Module # 4 Human Person Flourishing in terms
of Science and Technology
Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Comprehend different concepts of human flourishing in terms of science and
technology.
2. Distinguish the steps of the scientific method and validity of science.
3. Ponder/contemplate on the limitation of science.
4. Infer thoughts on Martin Heidegger’s concept of technology.
5. Reflect on the ethical dilemmas of technological advancements.
Introduction:
You, like everyone else in this world, is aiming to know what’s ‘good’ for your life.
This helps you shape yourself to become a purposeful, goal-directed individual. Finding
your ultimate good not only enhances your understanding of yourself, but the whole
world as well. In order for that to happen, one must continuously search for what is
good to them to further realize their goals in life.
A human being naturally lives his life to improve and excel as a human being
just as a pianist’s persevering efforts to improve and excel as a pianist. As perceived by
Aristotle, the desire to flourish is a natural human inclination. The actions that we
perform have its end goal which contains the desire for ourselves.
Content:
Science, Technology and Human Flourishing
The word Eudaimonia, was a term devised by famous Greek philosopher,
Aristotle, which is in its simplest form is often taken out to mean ‘good indwelling
spirit’. This term defines the peak of one’s happiness or the process of fulfilling or
,realizing one’s true nature. In literature, this term is often referred as ‘human
flourishing’ presenting humans like flowers achieving their full bloom. This concept
can be traced back to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, wherein he discussed that
human flourishing ascends as a result of different components such as
phronesis, friendship, wealth and power. In ancient Greek society, they believe that
acquiring these components will surely bring the seekers happiness, which in effect
allows them to participate in the greater perception of what we call the Good.
The eastern and western regions of the world have different conceptions about
society and human flourishing. The western conception is more likely focused on the
individual in contrast to the eastern which is more community-centric. The latter is
apparently seen in the Chinese Confucian system and the Japanese Bushido where
they encourage the study of literature, sciences and art, not entirely for one’s self but for
a greater cause like establishing a harmonious and well-ordered society. Conversely,
the western conception is mainly anchored on the Greek Aristotelian view which
grasps human flourishing as an ‘end’ and that humans, aim for the ultimate good
or ‘eudaimonia’ It wasn’t perceived to be useful to achieve some other goals but
rationally, one who has achieved this state would want to serve and do something good
for the community.
As time goes by, the basics that makes up human flourishing has changed.
People found other ways to live more comfortably explore different places and earn
more money and vice versa. During the early times, people have only relied to modest
devices to make living easier for them. But because the needs and necessities of
people are changing from time to time, this brought them to develop more refined
machines to help them in their daily lives and later on, to their greater endeavors . This
led people to advances in different fields such as education, health, and
communications. The concepts of human flourishing that we have today have become
entirely different from what the Greek philosopher Aristotle originally thought then . “Man
of the world” is what humans today expected to become – they are situated in a
global neighborhood, helping each other, together with the government and
2
, different institutions to accomplish a common goal. Coordinating with one
another has become the new trend and competing became outmoded.
Even so, we cannot say that these ideas are absolutely true for we are in a
period of globalization. This allows people to learn and discover other culture, and as
result, many are influenced and abandoned their original philosophies. In this regard,
Human flourishing should be tackled not just in a single idea but in a global
perspective.
Science as Methods and Results
Science has always been systematic in searching for things. It roots from
objectivity and uses logical approach on discovering how things work in the universe,
one important aspect of scientific process is that it only focuses on the natural world.
So, if anything appeared to be supernatural, then definitely it is something that is not
acceptable in the definition of science.
The scientific method (search for the proponent) is a series of steps followed by
science investigators to find answers for specific questions. This is introduced in school
to guide students in basic experimentation. The steps of scientific methods are as
follows:
1. Observation on your surroundings will help you come up with an idea for
your science project.
2. Question should be made after you observation. This will tell you what you
are trying to discover or accomplish in your experiment.
3. After observing and questioning, Hypothesis comes next. It is an idea that is
suggested as an explanation for a natural event, a particular experience, or
specific condition that can be tested through definable experimentation.
