MODULE 8

THE HUMAN PERSONS

FLOURISHING IN
SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
 Introduction
This module presents the significant personalities
who flourish in science and technology. Each of
them has his own view or philosophy of technology
which enhance our understanding of the essence of
technology to human. The readings on their
philosophy will raise awareness and inspire the
students to deal with science and technology with
extra care. Whatever information they will get from
this module may motivate them to appreciate and
use God given gift to promote socioeconomic
development and conserve nature.
 Objectives
1. Discuss the selected views on technology.
2. Gain an understanding on man’s existence in the
world of technology.
3. Acquire knowledge on the fulfillment of man’s
destiny as the ultimate end and
maker of all material things to satisfy himself.
4. Express opinion on the real essence of technology
to human.
 Selected Views on Technology

There are several views used to understand

technology. However, this module will only
focus on Aristotle’s, Ellul’s and
Heidegger’s views on technology.
 Aristotle’s View

This view can also be called as Aristotelianism. It

views technology as a means to an end. To
Aristotle, technology is the organizing techniques
in order to meet the demand that is being posed
by humans. This means that technology is
concerned with the product either it is mahal good
or bad based on the value given to product and
based on its use and effect to the society (Bautista,
et.al, 2018).
 Aristotle’s Four Causes
The four causes of Aristotle can be illustrated
using a chalice.
• Causa Materialis or the Material Cause (the
material by which the chalice was made of:
silver).
• Causa Formalis or the Formal Cause (the
form or the shape that gave the silver
chalice its image.
 Aristotle’s Four Causes
Causa Finalis or the Final Cause (the purpose or use by (
https://www.google.com) which the chalice was made for).
● Causa Efficiens or the Efficient Cause (the agent that has caused
for the silver chalice to come about: silversmith.

The four causes bring forth the silver chalice and to bring forth of
something is termed poesis. To bring forth something requires an
external for termed poesis. To bring forth something requires an
external force.
 Jacques Ellul’s View
(Pessimism)
• Jacques Ellul (1912-1994), a French philosopher of technology,
is called the Karl Marx of the 20th century and prophet of the
tech-saturated times according to according to Andrew
Nikiforuk (2018).
• He views technology as progressive and beneficial, but doubtful
and harmful in many ways.
• His pessimistic arguments on technological progress are: (1) it
has a price; (2) it creates more problems; (3) it creates
damaging effects; and (4) it creates unpredictable devastating
effects.
 Jacques Ellul’s View
(Pessimism)
He wrote of technique, about which he meant more than just
technology, machines and digital gadgets but rather “the totality
of methods rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency”
in the economic, social and political affairs of civilization.
(Nikiforuk, 2018).
 Jacques Ellul’s View
(Pessimism)

Nikiforuk (2018) mentioned what Ellul wrote that,

“Technique has taken substance,” and “it has become a reality in

itself. It is no longer merely a means and an intermediary. It is an
object in itself, an independent reality with which we must
reckon.”
 Jacques Ellul’s View
(Pessimism)
Further he wrote that,

“Technique encompasses the totality of present-day society,”

wrote Ellul. “Man is caught like a fly in a bottle. His attempts
at culture, freedom, and creative endeavor have become mere
entries in technique’s filing cabinet.”
 Heidegger’s View
(Existentialism)
The main concern of this view is the existence or the
mode of being someone or something. This view
investigate the meaning of existence or being. (Bautista,
2018).
Heidegger’s View
(Existentialism)
Martin Heidegger (1889-1976), a well-
known German
philosopher, is a known supporter of
existentialism, another view of technology. It
is a term that belongs to intellectual history.
Existentialism became identified with a
cultural movement that flourished in Europe
in the 1940s and 1950s.
 Heidegger’s View
(Existentialism)
Existentialism”, therefore, may be defined as the
philosophical theory which holds that a further set of
categories, governed by the norm of authenticity, is
necessary to grasp human existence (Stanford Encyclopedia
of Philosophy). Heidegger examined the two definitions of
technology: a means to an end
and a human activity.
 Heidegger’s View
(Existentialism)
To Heidegger, the real essence of technology lies in
enframing, which means a way of revealing, that is to bring
the concealed to unconcealment and this is a continuous
revealing.
 Heidegger’s View of Technology as a
Way of Revealing
• According to Heidegger, the real essence of technology is in
enframing (Gestell) which is a way of revealing.
• Technology as enframing is the mode in which everything
comes into the open, and makes sense for us.
• This is a continuous bringing forth of something that is
unconcealed to unconcealment or to reveal.
• Since technology is a way of revealing, it always demand to
show something to the open what is hidden.
 Other views of Technology

