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Human Flourishing As Reflected in Progress and Development

Human flourishing and development are multidimensional processes that go beyond just economic indicators like GDP. True development should encompass social well-being and environmental sustainability as well. While science and technology can help drive economic growth, their role in development must ensure reducing inequalities and be directed in a way that harmonizes with nature and human welfare. Nations need new concepts of growth for the 21st century that look beyond consumption and instead promote happiness, equality and environmental protection.

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64 views

Human Flourishing As Reflected in Progress and Development

Human flourishing and development are multidimensional processes that go beyond just economic indicators like GDP. True development should encompass social well-being and environmental sustainability as well. While science and technology can help drive economic growth, their role in development must ensure reducing inequalities and be directed in a way that harmonizes with nature and human welfare. Nations need new concepts of growth for the 21st century that look beyond consumption and instead promote happiness, equality and environmental protection.

Uploaded by

Uploader101
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Human Flourishing as Reflected

in Progress and Development


Science and Technology in
Development
Since the beginning of time, man has strived to improve
his way and quality of life.

The caveman discovered how to make and use tools,


developed a logical sequence for activities, and evolved
processes that added value to his life.
The totality of the use and application of this
knowledge, skills, tools, and materials
constitutes what we today describe as
“technology”
Every nation endeavors to
attain development.

Everyone desires
development.

But what does


“development” means?
Development is . . . . . .
• A multidimensional process.

• Involves the reorganization and reorientation of


entire economic and social systems.

• Involves major changes in administration,


institutional and social structures.

• Involves major changes in popular attitudes,


customs and beliefs.
To many countries, development is simply becoming
in the future of what industrialized countries are
today.

Development is . . . .
- The acceleration of economic growth
- The reduction of inequality
- The eradication of absolute poverty
Indicators of progress/development
• Central Paradigm
– Development = growth and greater consumption

– The more the population is able to consume, the


wealthier it is

– The more the person is able to buy things – the


higher he/she is in the development scale
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
– an estimate of the total value of goods and services
a country produces

- said to be the best measure to quantify progress

- growth in GDP was meant to create more jobs,


more money, more well-being, more development
However, development is not
purely an economic phenomenon

In an ultimate sense, development must encompass more


than the material and financial side of people’s lives.
Many economist claim that measuring a country's success
on GDP growth has proven inadequate and it also masks a
growth in inequality between rich and poor.

Development should be
about happiness and not
GDP growth.

There is a need to move beyond GDP as the major measure


of progress. Development should also reflect social well-
being and environmental sustainability as well.
According to consumer research:

- 70% of middle and high income countries worry about


the impact of their consumption patterns
(unnecessary overspending = garbage, diseases).

- similar majority also believes that buying and owning


less, would not compromise ones happiness

- shorter working weeks and basic incomes are of


significance
- all of which that could possibly improve peoples
lives while reducing consumption
The Ecological Footprint
MEASURES
How fast we consume resources and generate waste.

Compared to how fast nature absorb our waste and generate new resources.
Developed countries have bigger ecological footprint
compared to developing countries

Their demand for environmental services such as


forest land and fishing grounds are overshooting the
Earth’s ecological limits.

- average European needs 4.7 hectares per year


(nearly seven football grounds) – to satisfy his or her
consumption pattern of natural resources

- 5x more than the ecological footprint of the


average person in a developing country such as
Malawi or Cambodia, who consume just under 1
hectare annually
Happy Planet Index
- rank countries according to their experienced well-
being, life expectancy and ecological footprint

Wealthy Western countries, often seen as the


standard of success, do not rank highly on the Happy
Planet Index.

Instead, several countries in Latin America and the


Asia Pacific region lead the way by achieving high life
expectancy and wellbeing with much smaller
Ecological Footprints
The Happy Planet Index provides a compass to guide
nations, and shows that it is possible to live good lives
without costing the Earth.
Whether it be climate change, resource scarcity or loss
of biodiversity, mans impact on the planet and its
ecosystem is exceedingly omnipresent and extremely
alarming

the unprecedented speed of


change, as well as the
breadth and the depth of
many radical changes
unleashed by new
technologies, is having major
impacts on what and how we
produce and consume
Since the world is
changing at such a rapid
pace, man should redefine
his concept of growth for
the 21st century.

There has to be some looking beyond the


conventional economic terms and consider
questions of security, equality, health and quality
of life - as well as environmental sustainability.
Role of Science and Technology in
Development
Science and technology are considered by many to be
the forces for improvement in the welfare of developing
states

On the other hand, science and technology are also


feared by many to be potential contributors to the
dehumanization of man and to the degradation of the
environment.
The role of science and technology in development
should be directed toward reduction of inequalities
between advanced and the developing countries and
between various section of population within a country.

Support agency (DOST)


Science and technology should make the natural and
social environment harmonious, without seriously
endangering the future.
• The importance of science and technology in
national development cannot be over-
emphasized. It is a known fact than no nation
can develop without science and technology.

• Thus :
– every country should create a social climate
favorable to the application of science and
technology
– Universities and the academe must take on their
role and responsibilities in the implantation of
science
• the academe and technological government
agencies should work hand in hand to provide
– technological education training
– promote applied research
– Built infrastructure for research services
• Science and technology is the pivot of any
nation’s development.

• Science and technology is associated with


modernity and it is an essential tool for rapid
development.

• A nation without science and technology is a


backward nation.
– Such a nation will be considered undeveloped.
The role of science and technology for development must
be directed within the framework of fundamental, social,
cultural, and economic rights in a peaceful and
cooperative world.

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