UNIT I – GENERAL CONCEPTS AND SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

OVERVIEW:

Throughout the history, science has brought changes in all aspects of life. From a very
simple way of life of the ancient humans to our more complicated and fast paced way of living.
Curiosity is innate to man, the result leads to upgrade of knowledge, thus progress in science.
Application of scientific knowledge, that is TECHNOLOGY, help satisfy human needs and
improve not only the living standards, but also the condition of the environment.
Technology is always influenced by the socio-political, behavioral and economic changes
in the society. It often dictates the type of technology to be developed that is suitable to
the
demands and needs of the people.

http://tech21stworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/science-technology-and-society.html

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

After the successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Discuss the interactions between science and technology and society through history;
2. Discuss how scientific and technological developments affect society and the environment;
3. Identify the paradigm shifts in history.
4. Articulate ways by which society is transformed by science and technology;
5. Recognize the contributions of different cradles of civilizations to science and technology.
6. Discuss the role of science and technology in Philippine nation-building
7. Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of
their contributions to nation building;
8. Identify actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise their impact on
the development of the Filipino nation.
COURSE MATERIALS:

Lesson 1 – Historical Antecedents in which Social Considerations Changed the

Course of Science and Technology

a. In the World: Ancient, Middle and Modern Ages

Definition of terms:

SCIENCE. According to oxford dictionary, Science is the intellectual and practical activity
encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural
world through observation and experiment.
TECHNOLOGY. Is the application of knowledge for practical ends.(dictionary .com)

SOCIETY. A society or a human society is a group of people involved with each other through
persistent relations, or a large social grouping, sharing the same geographical or social territory,
typically subject to the same political authority and domain cultural
expectations. (siencedaily.com)

PARADIGM SHIFT. In science, it is a change in the basic idea or concept usually caused
by new discovery/ies that no longer conforms the old concept. This change/s can also
be influenced by the social, political, cultural, economic and other factors. Usually there
is a resistance in accepting new discoveries especially if they contradict the old ones,
further verification or attests from other scientists before paradigm shifts occur. Since
there is a resistance, Is it better to know or not to know these new discoveries?

Sir Isaac Newton once said: “If I have seen further than others, It is by standing on the shoulders
of giants.”
What do you think Newton has seen?
Who do you think Newton refers to as giants?

Scientific discoveries from the ancient times had laid the foundation that our modern day
scientists used as patterns for the new discoveries. Scientist owe their achievements from the
works of their older counter parts.

Science and Technology during the ANCIENT TIMES

From the beginning of time man explored his surroundings and develop ways to improve
life. The discovery of fire led the caveman to have a protection from the cold environment and
wild animals, they also used fire for lighting, social gathering, communication and others. From
simple stone tools for hunting, they developed more efficient weapons. From being hunters and
gatherers, they learned to cultivate plants and catch fish. Accumulation of experiences turned to
knowledge and the transfer of knowledge result to a better and more convenient way of
life. Through time, civilizations and empires were born, more scientific developments were
evident like written and spoken language, architecture, engineering, astronomy, mathematics,
medicine, and a lot more. Civil wars, external pressure, and natural disasters caused fall of
civilizations and changed the course of science and technology. The fall of the Roman Empire
marks the end of the ancient times and start of the Middle Ages.
The MIDDLE AGES

Medieval ages or “Dark Ages” are also terms used to describe the middle ages. Period
between 450 A.D. to around 1450 A.D. was referred as dark ages because the condition after
the fall of the Roman Empire left the people without leaders who look after them. In the early
Medieval period economy is based on feudal system, education is out of hand thus many people
depend on mysticism, irrational and superstitious beliefs. The bubonic plague struck Europe and
Asia in the mid-1300s, leaving more than 30 million people dead. Technological developments
were also limited. Mechanical clock, magnetic compass, lenses with spectacle, gunpowder and
cannon, distillation and alcohol, were developed during this time. In the field of medicine in
Europe, herbs were widely used, diagnosis of was limited to inspection of urine, therapy was
through prayer, charms, faith healing and the likes. The in the later part of the middle ages,
medical schools were organized. Printing press was developed using movable metal-type printer
invented by Johannes Guttenberg, this started the mass production of written works which
enable the people to get informed, and the birth of industrial revolution.

