Human Flourishing in terms of

Science and Technology

Introduction
The progress of human civilizations throughout history mirrors the development of science and technology. The
human person, as both the bearer and beneficiary of science and technology, flourishes and finds meaning in the
world that he/she builds. In the person’s pursuit of a good life, he/she may unconsciously acquire, consume, or
destroy what the world has to offer. To be able to appreciate the fruits of science and technology, they must be
examined not only for their function and instrumentality but also for their greater impact on humanity as a
whole (McNamara, Valverde, Beleno III, 2018), thus, this module was created.

Readings
A good life for one person is not necessarily a good life for another. Flourishing is a multi-dimensional
construct and there are many different routes to a flourishing life. For the students to have a deeper
understanding on the different viewpoints and constructs of human flourishing, they are encouraged to make
readings about Aristotle’s view, Dr. Seligman’s PERMA™ theory of well-being, and Heisenberg’s theory
through the link stated in the reference section.

Learning Outcomes
Analyze various viewpoints about human flourishing.
Pre-Assessment
What does it mean for a human being to flourish? How do
you characterize a flourishing individual?

Lesson Proper

Review
Specify one major contributions of the Foreign or Filipino
scientists in the field of science and technology that
contributes in improving the life of the people.

Activity
Flower Bloom: Compare Flower A and B and spot the
similarities and differences.

A B

Processing of the Activity

1. What are the similarities and differences of the
flowers?
2. Do the flowers have the same state of flourishing?
Explain your answer.
3. As a student and as a person, what flower would
you like to be? Explain your answer.

Brief Lesson

Definition of Human Flourishing

In the previous lessons, contributions of science and

technology have been laid down thoroughly. Every
discovery, innovation, and success contributes to good life
and human flourishing. But what does it mean for a human
being to flourish?

According to Ackerman (2021), we can probably agree that

a plant which is healthy and blooming can be said to
“flourish,” and that a business that is booming and raking
in record profit is “flourishing.”
For a human being to flourish, some might think of
financial success as “flourishing.” Others might think of
self-development and growth. You might believe that a
person is flourishing when she is happy and content, or
when she is learning new things and applying her skills to
new challenges.

As it turns out, all of these definitions are right! Or at least,

partly right. Flourishing is a multi-dimensional construct,
meaning it’s made up of several important parts, and
maximum flourishing can only happen when a person
experiences a healthy level of each dimension or
component (Ackerman, 2021).
Figure 1. Fully-bloomed Flower with
Human Aspects of Development
Eudaimonia, literally "good
spirited," is a term coined by
renowned Greek philosopher
Aristotle (385-323 BC) to describe
the pinnacle of happiness that is
attainable by humans. This has
often been translated into "human
flourishing" in literature, arguably
likening humans to flowers
achieving their full bloom (Serafica, Pawilen, Caslib &
Alata, 2018). The person that is flourishing is like a fully
bloomed flower with fully developed aspects of human
such as mental, physical, emotional, aesthetic, social, moral
and spiritual. The development in science and technology
continuously affects the person to flourish or to deteriorate.

In addition, as discussed in the Nicomachean Ethics (cited

in Serafica, 2018) Aristotle's human flourishing arises as a
result of different components such as phronesis (practical
wisdom), friendship, wealth, and power. In Ancient Greek
society, they believe that acquiring these qualities will
surely bring the seekers happiness, which in effect allows
them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the
Good.

As times change, elements that comprise human flourishing

changed, which are subject to the dynamic social history as
written by humans. People found means to live more
comfortably, explore more places, develop more products,
and make more money, and then repeating the process in
full circle. In the beginning, early people relied on simple
machines to make hunting and gathering easier. This
development allowed them to make grander and more
sophisticated machines to aid them in their endeavors that
eventually led to space explorations, medicine innovations,
and ventures of life after death. Our concept of human
flourishing today proves to be different from what Aristotle
originally perceived then - humans of today are expected to
become a "man of the world." He is 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. Competition as a means of survival has
become passé; coordination is the new trend (Serafica et
al, 2018).

Viewpoints about Human Flourishing in terms of

Science, Technology, and Society
The three of the most popular viewpoints relevant to human
flourishing are Aristotle’s view of human flourishing, Dr.
Seligman’s PERMA™ theory of well-being, and
Heisenberg’s theory.

