CHAPTER 3:

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY AND THE
HUMAN CONDITION
 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND HUMAN FLOURISHING
Eudaimonia
 Literally means good spirited
 Coined by Greek philosopher Aristotle (385-
323 BC) the pinnacle of happiness that is
attained by humans.
 This has often been translated into human
flourishing in literature
• Human flourishes and finds meaning
in the world that he/she builds.
• Human may unconsciously acquire,
consume or destroy what the world
has to offer.
Science as A Social Endeavor

 Several philosophers like Paul Thagard,

Imre Lakatos, Helen Longino, David Bloor
and Richard Rorty presented science as a
social endeavor.

 This new view perpetuates a dimension

which generally benefits society.
Science and Results

 People who do not understand

science are won over when the
discipline is able to produce results.
 Such disciplines are religion, luck,
and human randomness
How Much is Too much?
 In 2000, world leaders signed the Millennium Development
Goals(MDG) that targets eight concerns, one of which states
that they should be able to forge global partnership for
development.
 However, there are some setbacks in this. Economists
believe that growth is the primary indicator of development.
In that, resources are needed.
 Technology has been a primary instrument in enabling the
global community to pursue such goal like utilizing
resources, machineries and labor.
How Much is Too much?

 What is missing in this equation is, growth presents

an illusory notion od sustainability.
 The same analogy applies to the capacity of nature
to accommodate our needs.
 Group Presentation: For each group, state a brief history  or discovery
that brought about the invention or discovery of the things stated
below.  State their contribution in the scientific development. How does
it connects to human flourishing?
 a. Gravity f. Benzene Ring
 b. Telescope g. Large Hadron collider
 c. Processed food h. Guns
 d. Microscope i. Internet
 e. Radio j. Cell phones

Note: Group 1: Letters a-e

            Group 2: Letters  f-j
  
 The Human Condition Before
Common Era

• Early ancestor’s primal need to survive paved

way for the invention of several developments.
• Homo Erectus have been using fire to cook, that
marked the era of Stone Age
• Homo Sapiens began to sharpen stones like knife
• People discovered minerals and began
metalwork.
 The Human Condition in the
Common Era

• Formation of communities caused humans to

expand more in territory and more people to
feed; large separate communities hailing from
the same ancestors paved way for civilizations.
• Humanity became more complex
• Primary goal was not merely to survive, but to
live a good life
 The Human Condition in the
Common Era

• Position-wise, the humans of today are much

better off compared to humans several centuries
ago.
• Advancements in medicine, technology, health
and education were also noted
Notable comparison Then
and Now

• Mortality Rate
• Average Lifespan
• Literacy rate
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
CHAPTER 4:
THE GOOD LIFE
ARISTOTLE AND HOW WE ALL
ASPIRE FOR A GOOD LIFE
PLATO: GOOD OF LIFE
HAPPINESS AS THE GOAL
OF A GOOD LIFE
 JOHN STUART MILL

saying that an
action is right as far
as it maximizes the
attainment of
happiness for the
greatest number of
people.
MATERIALISM

Why
materialism
makes you
miserable?
HEDONISM

A person who
believes that
the pursuit of
pleasure is
the most
important
thing in life; a
pleasure –
seeker.
THEISM
WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND
HUMANITY CROSS
 ROLES PLAYED BY THESE
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
ETHICAL DILEMMA FACED BY THESE
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

1. Most parents would argue that

these devices make their children
lazy and unhealthy.
2. Moral Dilemma
3.Taking credit for others' work.
 ROBOTICS AND HUMANITY
Robots play different roles
not only in the lives of the
people but also in the
society as a whole. They
are primarily used to ease
the workload of mankind.
They were invented to
make life more efficient and
less stressful On one hand,
they perform complicated
activities which human
beings are incapable of
doing.
Roles Played by Robotics

 Ease the workload of mankind

 Perform complicated activities which humans
are incapable of doing
 There are also robots which are made for
pleasure.
 ETHICAL DILEMMALS FACED BY
ROBOTICS

1. Safety
Who should be accountable if someone’s
safety is compromised by a robot?
Who should be blamed, the robot, the
agent using the robot, or the
maker/inventor of the robot?
 ETHICAL DILEMMALS FACED BY
ROBOTICS

1. Emotional Component
What if robots become sentient? Should
they be granted robot rights? Should
they have their own set of rights to be
upheld, respected and protected by
humans?