GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #9
Materials:
Lesson title: Science, Technology and Nichomachean Ethics Student Activity Sheets
ballpen
Lesson Objectives:At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
References:
1. Identify and explain the Nichomachean ethics. Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al. (2018).
2. Describe the relationship of science and technology to Science, Technology and Society.
Nichomachean ethics. 1st Ed. Philippines
1. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Ni
comachean-Ethics/infographic/``
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Good day our dear students! Welcome to your STS class! Last meeting, we discussed how Science and Technology
affects human condition. Now, we will tackle the 11 virtues of Nichomachean Ethics and their relationships to
science and technology. This topic somehow enlightened us what constitutes HAPPINESS in relation to science
and technology.
B. MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 2: Content Notes (13 mins)
Everyone wants to do the right thing. But how do they know what is right?
Philosophical giant Aristotle takes on the big question: HOW TO FIND THE HIGHEST
GOOD IN LIFE? His Nichomachean Ethics influenced centuries of political philosophy
and gives enduring advice for seekers of happiness. Nicomachean Ethics is a philosophical
inquiry into the nature of the Good life for a human being. Every human activity aims at
some end that we consider Good. Everyone agrees that the supreme Good is HAPPINESS,
but people disagree over what constitutes happiness. Common people equate happiness with
sensual pleasure: this may be sufficient for animals, but human life has higher ends. Others
say that receiving honors is the greatest good, but honors are conferred as recognition of
goodness, so there must be a greater good that these honors reward.
The Nicomachean Ethics is a book written by Aristotle named for Nicomachus,
which in keeping with the Greek practice of boys being named after their grandfathers, was the name of both Aristotle's
father and his son.
What are virtues?
Aristotle sees virtues as character traits and tendencies to act in a particular way. We gain them through practice and by
copying 'moral exemplars' until we manage to internalize the virtue. We become temperate by practicing temperance,
courageous by practicing courage, and so on. Eventually, the virtue becomes a habit.
In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the following eleven (11) virtues:
Courage – the midpoint between cowardice and recklessness. The courageous person is aware of the danger but goes in
any way.
Temperance – the virtue between overindulgence and insensitivity. Aristotle would view the person who never drinks just
This document is the property of Phinma EducationPage 1
, GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #9
as harshly as the one who drinks too much.
Generosity – the virtue of charity, this is the golden mean between miserliness and giving more than you can afford.
Magnificence – the virtue of living extravagantly. It rests between stinginess and vulgarity. Aristotle sees no reason to be
ascetic but also warns against being flashy.
Magnanimity – the virtue relating to pride, it is the midpoint between not giving yourself enough credit and having
delusions of grandeur. It is a given that you also have to act on this sense of self-worth and strive for
greatness.
Right ambition – a disposition to aim at the intermediate between empty vanity and undue humility.
Patience – this is the virtue that controls your temper. The patient person must neither get too angry nor fail to get angry
when they should.
Truthfulness – the virtue of honesty. Aristotle places it between the vices of habitual lying and being tactless or boastful.
Wittiness – at the midpoint between buffoonery and boorishness, this is the virtue of a good sense of humor.
Friendliness – while being friendly might not seem like a moral virtue, Aristotle claims friendship is a vital part of a life
well lived. This virtue lies between not being friendly at all and being too friendly towards too many people.
Justice – the virtue of dealing fairly with others. It lies between selfishness and selflessness. This virtue can also be applied
in different situations and has a whole chapter dedicated to the various forms it can take.
Source: Aristotle (1995). The Ethics of Aristotle: The Nichomachean Ethics. (rev. ed.)(J.K. Thomson, trans.)
Man's highest action and most complete happiness is a life of contemplation of the highest goods. Man's
intellectual capacity is his highest capacity, and therefore his highest happiness resides in the use of that capacity.
The life of contemplation is so sublime that it is practically divine, and man can achieve it only insofar as there is
something divine in him. Contemplation is the action which best fulfills all the qualifications that the ultimate
good should have, because it is the most continuous, complete and self-sufficient of all actions.
For most people, mere exhortation will not be enough to make them act virtuously. Consequently, good
laws are necessary in order to make people virtuous. Laws and proper education are necessarily especially for
the young, in order to train their passions and desires to be in accord with reason. Yet since such a great number of men are
not virtuous, laws are necessary not just for the young, but for everyone.
https://www.google.com.ph/search?ei=A35uWsXwK8X88QX5zbOAAw&q
Concept Graphic Organizer
Virtue Ethics (Nichomachean Ethics)
(courage, temperance, generosity, Science & Technology
magnificence, magnanimity, right ambition,
good temper, friendliness, truthfulness, wit,
justice) GOOD LIFE
2) Activity 2: Skill-building Activities (18 mins + 2 mins checking)
A. Developmental Activity(8 min)
This document is the property of Phinma EducationPage 2
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #9
Materials:
Lesson title: Science, Technology and Nichomachean Ethics Student Activity Sheets
ballpen
Lesson Objectives:At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
References:
1. Identify and explain the Nichomachean ethics. Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al. (2018).
2. Describe the relationship of science and technology to Science, Technology and Society.
Nichomachean ethics. 1st Ed. Philippines
1. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Ni
comachean-Ethics/infographic/``
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Good day our dear students! Welcome to your STS class! Last meeting, we discussed how Science and Technology
affects human condition. Now, we will tackle the 11 virtues of Nichomachean Ethics and their relationships to
science and technology. This topic somehow enlightened us what constitutes HAPPINESS in relation to science
and technology.
B. MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 2: Content Notes (13 mins)
Everyone wants to do the right thing. But how do they know what is right?
Philosophical giant Aristotle takes on the big question: HOW TO FIND THE HIGHEST
GOOD IN LIFE? His Nichomachean Ethics influenced centuries of political philosophy
and gives enduring advice for seekers of happiness. Nicomachean Ethics is a philosophical
inquiry into the nature of the Good life for a human being. Every human activity aims at
some end that we consider Good. Everyone agrees that the supreme Good is HAPPINESS,
but people disagree over what constitutes happiness. Common people equate happiness with
sensual pleasure: this may be sufficient for animals, but human life has higher ends. Others
say that receiving honors is the greatest good, but honors are conferred as recognition of
goodness, so there must be a greater good that these honors reward.
The Nicomachean Ethics is a book written by Aristotle named for Nicomachus,
which in keeping with the Greek practice of boys being named after their grandfathers, was the name of both Aristotle's
father and his son.
What are virtues?
Aristotle sees virtues as character traits and tendencies to act in a particular way. We gain them through practice and by
copying 'moral exemplars' until we manage to internalize the virtue. We become temperate by practicing temperance,
courageous by practicing courage, and so on. Eventually, the virtue becomes a habit.
In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the following eleven (11) virtues:
Courage – the midpoint between cowardice and recklessness. The courageous person is aware of the danger but goes in
any way.
Temperance – the virtue between overindulgence and insensitivity. Aristotle would view the person who never drinks just
This document is the property of Phinma EducationPage 1
, GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #9
as harshly as the one who drinks too much.
Generosity – the virtue of charity, this is the golden mean between miserliness and giving more than you can afford.
Magnificence – the virtue of living extravagantly. It rests between stinginess and vulgarity. Aristotle sees no reason to be
ascetic but also warns against being flashy.
Magnanimity – the virtue relating to pride, it is the midpoint between not giving yourself enough credit and having
delusions of grandeur. It is a given that you also have to act on this sense of self-worth and strive for
greatness.
Right ambition – a disposition to aim at the intermediate between empty vanity and undue humility.
Patience – this is the virtue that controls your temper. The patient person must neither get too angry nor fail to get angry
when they should.
Truthfulness – the virtue of honesty. Aristotle places it between the vices of habitual lying and being tactless or boastful.
Wittiness – at the midpoint between buffoonery and boorishness, this is the virtue of a good sense of humor.
Friendliness – while being friendly might not seem like a moral virtue, Aristotle claims friendship is a vital part of a life
well lived. This virtue lies between not being friendly at all and being too friendly towards too many people.
Justice – the virtue of dealing fairly with others. It lies between selfishness and selflessness. This virtue can also be applied
in different situations and has a whole chapter dedicated to the various forms it can take.
Source: Aristotle (1995). The Ethics of Aristotle: The Nichomachean Ethics. (rev. ed.)(J.K. Thomson, trans.)
Man's highest action and most complete happiness is a life of contemplation of the highest goods. Man's
intellectual capacity is his highest capacity, and therefore his highest happiness resides in the use of that capacity.
The life of contemplation is so sublime that it is practically divine, and man can achieve it only insofar as there is
something divine in him. Contemplation is the action which best fulfills all the qualifications that the ultimate
good should have, because it is the most continuous, complete and self-sufficient of all actions.
For most people, mere exhortation will not be enough to make them act virtuously. Consequently, good
laws are necessary in order to make people virtuous. Laws and proper education are necessarily especially for
the young, in order to train their passions and desires to be in accord with reason. Yet since such a great number of men are
not virtuous, laws are necessary not just for the young, but for everyone.
https://www.google.com.ph/search?ei=A35uWsXwK8X88QX5zbOAAw&q
Concept Graphic Organizer
Virtue Ethics (Nichomachean Ethics)
(courage, temperance, generosity, Science & Technology
magnificence, magnanimity, right ambition,
good temper, friendliness, truthfulness, wit,
justice) GOOD LIFE
2) Activity 2: Skill-building Activities (18 mins + 2 mins checking)
A. Developmental Activity(8 min)
This document is the property of Phinma EducationPage 2