Below are top 10 views of technology based on the 2020

National Technology Readiness Survey (NTRS) by
Rockbridge Associates, Inc. among 1216 randomly samples
US adults:

1. Technology keeps me better informed.

2. Technology gives me more freedom of mobility.
3. New technologies contribute to a better quality of life.
 Other views of Technology
4. People are too dependent on technology to do things for
them.
5. Technology gives people more control over their daily lives.
6. Using the latest technology is fun.
7. Technology makes me feel more productive in my personal
life.
8. Reliance on technology lowers the ability of people to think
on their own.
 Other views of Technology

9. Technology lowers the quality of relationships by

reducing personal interactions.
10. Too much technology distracts people to a point
which is harmful.
 Mode of Revealing in
Modern Technology
Since technology is a non-stop mode of revealing hence
it can be seen even in modern technology but not in the
bringing-forth sense. Modern technology is revealed by
challenging nature instead of bringing forth. It sets
challenges on nature in order to:

• Unlock and expose

• Stock piles for future use
 Unlock and Expose

Whatever challenges, the nature gives to human, it can

be addressed by means of research. For example the
number one challenge today by nature is how to end
COVID-19 which is considered Pandemic. This kind of
virus can be stopped only through the discovery of a
vaccine. Any vaccine before it is used or inject-ted to the
target individuals undergoes one year or more to test its
effectiveness.
 Unlock and Expose

A thorough study is still conducted on the effectiveness of

the vaccine that some countries have developed.

Another is the evolution of SARS Cov 2, technology helps

in tracing how far the virus evolves and the extent of its
effect to human.
 Stock Piles for future use

With the occurrence of COVID-19, many people buy

products of technology to meet their needs in the future. An
example of this is the PPE or personal protective equipment
and other protective materials which the government
purchased to meet the demands of the present society. On
the other hand, the manufacturers of the said products
continue to produce for future’s use
 The Danger of Non-stop
Revealing

The essence of technology lies in enframing, which is

the continuous revealing of unconcealed to
unconcealment and the mode of revealing does not stop
in modern technology. It continually calls man to
respond to what is presented to him or to the demand
for a better and efficient means to an end.
 The Danger of Non-stop
Revealing
Heidegger mentioned the danger of continuous
revealing:

• Revealing opens up a relationship between man and

the world but an opening of something means a
closing down of something which means to reveal
something is to conceal another.
 The Danger of Non-stop
Revealing
• When man falls into misinterpretation of that which is
presented to him. That is when he sees himself in the object
before him rather than seeing the object itself. There is a
tendency for man to be fully engrossed with the enframing
that he fails to weigh the results and consequences of his
setting upon an object which may be destructive not only to
himself but even to the surroundings and other people
(Bautista, et.al., 2018).
 The Danger of Non-stop
Revealing

According to Bailey (2014) Heidegger’s analysis can help

us understand how new technologies employed to modify
the body, brain, and consciousness will enframe our own
bodies and identities as something akin to “standing
reserve.” Under transhumanism, the body is enframed as
an external, technologically modifiable product.
THAT’S ALL,
THANK YOU!
Reported by:
Alessandra Mae De Guzman
Angelica Rose Dela Cruz
Mary Ann Dohenias
Lara Mae Macabenta