MODULE 5 Science Technology and The Human Condition
MODULE 5 Science Technology and The Human Condition
Content Outline
1. Selected Views on Technology
· Aristotle
· Martin Heidegger
· Jacques Ellul
· CS Lewis
2. The Perspectives of a Good Life
3. When Technology and Humanity Cross (Ethical Dilemmas)
4. Information Age (Gutenberg to Social Media)
Since the dawn of human species, science and technology have been a part of human
activity. It has enabled us to live comfortably, travel the world, and learn more about ourselves and
the truth. It has also helped us outwit our adversaries and ensured our survival.
BEFORE NOW
•Technology as means of Survival, Ease, and •Population growth and Anthropogenic activities
Comfort led to the scarcity of resources.
•Homo erectus use of fire for cooking •Trade became a way of living
•Wealth became a main goal of survival.
•Homo sapiens use of sharpened tools for
hunting •Wealthy people are perceived to happier than
those who do not have sufficient wealth.
•Use of animal fur and as clothing •As humanity became complex, the primary goal
•Dominance of Religion over science was not merely to survive, but to live a good life
•Mammoths and Elephants viewed as owners of •Technology paved way for humanity to flourish.
the land The different technological tools that was created
were helpful in making life easier, more
•Sun as God
comfortable, and more enriching.
1
TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN CONDITION THEN AND NOW
Technology has been traced since the early species of human kind and one particular use of
these technologies is to aid them into surviving and understanding the natural world.
In comparison to humans from few centuries ago, modern humans are in a far better
position. Advancements in medicine, technology, health, and education ushered in humanity’s
best yet, and show no sign of stopping. Below are some of the notable comparisons then and
now:
MORTALITY RATE. Due to technology, lesser women and children die during birth, assuring
robust population and strong workforce. Medical care for premature infants allows them to survive
and develop normally, while proper maternal care ensures that mothers can fully recover and
remain empowered.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN. Aside from the reason that people engage less in combat and are less
likely to die in treatable diseases now as opposed to then, science is able to prolong lives by
enhancing living status and discovering different remedies to most diseases. Distribution of
medicines is also made easier and faster.
LITERACY RATE. Access to education provided to more individuals generally creates a more
informed public that could determine a more just society.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP). Although not an indicator of an average person’s lifestyle
in a certain country, it is often used to determine the value of the country’s goods and services
produced within the territory given a certain time period. Higher country income in brought upon
by high productivity, often an indicator of presence of technology.
Technology has become an integral part of modern society, shaping the way we live and
interact with the world around us. Different philosophers have offered their unique perspectives on
the role and impact of technology on society. Aristotle believed that technology should be used for
the betterment of society and to serve human needs, while Martin Heidegger argued that
technology has become a dominating force that has turned human beings into mere objects.
Jacques Ellul viewed technology as an autonomous system that is beyond human control, while C.S.
Lewis believed that technology is not inherently good or bad, but its impact depends on how it is
used. Each of these views offers important insights into the relationship between technology and
society, and how we can shape our use of technology to create a more just and equitable world.
2
· Instrumental Definition - Technology is a means to an end
· Anthropological Definition - Technology is a human activity
Aristotle lived in ancient Greece, long before the advent
of modern technology as we know it today. However, he did
have views on the role of "techne" in human society, which
can be translated as "craft" or "art."
In general, Aristotle saw technology as a means to an
end, rather than an end in itself. He believed that the purpose
of technology was to serve human needs and improve
human life, rather than simply to create new gadgets or
machines for their own sake.
At the same time, Aristotle was also aware of the potential dangers of technology if it was
misused or allowed to dominate human society. He believed that technology should be subject to
ethical and moral considerations, and that it was the responsibility of human beings to use
technology in ways that were consistent with the greater good.
Overall, Aristotle saw technology as a tool that could be used for good or for ill, depending on
how it was wielded by human beings. He recognized its potential to improve human life, but also
cautioned against its excesses and potential risks.
