Weeks 5 and 6

The Human Person Flourishing in terms of

Science and Technology
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

Engr. Bertrand Aldous L. Santillan, M.Sc.

Faculty and Chairperson
Department of Environmental Science
College of Science
What is a Human?

Human being is a culture-bearing primate classified in genus Homo and species sapiens,
anatomically similar and related to great apes but distinguished by more highly developed brain
and capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
What is a Person?

A person is a human being that has reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and
part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of property,
or legal responsibility. (Wikipedia)
What is a Person?

A person is a human being that has reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and
part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of property,
or legal responsibility. (Wikipedia)
 What is a Human Person?

A human person is a physical being, a knower, an agent of responsibility, a person in relation to

other persons, to society, to God, and to the end, or purpose, of human life. (Loyola University of Chicago)
What is a Human Person?

Vitruvian Man

A human person is a rational being composed of the corporeal element (soma) and the psyche
(soul), a microcosmos of the inanimate cosmos. (Raji, 2011)
What is a Human Person?

Vitruvian Man

A human person has a natural desire and capacity to know and understand the truth, to pursue
moral excellence, and to instantiate their ideals in the world through action. (Aristotle)
Instantiation of Ideals

Technē (plural technai) is the ancient Greek term for an

art or craft; examples include carpentry, sculpting and
medicine. (Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Techne is a true art, craft, or discipline. (Richard Nordquist, 2019)

Technology comes from the Greek technikon, which is

related to the word techne. (www.english.hawaii.edu)
Philosophical Views on Technology
Aristotelianism
Technology is basically a means to an end.

Aristotle’s Four Causes

1. Causa materialis or the material cause – the
material by which it is made of
2. Causa formalis or the formal cause – the form
or shape of the material

3. Causa finalis or the final cause – the purpose or the primary use of the material
4. Causa ffficiens or the efficient cause – the agent that has caused for the material to come about
Philosophical Views on Technology
Technological Pessimism
The comforts and advantages of technology are
like addictions that hooks us.

Jacques Ellul

Technological development takes place without a

plan and without regard to values

The influence of technology is all pervasive.

It is better to live without technology and cherish our days without technology
Philosophical Views on Technology
Technological Optimism
Technology gives rise to powerful enabling factors.

Technology helps maximize human freedom.

Technology helps minimize human disease.

Technology creates abundant material wealth.

Technology creates abundant well-being which

enhances social standards.
Philosophical Views on Technology
Existentialism
Technology is a way of revealing.

Martin Heidegger

Technology is not an instrument, it is a way of

understanding the world.

Technology is not a human activity, but develops beyond human control.

Technology is the highest danger, risking us to only see the world through technological thinking.
Heidegger: The Question Concerning Technology
Reading Material in Human Flourishing

Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to ‘de-develop’ rich countries

By Jason Hickel

Development focused on economic growth is not working.

Number of people living in poverty on less than $5 (Php 250) a day has increased by more than
1.1 billion (17 times the population of Britain)

Hard truth: global crisis is due almost entirely to overconsumption in rich countries

Our planet only has enough resources for every individual to consume 1.8 global hectares
annually. US and Canada consume about 8 hectares per person, while Europeans consume
4.7 hectares.
Reading Material in Human Flourishing

Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to ‘de-develop’ rich countries

By Jason Hickel

How much do we really need to live long and happy lives?

In the US, life expectancy is 79 years and GDP per capita is $53,000 (Php 2.65 M). But many
countries have achieved similar life expectancy with a mere fraction of this income. Cuba has a
comparable life expectancy to the US and one of the highest literacy rates in the world with GDP per
capita of only $6,000 (Php 300k) and consumption of only 1.9 hectares – right at the threshold of
ecological sustainability. Similar claims can be made of Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Tunisia. (In the Philippines, life expectancy is 69 years old2, GDP per capita is $3,485 or around Php
174k3, and consume 1.1 global hectares per person4).
Reading Material in Human Flourishing
Reading Material in Human Flourishing
Reading Material in Human Flourishing
Reading Material in Human Flourishing

Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to ‘de-develop’ rich countries

By Jason Hickel

How much do we really need to live long and happy lives?

70% of people in middle- and high-income countries believe overconsumption is putting our planet
and society at risk. A similar majority also believe we should strive to buy and own less, and that
doing so would not compromise our happiness.

What is certain is that GDP as a measure is not going to get us there and we need to get rid of it.

Either we slow down voluntarily, or climate change will do it for us. We can’t go on ignoring the laws
of nature.
What is Human Flourishing?

An effort to achieve self-

actualization and fulfillment within
the context of a larger community
of individuals, each with the right to
pursue his or her own such efforts.

Eudaimonia – happiness, welfare,

human flourishing, prosperity,
blessedness
Self-Actualization

Imagine each person in the society to reach self-actualization…

Questions?

Thank you for listening to your instructor!