 Aristotle’s Human Flourishing

Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life
with other people. Aristotle taught that people acquire
virtues (i.e., good habits) through practice and that a set of
concrete virtues could lead a person toward his natural
excellence and happiness.
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.
For Aristotle, the good is what is good for purposeful, goal-
directed entities. He defines the good proper to human
beings as the activities in which the life functions specific
to human beings are most fully realized. For Aristotle, the
good of each species is teleologically immanent to that
species. A person's nature as a human being provides him
with guidance with respect to how he should live his life. A
fundamental fact of human nature is the existence of
individual human beings each with his own rational mind
and free will. The use of one's volitional consciousness is a
person's distinctive capacity and means of survival
(Younkins, 2003).
 Dr. Seligman’s PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being

Dr. Seligman’s PERMA™ theory of well-being is an

attempt to answer these fundamental questions: “What is
human flourishing and what enables it?” There are five
building blocks that enable flourishing – Positive
Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning,
and Accomplishment (hence PERMA™) – and there are
techniques to increase each.

Different people will derive well-being from each of these

five building blocks to varying degrees. A good life for one
person is not necessarily a good life for another. There are
many different routes to a flourishing life. Research on the
factors that enable flourishing can help people make more
informed choices to live a more fulfilling life that is aligned
with their values and interests (Positive Psychology Center
- University of Pennsylvania, 2021).

 Heisenberg’s theory

Many people assume that what morally justifies private

ownership of property is either individual freedom or social
welfare, defined in terms of maximizing personal
preference-satisfaction.

Human flourishing is property’s moral foundation. It

develops a theory that connects ownership and human
flourishing with obligations. Owners owe obligations to
members of the communities that have enabled the owners
to live flourishing lives by cultivating in their community
member’s certain capabilities that are essential to leading a
well-lived life. These obligations are rooted in the
interdependence that exists between owners and their
community members, a condition that is inherent in the
human condition. Obligations have always been inherent in
ownership. The human flourishing theory explains why
owners at times owe obligations that enable their fellow
community members to develop certain necessary
capabilities (Alexander, 2020).
Analyses on the Three Cited Viewpoints on Human
Flourishing

Aristotle emphasized a life with other people. He also

emphasized eudaimonia, flourishing, or happiness, as the
perceived desire and end of man’s actions in life. It is the
success of man himself. In terms of human flourishing in
technology, man strives to innovate and produce new
technologies for his own convenience and satisfaction. He
shares his innovations and discoveries with other people
because he is a social being and he wants the social beings
to succeed and experience a good life as well.

In the Theory of Well-Being of PERMA, there are five

building blocks that enable flourishing – Positive
Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning,
and Accomplishment. These five building blocks come in
different degrees among individuals. They can be increased
depending on an individual’s capability. Hence human
flourishing is dependent on human’s positive emotions that
can help them overcome obstacles to reach their goals, it is
dependent on how humans engaged to pursue and reach
their goals, on how humans would manage their
relationships with other people and which is dependent on
their explicit positive emotions, on how humans find
meanings on their existence and purposes in life, and how
humans would strive to accomplish their life’s goals.
These are the building blocks of the successful men and
women who have brought technologies in today’s human
existence and which have brought human flourishing in the
society.

In the Theory of Heisenberg, it connects ownership (of a

property or an innovation, or a discovery) and human
flourishing with obligation or accountability. In this
theory, interdependence of the owner and his community,
human and his society, is emphasized. It underpins the
opportunity for the society to cultivate its capabilities from
the property, innovation, or discovery of a human. The
theory interconnects with Aristotle’s life with other people
and PERMAs enabling the society to make right choices
thereby increasing human flourishing.
Generalization
1. How does science and technology contribute to the holistic development of human beings in terms of
mental, physical, emotional, aesthetic, social, moral and spiritual?
2. Differentiate the viewpoints of Aristotle, Seligman, and Heisenberg about human flourishing.
As a college student how will you use it to make yourself a fully-bloomed or flourishing individual upon
completing your course? Post-Assessment

10-item True or False Test. Write True if the statement is True otherwise write False.

1. Eudaimonia is often been translated into human flourishing in literature, arguably likening humans to flowers
achieving their full bloom.
2. According to Aristotle, human flourishing is the highest good of human endeavors and toward which all actions aim.
3. The five building blocks that enable flourishing are Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and
Accomplishment.
4. In terms of human flourishing in technology, man depends on inventions and new technologies for his own
convenience and satisfaction.
5. Heisenberg’s theory explains why owners at times owe obligations that enable their fellow community members to
develop certain necessary capabilities.
6. According to Heisenberg’s theory, many people assume that what morally justifies private ownership of property is
either individual freedom or social welfare, defined in terms of minimizing personal preference-satisfaction.
7. The Theory of Heisenberg unhitches with Aristotle’s life with other people and PERMAs enabling the society to
make right choices thereby increasing human flourishing.

8. Dr. Seligman’s PERMA™ theory of well-being is an attempt to answer these fundamental questions: “What is
human flourishing and what enables it?”

9. Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life with other people. Aristotle taught that people acquire virtues
through practice.

10. Aristotle's human flourishing arises as a result of two components; phronesis (practical wisdom), and material
wealth.