“The truth can only be pursued through the correct ways. What is correct leads to what is
true.” In these sense, he envisioned technology as a way of revealing – a mode of bringing forth.
Bringing forth can be understood through the Ancient Greek philosophical concept, Poiesis, which
refers to the act of bringing something out of concealment. By bringing something put of
concealment, the truth of that something is revealed. The truth is understood through another
Ancient Greek concept of Aletheia, which is translated as unclosedness, unconcealedness,
disclosure, or truth. Thus, technology is a form of poiesis – a Way of Revealing that unconceals
aletheia or the truth.
In Philosophy, techne resembles the term episteme that refer to the human ability to make
and perform. Techne also encompasses knowledge and understanding. In Art, it refers to tangible
and intangible aspects of life. The Greek understood techne in the way that it encompasses not
only craft, but other acts of the mind, and poetry.
3
Technology as Poiesis: Does modern technology bring forth or Challenge forth?
Heidegger, in The Question Concerning Technology, postulated that both primitive crafts and
modern technology are revealing. However, he explained that modern technology is
revealing not in the sense of bringing forth.
· Revealing of modern technology is not a bringing-forth, but a challenging-forth.
· Modern technology challenges nature by extracting something from it and
transforming, storing and distributing it. It makes people think how to do things faster,
more effectively, and with less effort.
· Challenging forth reduces objects as standing-reserve or something to be disposed of by
those who enframe them- humans.
· This is evident in the way people exploit natural resources with very little concern for the
ecological consequences that come with it.
¨ In the information age, greater control of information to profit from its value gives
rise to concerns about privacy and the protection of human rights.
¨ Rise and depletion of petroleum as a strategic resource
¨ Introduction and use of synthetic dyes, artificial flavorings, and toxic materials into
the consumer stream that bring about adverse effects on human health.
¨ Use of ripening agents in agriculture that poses threats to food safety and health
security.
Enframing as modern technology's way of Revealing
1. Calculative thinking. Human's desire to put an order to nature to better understand and
control it. Tends to be more commonly utilized, primarily because humans' desire to
control due to their fear of irregularity. Calculative thinking is the more technical kind of
human thought, in which people gather information and put it together in order to put it
to some specific use.
2. Meditative thinking. Humans allow nature to reveal itself to them without the use of force
or violence.
Enframing, is a way of ordering (or framing) nature to better manipulate it. Enframing
happens because of how humans desire for security, even it pulls all of nature as a standing reserve
and an instrument of technology, to be exploited in the ordering of nature. The role of humans take
as instruments of technology through enframing is called destining. In destining, humans are
challenged forth by enframing to reveal what is real. However, this destining of humans to reveal
nature carries with it the danger of misconstruction or misinterpretation.
Why Technology is not a human Activity?
According to Heidegger, there I something wrong with the modern, technological culture we
live in today. In our 'age of technology' reality can only be present as a raw material (as a 'standing
reserve'). This state of affairs has not been brought about by humans; the technological way of
revealing was not chosen by humans.
Rather, our understanding of the world - our understanding of 'being', of what it means 'to be'
-develops through the ages. In our time 'being' has the character of a technological framework',
4
from which humans approach the world in a controlling and dominating way. Every attempt to
climb out of technology throws us back in. The only way out for Heidegger is "the will not to will". We
need to open up the possibility of relying on technologies while not becoming enslaved to them
and seeing them as manifestations of an understanding of being.
Dangers of Technology
Lie on how humans let themselves be consumed by it. The responsibility of humans is to
recognize how do you become instruments of technology. According to Paulo Coelho, it is boastful
for humans to think that nature needs to be saved, whereas Mother Nature would remain even if
human cease to exist. As a mere tent on Earth, people must not allow themselves to be consumed
by technology lest they lose the essence of who they are as human beings. In this sense, humans
are in danger of becoming merely a part of the standing reserve or, alternatively, we find
themselves in nature. Recognizing the dangers of technology requires critical and reflective thinking
on its use. For instance, social media has indeed connected people in the most efficient and
convenient way imaginable, but it also inadvertently gave rise to issues such as invasion of privacy,
online disinhibition, and proliferation of fake news.
