STS and the Human Condition

Technology as a way of revealing

Human flourishing reflected in progress and development
Good life
Technology as a way
of Revealing
Essence of Technology

TRUE ESSENCE of
Instrumental Anthropological
technology that is the
definition definition
application of science

Technology is Technology is
a means to a human
an end activity
 Technology as a way of Revealing

Heidegger’s
what is correct leads to what is true.
view on
Technology
A mode of bringing forth

Poiesis – “bringing something out of

concealment”, “revelation”, “disclosing”
 Aletheia – unclosedness,
unconcealedness, disclosure, or truth
Heidegger’s
view on Technology is a form of poiesis – a way
Technology of revealing that unconceals the truth.

Techne resembles episteme – brings

forth something and reveals it
Modern technology: bring forth or challenge forth?
• Carpentry – bring forth something • Factory – challenge forth
out of the wood something out of nature

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-carpenter
https://phyohankyaw19.files.wordpress.com /2009/09/factorysmoke-pollution-001.jpg
 Bringing-forth

humans only give form to what already

exists without disruption and control
 Challenging-forth

humans control the productive process

and reduce it to something else, often
inferior to its true essence
 Modern technology: challenging-forth

Do things faster, more effectively,

and with less effort

Reduces objects as standing reserve or

something to be disposed of
 Modern technology: challenging-forth

Introduction and use of synthetic dyes, artificial

flavorings, and toxic materials into the consumer stream
Rise and depletion of petroleum
“Dangers” of technology

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION SOCIAL MEDIA

Name/s 10pts
Section
• Bringing Forth • Challenging Forth

Short explanation of your drawing explain

 HUMAN FLOURISHING
REFLECTED IN PROGRESS AND
DEVELOPMENT
Eudaimonia
• Literally means “good spirited”
Eu – “good” Daimon – “spirit”
• Often translated as happiness

• In the book of Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, he made a survey on

the opinions about happiness
“Happiness is the ultimate goal we are always aiming at”
Why are you attending STS classes?
…To learn (why?)
……To pass quizzes and examination (why?)
………To get a college degree (why?)
…………To get a good job (why?)
……………To earn money (why?)
………………To provide me and my family needs (why?)
…………………To be happy
Eudaimonia
ØBest described as Human Flourishing

Human Flourishing is reflected in the

progress.
Life Expectancy - pertains to the average period that a person expects to live
Mortality Rate - ratio of number of
death in a particular area
Literacy Rate
Progress = growth and greater consumption

Hickel in his article:

huge consumption ≠ long and happy lives
Is it possible for people to also “de-develop”
their consumption, but still remain happy
and contented?
(5pts)
Good Life
What makes you happy?
Materialism

• Also known as physicalism or

atomism
• Material things makes us attain
happiness
Hedonism
• Spearheaded by Epicurus

“Good life is a life with

acquisition of
pleasure”
Hedonism
Pleasure
→absence of pain
→Considered the universal of human desire

“Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow

we die.”
 Stoicism
• We may not always have control
over the events affecting us, we can
have control over how we approach
things.
Stoicism
4 Cardinal Virtues of Stoics

Wisdom Temperance Justice Courage

 We suffer not from the
events in our lives, but from
our judgment about them.
-Epictitus
 Theism
• Ultimate happiness for theist is
their communion with God or their
god/s
 Humanism
• For a humanist, decisions are based on
reason, empathy and concern for human
beings and other sentient animals.
• Emphasizes reason and science over
religious texts and tradition
Aristotle and the Good Life
Aristotle and the Good Life
Aristotle and the Good Life
Aristotle and the Good Life
Aristotle and the Good Life
 Virtue
It is the constant practice of the good no matter
how difficult the circumstances may be. Virtue is
the excellence of character that empowers one to
do and be good.
 Is Aristotle’s highest good still
applicable in attaining a good life
at present? Explain your answer.

(5pts)