MODERN AGES

The early modern ages known as The “Renaissance,” a French word meaning
the “rebirth.” Marks the development of Printing revolution started around 1518 to 1524 when the
spread of printing press facilitated the wide circulation of information and ideas. This opened up
an entirely new way of conveying fresh information to the ordinary people, leading to divergent
answers to queries thus re-birth of sciences. To name some revolutionary discoveries
were Nicolas Copernicus’ “Heliocentric Theory;” Isaac Newton’s “Universal Law of Gravity;”
Galileo Galilei’s discovery of the telescope, motion, Inertia and many others;
The invention steam engine by James Watt, the first mechanical loom by Edmund Cartwright
and other machines started the first industrial revolution. It changed the way thing are done,
production
became fast and cheaper, requiring less of the man power and use of hand tool. People were
classified as industrialist, those who owns the factories, and the workers. This Industrial
revolution also caused changes to the environment, the use of machines powered by steam or
coal cause pollution.

b. Historical Antecedents in which Social Considerations Changed the Course

of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Pre-Spanish Period
– Based on archeological findings modern man from Asian mainland came over and
reached Batangas and Palawan about 48,000 B.C. Subsequently they reached
and formed settlement in some islands in like Sulu, Davao, Zamboanga, Samar, and
Negros.
They made simple tools and weapons from stones and later developed sawing
and polishing stones
– Around 3,000 B.C. they were able to produce ornaments of shells, soon they learned
to produce copper, bronze, iron and gold metal tools.
– They also learned to weave cotton, make glass ornaments and cultivate rice and dike
fields of terraced in the mountainous regions
– Filipinos were already aware of medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and
the methods of extracting medicine from herbs.
– They had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and measuring system
– They also learned to build boats for trading purposes
Spanish Colonial Period
– Spanish introduced formal education, established colleges and universities (UST)
– Construction of government buildings, bridges and roads
– Study of MEDICINE was given priority, Biology was given focus
– Development of hospitals (San Juan Lazaro Hospital was founded in 1578)
– Gov. Jose Basco y Vargas in 1780 encouraged research in Agriculture and industry,
cultivation of indigo, cotton, cinnamon, rice, hemp, tobacco, sugar and silk industry
– Jesuits promoted meteorological studies founding Manila observatory at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila in 1865

American Period and Post Commonwealth

– Bureau of Government Laboratories was established which dealt with the study
of tropical diseases and laboratory projects.
– Bureau of Government Laboratories was replaced by Institute of Science. In 1958,
Pres. Carlos P. Garcia signed the Science Act of 1958.

Marcos Era and the Martial Law

– During the Martial Law, Pres. Marcos enacted many laws promoting science
and technology
– Philippine Science community was established in Taguig, the Philippine Atomic
Energy Commission explored and uses atomic energy for economic development, sent
scientist abroad to study nuclear science and technology
– He also created National Grains Authority, PAGASA, PNOC, NAST, IRRI, Bureau of
Plant Industry, Health Science Centers, etc.

The Fifth Republic

– During the Corazon Aquino presidency, The National Science and Technology
Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and Technology
– S&T’s role in economic recovery and sustained economic growth was highlighted
– RA 6655 of the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 include “Science for
the
Masses Program”

Fidel V. Ramos Presidency

– In 1998, Pres. Fidel Ramos built Science High School in Visayas and Mindanao
which promote advanced S&T curriculum for kids
– Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel or RA No. 8439, Inventors and
Inventions incentives Act (RA 7459, S&T Scholarship Law in 1994, The
Intellectual Property Code was enacted during Ramos’ term

Pres. Joseph Estrada Presidency

– Two major legislations was signed; Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8794) and
the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (RA 8792

Pres. Gloria Arroyo Presidency

– S&T was dubbed as the “Golden Age.” Numerous laws and projects pushed
to
increase the country’s economic level and termed ‘FILIPINOVATION”
– Biofuels Act or RA 9367 was signed

Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III Presidency

– Conferred four new scientist for their contributions in the scientific field
Academician Gavoni Trono for his extensive studies on seaweed species
 Acd. Ramon Barba on micro propagation of important crops
Acd. Edgardo Gomez on conservation of coral reefs

SOME FILIPINO INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS

1600 – Yoyo used by the natives as a combat weapon against Spaniards (1920,
Pedro Flores patented and put up yoyo manufacturing Co. in the US)
1930’s – Banana Catsup (Maria Orosa Ylagan)
1941 – Medical Incubator (Dr. Fe Del Mundo)
1940’s – Patis or Fish Sauce (Ruperta David also known as Aling Tentay)
1949 – Erythromycin (Dr. Abelardo Aguilar)
1955 – Video Phone (Gregorio Zara)
1966 – Isolated Rice Breeds (DR. Rodolfo Aquino)
1969 – Lunar Rover (Edwardo San Juan)
1972 – 16 Bit Computer Microchip (Diosdado Banatao)
1974 – Sing-A-Long System (Roberto de Rosario)
1996 – Alco Diesel (Rudy Lantano Sr.)
2000 – Mole Remover (Rolando Dela Cruz)
2005 – Anti-cancer cream for Basal Skin Carcinoma (Rolando Dela CruZ

YOU CAN WATCH:

Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XOAWhHgPas
Filipino Inventors who changed the world of technology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZlR6B8_ezI

ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT:

1. On a sheet of bond paper, draw your interpretation on how the science, technology and
society affected one another through time. Write a short description of your drawing.

2. Answer briefly: How scientific and technological developments can have an effect
on society and the environment?

3. Identify two incidents or conditions of the society that caused changes or paradigm shift in
the course of science and technology?
Lesson 2 Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society

COURSE MATERIALS

What is an Intellectual Revolution?

When the new ideas oppose the widely embraced and accepted beliefs by the people,
paradigm shifts occurs, resulting to intellectual revolution. Several times, this new ideas caused
chaos to the society, long periods of argument and disbelief, before the new ideas are accepted
by the people, often times, it require other scientists to verify and support the theory or find a
concrete proof to verify and validate the proposed idea.
Some of the scientist who presented their revolutionary ideas were Nicolas Copernicus,
Charles Darwin and Sigmund Freud.

COPERNICAN Intellectual Revolution

Nicolai Copernicus Published his treatise De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium

(the Revolution of Celestial Spheres) in 1543, He proposed a new view of the world: the
Heliocentric Model where the sun is the center of the solar system and not the earth as
Ptolemy’s geocentric view. Heliocentric model challenged the age long views of the way the
universe worked, and initially the model was condemned by the Church authorities. The model
attracted many critics and the system was soon accepted by the best minds of the time including
Galileo. The model was improved by scientist like Giordano Bruno who proposed that “the
universe is infinite containing many worlds like ours where intelligent beings live,” and Thomas
Digges who assert that “the stars are dispersed throughout the universe.” Johannes Kepler in
1600 proposed the orbits were instead ellipse.

Readings: The Copernican Revolution

Retrieved from: https://users.astro.ufl.edu/~freyes/classes/ast1002/Ch1.pdf

DARWINIAN INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection caused intellectual ferment in

mid- and late Victorian England. His book “The Origin of the Species (1859) cast strong doubts
on the traditional belief in the origin of life, also promoted a sharp reorientation of philosophical
and moral attitudes. Darwin’s theory of evolution thereby undermined the value of
traditional religion and morality because it implied that man was no more than a “talking
monkey”, and no God was necessary to create him. Darwin’s theory of evolution appealed not
only to eminent scientists, but also to novelist and poets.
Many Victorian writers dramatically modified their opinions about man’s origins and the physical
aspect of man’s existence. Thomas Hardy, were close readers of Darwin’s work,
adapted Darwin’s ideas to his later fiction showing characters to be at the mercy of their
environment, heredity and adaptability rather than more in control of fate. An intellectual ferment
caused by the evolutionary theory led to an ongoing controversy over religion and science.