Arts as a saving power
Necessary reflection upon and confrontation with technology are required in order to
proactively address the dangers of technology.
"But where danger is, grows the saving power also"-Friedrich Holderlin (1977, p.14)
Heidegger proposed art as the saving power and the way out enframing: "and art was simply
called techne. It was a single, manifold revealing" (1977, p.18)
Art encourages human to think less from calculative standpoint where nature is viewed as an
ordered system. Instead, it inspires meditative thinking where nature is seen an art and that without
any force and violence.
5
A British writer and philosopher who lived from 1898 to 1963. He is best known for his works of
fiction, including the Chronicles of Narnia series, but he also wrote extensively on a wide range of
philosophical and theological topics, including the role of technology in human society.
Lewis saw technology as a double-edged sword, capable of
both helping and hindering human progress. On the one hand, he
recognized the tremendous benefits that technology had brought
to human life, particularly in the fields of medicine and
transportation. He believed that technology had the power to
make life more comfortable and convenient, and to help alleviate
many of the problems that had plagued human beings
throughout history.
At the same time, Lewis was also aware of the potential dangers of technology, particularly
when it was pursued without regard for moral and ethical considerations. He believed that
technology could be used to manipulate and control people, and that it had the potential to
dehumanize human beings and turn them into mere cogs in a machine.
In his book "The Abolition of Man," published in
1943, Lewis argued that the pursuit of technology
without a corresponding emphasis on moral and
ethical values was leading to a dangerous form of
relativism and moral decay. He believed that
human beings needed to rediscover a sense of
objective moral values in order to ensure that
technology was used in ways that were consistent
with the greater good.
Overall, Lewis's view on technology can be seen as one that recognizes its potential benefits
while also cautioning against its excesses and potential dangers. He believed that technology
needed to be pursued with a clear understanding of its impact on human life and with a
commitment to moral and ethical values.
WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
· In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be
defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to
intense joy.
· To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do
something good or positive.
· To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in the brain
as a reward for behavior that prolongs survival
· The hedonistic view of well-being is that happiness is the polar opposite of suffering, the
presence of happiness indicates the absence of pain. Because of this, hedonists believe
that the purpose of life is to maximize happiness, which minimizes misery.
6
ARISTOTLE AND THE EUDAIMONIA
Aristotle is one of the most influential Greek Philosopher and he is the one who coined the term
“Eudaimonia” which literally means “good spirited”. It describes the pinnacle of happiness that is
attainable by humans and it is now commonly known as human flourishing.
According to Nicomachean Ethics, there are four (4) arising components that results to human
flourishing:
Acquiring these qualities are believed by the Ancient Greeks to surely bring happiness to the
seekers. Thus, allowing them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the Good.
The elements on the Aristotelian concept of human flourishing, however, had changed thru
time due to the rapid developments of the human society. Humans have been in constant search
on how to live more conveniently and comfortably by means of exploring and developing
innovative technologies totally changing the way human live. In the present, human kind are
considered to be a “man of the world”. He is expected to place himself in a global neighborhood
and collaborate with institutions and the government to achieve a shared objective. Coordination is
the new trend in survival; competition is no longer a viable strategy.
· Community-centric · Individual
· One should sacrifice himself for the · Aims for Eudaimonia as the
sake of humanity ultimate goal
· Chinese Confucian system and · Aristotelian views Human
Japanese Bushido views the whole flourishing as an end and as the
as greater than their component. ultimate good.
7
ARISTOTLE AND THE GOOD LIFE
It is interesting to note that the first philosopher who approached the problem of reality from
scientific lens is Aristotle who is also the first thinker who dabbled into the complex
problematization of the end goal of life: happiness.
