A QUICK INFORMATION GUIDE

The Human
Person
Flourishing in
Terms of Science
and Technology
By: Diaz, Frances & Garcia, Allen
Introduction:
HUMANS POSSESS HIGHER INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY AND
HAVE HARNESSED THEIR ABILITIES TO DISCOVER, CREATE,
AND MANIPULATE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THIS
JOURNEY TOWARDS INNOVATION IS DRIVEN BY OUR
INTELLECT AND FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT IS GOOD, AS
WELL AS THE GRACE FROM A HIGHER POWER. TECHNOLOGY,
OFTEN SEEN AS A MEANS FOR EFFICIENCY AND COMFORT,
CAN ALSO SERVE HIGHER PURPOSES BEYOND MERE
CONVENIENCE. (ADONISKATHLEEN, 2019)
 What is Happiness
In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of
well-being which can be defined by, among others, positive or
pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.
To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we
experience when we do something good or positive.
To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of
hormones released in the brain as a reward for behavior that
prolongs survival.
The hedonistic view of well-being is that happiness is the
polar opposite of suffering, the presence of happiness
indicates the absence of pain. Because of this, hedonists
believe that the purpose of life is to maximize happiness,
which minimizes misery.

The Human Person Flourishing in Terms of Science and Technology

Aristotle NO.1

Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life with other people.
ANCIENT GREEK Aristotle taught that people acquire virtues through practice and that a set
PHILOSOPHER AND of concrete virtues could lead a person toward his natural excellence and
happiness.
POLYMATH

NO.2

According to Aristotle, there is an end of all of the actions that we perform

which we desire for itself. This is what is known as eudaimonia, flourishing,
or happiness, which is desired for its own sake with all other things being
desired on its account. Eudaimonia is a property of one's life when
considered as a whole. Flourishing is the highest good of human endeavors
and that toward which all actions aim. It is success as a human being. The
best life is one of excellent human activity.
 Item 5 Item 1
20% 20%

Eudaimonia
/JUːDꞮˈMOƱNIƏ/; GREEK: Item 4 Item 2

ΕΥ̓ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΊΑ [EU̯ DAI̯ MONÍAː]), 20% 20%

Item 3
20%
Eudaimonia
a term that combines the Greek words for
"good" and "spirit" to describe the ideology.
Eudaimonia defines happiness as the pursuit
of becoming a better person. Eudaimonists
do this by challenging themselves
intellectually or by engaging in activities that
make them spiritually richer people.
 “good spirited”
Coined by Aristotle
Describes the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable
by humans.
“human flourishing”

Eudaimonia From Nicomachean Ethics (philosophical inquiry into

the nature of the good life for a human being.)
/juːdɪˈmoʊniə/; Greek: εὐδαιμονία
[eu̯ dai̯ moníaː]), 1. human flourishing arises as a result of different
components such as:

•Phronesis
•Friendship
•Wealth
•Power
 In ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these
will surely bring the seekers happiness, which in effect allows
them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the
Good.

As time changes, elements that comprise human flourishing

Eudaimonia changed.

/juːdɪˈmoʊniə/; Greek: εὐδαιμονία People found means to live more comfortably, explore more
[eu̯ dai̯ moníaː]), places, develop more products, and make more money.

Humans of today are expected to become “man of the world”.

Supposed to situate himself in a global neighborhood,

working side by side among institutions and the government
to be able to reach a common goal.
Principles of
Human
Flourishing
 Dignity of the Human person – innate personal values or rights
which demands respect for all people, regardless of race,
social class, wealth etc.

Common Good – sacrificing self-interest to provide for the

basic human needs of everyone makes the whole community

Principles of flourish.

Human Preferential Option for the Poor – when decisions are made by

Flourishing
first considering the poor.

Subsidarity – when all those affected by a decision are

involved in making it.

Universal Purpose of Goods – the Earth’s resources serve

every person’s needs, regardless of who “owns” them.
 Stewardship of Creation – duty to care for the Earth as a (God-
given) gift is a personal responsibility for the common good.

Promotion of Peace – everyone has the duty to respect and

Principles of
collaborate in personal relationships, and at national and
global levels.

Human Participation – everyone has the right and the duty to take
Flourishing part in the life of a society (economic, political, cultural,
religious)

Global Solidarity – recognition that we are all interconnected,

part of one human family
Different Conceptions of
Human Flourishing
EASTERN & WESTERN

EASTERN WESTERN

• Focus is community-centric
• Individual should sacrifice himself for the
sake of society
• Chinese Confucian system
• Japanese Bushido
• Encourage studies of literature, sciences,
and art for a greater cause
• More focused on the individual
• Human flourishing as an end
• Aristotelian view
• Aims for eudaimonia as the ultimate
good
Science, Technology
and Human Flourishing
• Every discovery, innovation, and success contribute
to our pool of human knowledge.
• Human’s perpetual needs to locate himself in the
world by finding proofs to trace evolution.
• Elicits our idea of self-importance
• Technology is a human activity we excel in as a
result of achieving science.
• Good is inherently related to the truth.
Thank You!
We hope you
learned something new.