3
of Science and Technology
Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Comprehend different concepts of human flourishing in terms of science and
technology.
2. Distinguish the steps of the scientific method and validity of science.
3. Ponder/contemplate on the limitation of science.
4. Infer thoughts on Martin Heidegger’s concept of technology.
5. Reflect on the ethical dilemmas of technological advancements.
Introduction:
You, like everyone else in this world, is aiming to know what’s ‘good’ for your life.
This helps you shape yourself to become a purposeful, goal-directed individual. Finding
your ultimate good not only enhances your understanding of yourself, but the whole
world as well. In order for that to happen, one must continuously search for what is
good to them to further realize their goals in life.
A human being naturally lives his life to improve and excel as a human being
just as a pianist’s persevering efforts to improve and excel as a pianist. As perceived by
Aristotle, the desire to flourish is a natural human inclination. The actions that we
perform have its end goal which contains the desire for ourselves.
Content:
Science, Technology and Human Flourishing
The word Eudaimonia, was a term devised by famous Greek philosopher,
Aristotle, which is in its simplest form is often taken out to mean ‘good indwelling
spirit’. This term defines the peak of one’s happiness or the process of fulfilling or
,realizing one’s true nature. In literature, this term is often referred as ‘human
flourishing’ presenting humans like flowers achieving their full bloom. This concept
can be traced back to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, wherein he discussed that
human flourishing ascends as a result of different components such as
phronesis, friendship, wealth and power. In ancient Greek society, they believe that
acquiring these components will surely bring the seekers happiness, which in effect
allows them to participate in the greater perception of what we call the Good.
The eastern and western regions of the world have different conceptions about
society and human flourishing. The western conception is more likely focused on the
individual in contrast to the eastern which is more community-centric. The latter is
apparently seen in the Chinese Confucian system and the Japanese Bushido where
they encourage the study of literature, sciences and art, not entirely for one’s self but for
a greater cause like establishing a harmonious and well-ordered society. Conversely,
the western conception is mainly anchored on the Greek Aristotelian view which
grasps human flourishing as an ‘end’ and that humans, aim for the ultimate good
or ‘eudaimonia’ It wasn’t perceived to be useful to achieve some other goals but
rationally, one who has achieved this state would want to serve and do something good
for the community.
As time goes by, the basics that makes up human flourishing has changed.
People found other ways to live more comfortably explore different places and earn
more money and vice versa. During the early times, people have only relied to modest
devices to make living easier for them. But because the needs and necessities of
people are changing from time to time, this brought them to develop more refined
machines to help them in their daily lives and later on, to their greater endeavors . This
led people to advances in different fields such as education, health, and
communications. The concepts of human flourishing that we have today have become
entirely different from what the Greek philosopher Aristotle originally thought then . “Man
of the world” is what humans today expected to become – they are situated in a
global neighborhood, helping each other, together with the government and
2
, different institutions to accomplish a common goal. Coordinating with one
another has become the new trend and competing became outmoded.
Even so, we cannot say that these ideas are absolutely true for we are in a
period of globalization. This allows people to learn and discover other culture, and as
result, many are influenced and abandoned their original philosophies. In this regard,
Human flourishing should be tackled not just in a single idea but in a global
perspective.
Science as Methods and Results
Science has always been systematic in searching for things. It roots from
objectivity and uses logical approach on discovering how things work in the universe,
one important aspect of scientific process is that it only focuses on the natural world.
So, if anything appeared to be supernatural, then definitely it is something that is not
acceptable in the definition of science.
The scientific method (search for the proponent) is a series of steps followed by
science investigators to find answers for specific questions. This is introduced in school
to guide students in basic experimentation. The steps of scientific methods are as
follows:
1. Observation on your surroundings will help you come up with an idea for
your science project.
2. Question should be made after you observation. This will tell you what you
are trying to discover or accomplish in your experiment.
3. After observing and questioning, Hypothesis comes next. It is an idea that is
suggested as an explanation for a natural event, a particular experience, or
specific condition that can be tested through definable experimentation.
3