Compared to his predecessor and teacher, Plato, Aristotle embarked on different
approach in figuring out reality. Plato thought that things in this world are not real and are only
copies of the real in the world of forms. While Aristotle puts everything back to the ground in
claiming that this world is all there and that this world is the only reality, we can all access.
Aristotle also forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what the senses
can perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external world that one can truly understand
what reality is all about. Change is a process that is inherent in things. We, along with all other enti-
ties in the world start as potentialities and move towards actualities. The movement, of course, en-
tails change.
Ultimate happiness is
THEISM
communion with God
8
Technology is seen to be detrimental in the advancement of
the society. Humans tend to develop and invent different
technological tools which aims to improve the human condition. In
order to cope up with the ever changing world, humanity
continuously study the world enabling them to develop certain
technologies which either bring good and bad impact to the
society. Technologies may have been helpful in the advancement
of the society, however, it also brings certain issues and dilemmas
due to misuse and invention of unethical technologies.
1. People who develop different kinds of sickness because of too much use of technological
devices.
2. The people in the scientific world nor the children are blameworthy because first, the children are
not yet capable of rationally deciding for themselves what is good and what is bad. Second even
the creators of these technologies went out of their way to inform children of the pros and cons of
these technological contributions, it would still be useless because the children have no capacity to
understand them yet.
· It was the recklessness and overconfidence of the adults that cause the character
change in children.
· Fixation and over dependency to the different devices
· Most parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy.
9
Robots are machines designed to carry out complex tasks that
would normally require human intervention. They are made up of various
components, such as sensors, processors, and actuators, that enable
them to perceive their environment, make decisions, and perform
physical actions.
The use of robots has become increasingly prevalent in various fields, including manufacturing,
healthcare, transportation, and entertainment. They can perform a range of functions, from simple
repetitive tasks to more complex activities that require advanced cognitive abilities.
The development of robots has been driven by a desire to improve
efficiency, increase productivity, and reduce costs. They can carry out tasks
faster and more accurately than humans, and they can work in environments
that are hazardous or difficult for humans to access.
However, the rise of robots has also raised ethical and societal concerns,
such as the impact on employment, privacy, and safety. As robots become more
advanced and sophisticated, they may also raise questions about their rights and
responsibilities, and the implications of their interactions with humans.
Despite these concerns, the use of robots is likely to continue to grow, and their potential
benefits and risks will need to be carefully considered and managed in order to ensure that they are
used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
10
In the present, our world is best described to be modern, data-driven, technologically ad-
vanced, and fast-paced. Information is accessible and easily shared. This extremely rapid rate of
development is constantly having an impact on several aspects of our society. We can plainly see
and feel how the digital age is changing the economy, business, transportation, education, health,
and environment.
Additionally, because of information age several fields or disciplines have merged. Among
these fields include Al or Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Robotics, Cloud and Edge
Computing, Automation, Blockchain, Outsourcing, Software and Applications, and Communica-
tions and Networking among others. With these, cybersecurity and data privacy laws have also
been implemented to protect one's digital self.
Fake news is becoming viral because there are more and more people being involved in dis-
seminating them. Sometimes it is easier and more convenient for people to share the fake news
than to actually go over the information and evaluate for its reliability.
One more factor that contributes to rapid dissemination of fake news is confirmation bias.
People tend to accept information that confirms their beliefs and opinions. It is a sense of pleasure
to share information they believe in even if it may not actually be truthful or valid.
11
As man evolved, information and its dissemination has also
evolved in many ways eventually. We no longer keep them to
ourselves; instead, we share them and manage them in different
means. Information gets ahead of us. It started to grow at a rate
where we were incapable to handle. Because of the abundance
of information, it was difficult to collect and manage them starting
in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In the 1990s, information became the currency in the business world. Information was the pre-
ferred medium of exchange and the information managers served as information officers.
In the present generation, there is no doubt that information
has turned out to be a commodity, an overdeveloped product,
mass-produced, and unspecialized. Soon, we became
overloaded with it. Different authors have diverse, contrasting
ideas on the evolution of the Information Age. In spite of this, we
can still say that information is a very important tool that helps
improve our way of life. One thing is for sure, the Information Age
will continue to move forward and far greater our minds could
imagine.