Readings: The Darwinian Revolution: Rethinking its meaning and significance Retrieved from:
http://www.blc.arizona.edu/courses/schaffer/449/Ruse%20-
%20The%20Darwinian%20Revolution.pdf

FRUEDIAN INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION

 Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of PSYCHOANALYSIS, a
clinical method for treating psychopathology. Freud developed the psychoanalytic theory
of personality development, which argued that personality is formed through conflicts among
three fundamental structures of the human mind: the id, ego, and the superego. One of
Freud’s assertion is that we are not masters of our own mind. He showed that human
experience, thought, and deeds are determined not by our conscious rationality, but by irrational
forces outside our conscious awareness and control. The primary trouble with Freud is that,
while his ideas appear intriguing and even common cynical, there’s very little evidence to back
them up. There’s no proof of the id, ego, or superego.

Readings: Psychoanalysis: A Brief History of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Retrieved from https://positivepsychology.com/psychoanalysis/

CRADLES OF EARLY SCIENCE

Development of Science in MESOAMERICA

The Aztecs, Maya, and Inca developed great civilizations in Mesoamerica about 2100BC
to
500BC. Each Group is unique and shows an effective way of running an empire.

Mathematics was used:

Mayans – used vigesimal number system (base 20)
Aztecs – used geometry for taxes
Incas – used quipu (knots from strings)
Technology:
Mayans- discovered rubber; used jadeite for many sort of tools
Incas – built large stone buildings without mortar; farmers used to terraces to maximize crops
Aztecs - invented canoes, wheel; and have many medical advances

Astronomy:
Mayans – predicting eclipses, astrological cycles, used 2 calendars in planting and
harvesting
Incas – used calendar with 12 months
Aztec – used calendar with 365 days and 260 days; calculates the end of the world
in December 21, 2012

Architecture: all three civilizations built temples

Aztecs – Areas dedicated to certain gods
Mayans – Ball courts
Incas – temples made to assist worship to gods; first suspension bridge

Art
Aztecs – told stories through sculptures, pottery, weaving and poetry
Mayans – Sculptures and paintings depicts religious figures, scenes of battles and sacrifices
Incas- utilized stone masonry and textiles

Literature
Aztecs – they spoke language called Nahualt
Mayans – writing systems consisting of 800 symbols called glyphs standing for words and letters
Incas – never developed writing system, instead memorize important information. They spoke
Quechua
Infrastructure
Aztecs – had aqueducts; mandatory education
Mayans – advance water systems; control floods and survive drought
Incas – road system

Development of Science in ASIA

Printing started in China in 593 AD. Printing was promoted by the spread of Buddhism.
Printing in East Asia evolved from ink rubbings made o paper or cloth from text on stone tables.
The invention of paper, gunpowder, compass, sundial, water clocks and surgery using
acupuncture were some of the main accomplishments of Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E -220C.E.).
Confucianism is a system of social and ethical philosophy built on an ancient religious
foundation to establish the social values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional
Chinese society. Confucianism’s role in the private learning spheres of early Japanese society
directly impacted scientific thought.

INDIA. Indians came up with two very valuable concepts that simplify math: place value digits
and zero. Equipped with Indian place value, Aryabhata, developed trigonometry, place value
system and the approximation of pi. He also explained solar and lunar eclipses scientifically, and
stated that the moon and the planets shine by reflecting sunlight. Brahmagupta, defined the
properties of the number zero. He also suggested that gravity is a force of attraction. India is
also known for manufacturing iron and in metallurgical works. In the field of medicine they
use Ayurveda, a treatment based on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit, to
promote good health.

