communion with God.

_____________ 9. Plato was the first philosopher who approached the problem of reality from a
scientific lens.

___________ 10.Aristotle supported the idea of Plato who thought that things in this world are
not real and are only copies of the real in the world of forms.

B. Table Completion. List at least one example of technology in each category and give its
corresponding benefits and risks as regards to their purpose. Explain briefly each
point you included.

C. Short Response Essay. Briefly answer the following questions based on your understanding.
Criteria: Content - 3 Organization - 1 Mechanics - 1

1. What is your idea of a good life as conceived by Aristotle? Explain and give an example.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think is interplay between technology and humanity?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the article “why the future does not need us” by Joy all about?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

4. How does the message of the selection “why the future does not need us” by Joy affect you as a
person in the future?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. How does the author convey the audiences in the section “why the future does not need us”?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

END OF MODULE