In conclusion, our civilization is affected in both positive and harmful ways by the quick
advancement of information. Therefore, before sharing information, we must carefully consider our
motivations. We must also confirm information before accepting it, using it, or sharing it. Information
that might help us and others live better lives should be shared.
12
POSTER MAKING
NOTE:
25 20 15 10
Poster includes all relevant The poster includes all Does not have all of the The poster is lacking in
information; it is well- information relevant to the relevant information of the elements required. There
organised. Information topic in an organised poster. There is not enough are many gaps in infor-
included is relevent, and fashion. Information is information presented. mation presented.
covers all questions. relevent and covers most Information is presented in
information an unorganised fashion.
The work done exceeds all The work was done with Work is done with fair ef- Work is done with little
expectations and shows good effort that shows fort, but the quality is still effort, quality is not what
that the learner is proud of what the learner is capa- not what the learner is the learner is capable of. It
his/her work. The effort ble of. It is evident that capable of. It is evident is evident that the work
that was put into this task is time was put into this post- that the work was rushed. was rushed and little time
the best it can be by the er and presentation. Good A little more effort to utilise was spent on the final
learner. Excellent us of use of class time. class time was needed. product. Work is incom-
class time. plete. Class time not uti-
lised by the student.
The poster has an element The poster is clear and The poster lacks style and The poster lacks a clear
of creativity and style, and logical and contains facts reads more like a list of understanding of the sub-
is not just a list of facts. The as well as very few mis- facts than an information- ject matter and there are
poster is presented in a takes. Good clear presen- al presention. The poster many errors. Poster is not
clear and concise manner tation. lacks neatness and clarity. creative.
with full understanding of
the subject.
There is 1 or less spelling or There are 2-3 spelling and There are 4-6 spelling and There ae over 6 spelling
punctuation mistakes. It is punctuation mistakes, but punctuation mistakes. Little mistakes, with no effort to
clear the student has proof efforts have been made effort has been made to edit work, or seek help.
read their work, and to edit work. edit work.
sought help when neces-
13
FILL IN THE BLANKS: Using the table below, list down the different advantages and disadvantages
of the different schools of thought in attaining good life and happiness.
14
REFERENCES
Aron, J. (n.d.). Alan Turing. Retrieved from NewScientist: https://www.newscientist.com/people/
alan-turing/#:~:text=Key%20facts&text=Often%20considered%20the%20father%20of,the%
20basis%20for%20artificial%20intelligence.
Cherry, K. (2020, December 09). The Preconscious, Conscious, and Unconscious Minds. Retrieved
from verywellmind: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-conscious-and-unconscious-mind-
2795946
Copeland, B. (2022, August 12). Alan Turing. Retrieved from Britannica: https://
www.britannica.com/biography/Alan-Turing
Dacuycuy, R., & Flores, H. (2022). The Scientific Revolution. In M. Students, History and Philosophy of
Science (pp. 70-80). Laoag .
Hom, E. J. (2013, June 24). Alan Turing Biography: Computer Pioneer, Gay Icon. Retrieved from
LiveScience: https://www.livescience.com/29483-alan-turing.html
Jay, M. E. (2022, August 23). Sigmund Freud. Retrieved from Britannica: https://
www.britannica.com/biography/Sigmund-Freud
Karleigh Moore, I. K. (n.d.). Turing Machines. Retrieved from BRILLIANT: https://brilliant.org/wiki/
turing-machines/#:~:text=A%20Turing%20machine%20is%20an,that%20we%20simply%
20cannot%20solve%3F
Scoville, H. (2019, June 26). Charles Darwin's Finches. Retrieved from ThoughtCo.: https://
www.thoughtco.com/charles-darwins-finches-1224472
Serafica, J., Pawilen, G., Caslib, B., & Alata, E. (2018). Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society.
Quezon City: Rex Book Stor Inc.
15