Development of Science in the MIDDLE EAST

Greek texts were translated to Arabic, this led to excellent Greek base knowledge and
the Arabs made their own advances in the fields of Mathematics, Medicine, and Physics. Islam
and the rise of Arab empire affected Arab math and Science in two ways: 1.Muslim culture
remained open to Ancient Greek learning. The rise of empire directly exposed the Arabs
to Byzantine (modern-day Istanbul) and Persian cultures that still carried on ancient
scholarships. Hasan Ibn al-Haytham an Arab mathematician, astronomer, and physicist known
as the father of Optics. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, contributed the concept of the
algorithm in mathematics, calendars, calculating true positions of the sun, moon and planets,
tables of sines and tangents, spherical astronomy and astrological tables

Development of Science in AFRICA

Ancient Egyptian physicians were renowned for their healing skills. In 1285, the largest
hospital of the middle ages and pre-modern era was built in Cairo. Ethiopians, were the first to
have discovered and recognized the energizing effect of coffee bean plant. Domestication
of plants for agricultural purposes in 5000BCE. Sorghum and African rice began to be cultivated.
Caesarean sections were performed on a regular basis with the use of antiseptics. Max
Theiler, a South African, developed a vaccine against Yellow fever in 1937. The first human-to-
human heart transplant was performed by South African cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, in
Dec 1967.

Readings:
Cradles of Early Science. Accessed from:
https://www.scribd.com/document/423753973/Cradles-of-Early-Science-docx
Lesson 3 Science and Technology in Nation Building

COURSE MATERIALS:

a. The Philippine government S&T agenda

From the previous lesson, we have seen how science and technology progress in the
Philippines. From the pre-Spanish period when our ancestors gradually learn from their
everyday experiences, to the introduction of new knowledge by the Spaniards, Americans,
development of Science and technology facilities and programs. Why do we have to
promote science and technology in our country? Through science and technology we can
boost our economy, and to prepare the country and the people to cope with the demand of the
technologically driven world. What are the Philippine government’s policies on science and
technology?
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), commissioned the National
Research
Council of the Philippines (NRCP) to consult different sectors and came up with 4 clusters of
policies, these are:

1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance

– Integrating ASEAN awareness in basis education without adding to the curriculum
– Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue
– Developing social infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband
– Local food security
2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and
Mathematics
– Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities
– Outright grants for peer monitoring
– Review of R.A. 9184
– Harnessing science and technology as independent mover of development
3. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
– Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-
harmonized standards by full implementation of the Food and Drug Administration
– Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of
pharmaceutical services and care
– Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research as pool
of information
– Allocating two percent of the GDP to research
– Legislating a law supporting human genome projects
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry
- Protecting and preserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws
- Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries
- Promoting indigenous knowledge system and indigenous people’s conservation
- Formulation of common food and safety standard

The Philippine congress has also created various laws related to science and technology
according to different themes like: conservation, health-related, technology building, and
supporting basic research. All these policies ensure that the whole country and all people will
experience the progress that science can bring.

b. Major development programs and personalities in S&T in the Philippines

DOST’s programs encourage researches in the field of:
1. Use of alternative and safe energy
2. Harnessing mineral resources
3. Find cure to various diseases and illness
4. Climate change and global warming
5. Increasing food production
6. Preservation of natural resources
7. Coping with natural calamities and disasters
8. Infrastructure development

The DOST headed by Secretary Fortunato Dela Pēna, together with Undersecretary for
Scientific and Technical Services and OIC for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Dr.
Renato Solidum Jr., Under Secretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena
Cristina Guevara, Under Secretary for Regional Operations Ms. Brenda Manzano and other
personalities of the department continues to encourage Filipino scientists or scientists of Filipino
descent to return to the Philippines to share their expertise to strengthen the scientific and
technical human resources of the academe.
Some of the outstanding Filipino Scientists who have made significant
contributions in the Philippine science includes:

William Padolina - chemistry and president of National Academy of Science and

Technology (NAST) Philippines
Edgardo Gomez – Famous in Marine Science
Caesar Saloma – internationally renowned physicists
Ramon Barba – for his outstanding research on tissue culture in Philippine mangoes
Josefino Cacas Comiso – for his works on observing the characteristics of Antarctica by using
satellite images
Fabian Dayrit – for his research on herbal medicine
Rafeal Guerrero III – for his research on tilapia culture

There are other scientists in the Philippines who were in the listed or recognized they are what
we call backyard scientist. Yet, we still need more scientists and engineers to support scientific
research in the country.

c. Science Education in the Philippines

The University of the Philippines Los Baños is the science paradise for
agriculture, forestry, plant and animal science, and veterinary science. The University of
the Philippines Visayas is the center for marine science, fisheries, and other related sciences.
The University of the Philippines Manila is a center of excellence and has produced many
researchers, doctors, health professionals, and scientists in the area of medical and public
health. The University of the Philippines Diliman has established a national science and
engineering complex to develop more research and produce more scientists and engineers in
the country.

