CHAPTER 7

Science and technology has changed human landscape.

Man tends to show unlimited contentment-eager to seek better replacement for anything that performs the functions of
man.

Robots, machines and other technologies are intended to enhance human condition, or in the future, replace the human
functions in the society.

Human being

 Biologists describe human as having the attributes of living organisms-including plants and animals.

-This designates that human being is a complex matter capable of performing life-sustaining processes. Human being the
highest form of these living organisms is said to have characteristics which cannot be substantiated through mere
science.

Smith (2012) shared that; we can’t turn to science for an answer because in the first place, science identified human
being from another creature.

-This intellect supports self-consciousness and awareness sufficient for the achievement of human’s function, discovery
of truth, and development and mankind.

What is the meaning of human-being?

 -According to Heidegger, it was originally the fundamental question of philosophy, which was pursued by the
ancient Greek philosophers but later on neglected, if not forgotten, in Western philosophy.

BUT…

-Heidegger is not convinced with the reason used to justify such neglect the self-evidence, universality, and
indefinability of the concept of being. (Mabaquiao, n.d.)

-Furthermore, he argued that asking for the meaning of the term “being” doesn’t suggest that the “inquirer” has no idea
about it because in the first place, the meaning of “being” is associated with the concept of existence, which means that
the “inquirer” already has the idea on the term “however vague or incomplete”. The “inquirer” obviously refers to
“man” as “being”, focuses to the “what” of human existence.

- This somehow justifies human being’s adaptability to environmental changes and ability to manipulate
environment in the interest of survival.

Dasein
  Conversely, Heidegger used the term “dasein” which literally means “being there” focuses on the “mode of
existence” or the “who” of “Dasein”. The “modes of existence” is fundamentally established by two things:

1. Dasein exist in a world

2. Dasein has a self that it defines as it exist in such world. (Mabaquiao, n.d)

-Hence this support human being’s capacity to decide on what is good or bad for them.

Understanding human flourishing

It has been discussed that human being is endowed with innate abilities and characteristics that let him sustain his
function and to survive in the given environment.

 Human flourishing is defined as an endeavor to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment within the context of a
larger community of individuals. This also means access to the pleasant life, the engaged or good life and the
meaningful life.

 (Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson, 2005), stated that human flourishing requires the development of
attributes and social and personal levels that exhibit character strengths and virtues that are commonly agreed
across different cultures.

Aristotle’s viewpoint

Aristotle’s teachings suggest that each man’s life has a purpose and that the function of one’s life is to attain that
purpose.

For Aristotle, happiness (earthly) is the highest desire and ambition of all human beings.

-And to achieve it, one must cultivate the highest virtues within oneself. Aristotle believed that human beings have 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.

-Furthermore, these actions are geared towards one’s proper and desired end-flourishing, happiness or eudemenia.
  According to Aristotle, there is an end of all the actions that we perform which we desire for itself. Flourishing is
the greatest good of human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim. The good is what is good for
purposeful and goal-directed entities. He presented the various popular conceptions of the best life for human
beings;

 (1) A philosophical life,

 (2) A life of pleasure and

 (3) A life of political activity.

WHAT IS EUDOMENIA?

Etymologically speaking, eudemonia is consists of Greek words “eu” which means “good” and “daemon” which means
“spirit”.

-meaning “the state of having good indwelling spirit; a good genius”.

Eudaimonia (also known as Eudaemonism) is a Greek word, which refers to state of having a good indwelling spirit of
being in a contented state of being healthy, happy and prosperous.

In moral philosophy, eudaimonia is used to refer to the right actions as those that result in the well-being of an
individual.

EPICURUS’S VIEWPOINT

Epicurus (born 341 B.C) was a Greek philosopher who contradicted the metaphysical philosophers.

-he believed that balance and temperature were created space for happiness.

His view is not more of how happiness can be defined but more on theory about the real source to experience it.

 Socrates believed that virtues such as self-control, justice, courage, wisdom, piety and related qualities of mind
and soul are absolutely crucial if a person is to lead a good and happy life. Virtues guarantee a happy life
Eudaimonia

 For Plato, Eudaimonia depends on virtue (arête) which is depicted as the most crucial and the dominant
constituent of euddaimonia.

 Pyrrho, founder of Pyrrhonism, a school of philosophical skepticism that places the attainment of ataraxia (a
state of equanimity) as a way to achieve Eudaimonia. Pyrrhonist practice is for the purpose of achieving epoch.
Nietzche’s viewpoint

Friedrich Nietzche (1844-1900) was a German philosopher and cultural critic who published intensively in the 1870s and
1880s.

-He is known for his criticisms on psychological analyses that resulted to opposing ideas on the people’s received
ideas.

As expected, Nietzche viewed happiness in a different way. For him happiness is an “ideal state of laziness”.

-Laziness for him is described as to not have any worries or distress in life.

Flourishing

Philosophers’ views are the evidence of objective sense of how it means to flourish.

-It accepts that man’s ultimate desire of living is to flourish and to experience a life of well-being (life that goes well for
him).

Flourishing can either be based on the state of mind (e.g mental habit) or a kind of value (e.g insights, outlook).