The Philippine government through the DOST have ongoing projects on:
- Funding basic researches and patents related to S&T
- Scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the field of
science and technology.
- Establishing more branches of the Philippine Science High School system
- Creating S&T parks to encourage academe and industry partnerships
 - Establishment of the National Science complex and National Engineering
complex and within UP Diliman campus, to encourage more research in
the said fields
- The current K to 12 education program included Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics or STEM as one of the major tracks in
Senior High School to encourage more students to enroll in science-
related fields in college.

d. Selected indigenous science and Technology

Indigenous science are local knowledge based on culture developed over centuries and
passed on from generations to generation. These knowledge are based on experimentation and
experiences of our ancestors, and was proven to be effective scaffold to sustainable
development connecting the past, the present and the future. Some examples of indigenous
knowledge are:
- Predicting weather conditions and seasons based on observation of animal
behaviors and celestial bodies
- The use of herbal medicines
- Methods of preserving food using salt, and others
- Selecting good seeds for planting
- Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits
- Building local irrigation systems like terracing
- Classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties
- Keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard
Indigenous science is important in the development of S&T in the Philippines, it helped
people in understanding the natural environment and copping with everyday life. Until the
present
times, many rural communities still adhere to the use of indigenous knowledge due to
the
inaccessibility of modern day technology in their area.

ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT

1. Which cradle/s of early science do you consider, have greater influence in our society
today?
2. Research one latest program or project of the government on science and technology,
and discuss how would this affect you and the ordinary Filipino.
UNIT II – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

OVERVIEW:

There is no doubt that science and technology have made and are still making
great contributions to the advancement of the society. Science has developed human
knowledge in understanding himself and the world around him. Technology has benefitted the
society in many ways, in the field of medicine, agriculture, transportation and
communication, economy, engineering and others. With the advancement of science and
technology, there are also increasing potential dangers that threatens the environment and
mankind.
As humans, we are said to have the highest intellectual functioning and capacity
compared to the rest of the organisms on earth. It is our basic instinct to survive, and for this,
throughout our existence, we were able to manipulate nature to produce substantial products to
meet our basic needs. Starting with the most ancient tools up to those up to date technology, we
were able to maximize nature and technology for our own advantage. In doing so,
however,
humans sometimes forget our dependency on nature, that exploiting it will of course bring about
harmful consequences.
This unit explains briefly the attributes and capacity of man and his role in relation to
technology and to society. This will inculcate to youth the value of responsible usage of
technology, that is, to balance it with personal easiness and satisfaction. This also establishes
some philosophical considerations on how technology can be construed as a tool for
higher
purposes aside from the usual idea of it being the provider of more efficient and comfortable
ways of achieving and doing things.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

After the successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Analyze the condition in order to deeply reflect and express philosophical ramification that
are meaningful to the students as a part of the society;
2. Identify different conception of human flourishing;
3. Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology so that
the students can define for himself/herself the meaning of a good life
4. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life
5. Suggest innovative creative solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards.
6. Examine human rights in technological ethical dilemmas
7. Discuss the effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through the dilemma/s
they face
8. Evaluate contemporary human experience in order to strengthen and enlighten the human
person functioning in society
9. Find and examine local government policies that protect the wellbeing of a person in
the face of new technologies

Lesson 4. The Human Person Flourishing in Terms of Science and Technology

COURSE MATERIALS:

Flourishing is a state where people experience positive emotions, positive psychological

and social condition, and most of the time," living "within an optimal range of overall
human functioning". Human flourishing is an effort of humans 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 purpose and interests. It involves the rational use of one's individual human potentialities,
including talents, abilities, capacities and virtues in the pursuit of his freely and rationally chosen
values and goals.
Throughout the time, humans flourish and find meaning using the world that we build
with the aid of technology. Humans as we flourish, may unconsciously acquire, consume,
improve or even destroy the means for our self satisfaction, in that case generally, the natural
environment. This is possible as we continue to use the nature by means of science and
technology for our personal pursuit of self fulfilment achieving whatever goals we may have.
Human flourishing has been a societal issue ever since people started to question about
his existence and purpose in nature. In fact, the Greek Philosopher Aristotle coined the word
Eudaimonia which literally mean “good spirited” this is to describe the peak of happiness that
can
be attained by humans. This is like comparing to a flower that is in full bloom, and often
translated literary works as “human flourishing.” Human flourishing, according to Aristotle, arises
as a result of friendship, wealth, power and phronesis or taking the right decisions and right
actions.
As time change, elements that comprise human flourishing changed. People consider living
more
comfortably, explore more places, and making more money as flourishing and equal to having
good life.
Science and technology contributes greatly to human flourishing. Every discovery,
innovation, inventions adds to our pool of knowledge. “Technology is a human activity,” one of
the statement of the German philosopher Martin Heidegger, and it is a result of achieving
science. So, it is relevant to say that the end goal of science and technology is human
flourishing and the good is related to truth. Science is there to seek truth, scientific process is
meant to reveal what is true. The general idea to do science is following certain method or steps
or what is commonly known as scientific method which includes:

1. OBSERVATION. Determining if there are unexplained occurrences unfolding.

2. Determining the PROBLEM. Clearly defining the problem or question/s that one has
to answer
3. Gather information related to the problem, from past knowledge or similar instance. Then,
FORMULATE HYPOTHESIS, which could clearly explain the phenomenon or answer the
problem.
4. Conduct EXPERIMENT. Set up dependent and independent variables, and perform
the necessary step by step procedure.
5. GATHER data during the experiment and ANALYZE the results.
6. FORMULATE CONCLUSION based on the actual result of the experiment, and
provide
RECOMMENDATION in case others would want to broaden or verify the study.

The verification theory proposes that a discipline is science if it can be confirmed or

interpreted in the event of an alternative hypothesis being accepted. In that regard, the said
theory gives premium to empiricism and only takes into account those results which are
measurable and experiments which are repeatable. The Vienna Circle, a group of scholars, in
the early twentieth century, believed that only those which can be observed should be regarded
as meaningful and reject those which cannot be directly accessed as meaningless. Science and
technology must be examined for their greater impact on humanity as a whole.

Falsification theory is the prevalent methodology in science, it asserts that as long as

an ideology is not proven to be false and can best explain phenomenon over alternative
theories, we should accept the said ideology.
SELECTED VIEWS ON TECHNOLOGY:

The following are the philosophies contributed on how technology is understood

and utilized by the society:

1. ARISTOTELIANISM
This views technology as basically a means to an end. To Aristotle, technology is the
organization of techniques in order to meet the demand that is being posed by humans. This
may seem that
technology is primarily concerned with the product. Technology will be judged as either good or
bad based on the value given to the product’s use, efficiency and effect to the society.

2. TECHNOLOGICAL PEMISSIMISM
This view is supported by French philosopher Jacques Ellul (1912-1994). Technological
Pessimism states that if technology is progressive and beneficial in plenty of ways, it still poses
danger when use improperly. This views technology as becoming human’s way of life. We
depend
completely on it that we cannot separate it from our definition of life and living. Ellul's pessimistic
arguments are (1) Technological progress has a price,(2) technological progress creates more
problems, (3) technological progress creates damaging effects, and (4) technological progress
creates unpredictable devastating effects.

3. TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMISM
This view is strongly supported by technologist and engineers and also by ordinary people who
believe that technology can alleviate all the difficulties and provide solutions for problems that
may come. Even technological problems that may soon arise, can be solved by none other than
technology itself. The extreme version of this philosophy is technocratism which holds
technology as the supreme authority on everything.

4. EXISTENTIALISM
The main concern of this view is the essence of the existence of technology. Martin Heidegger,
one of the proponents, did not stop defining what technology is but has dealt with its essence.
To Heidegger, the real essence of technology lies in “enframing”, the gathering of the setting
upon
which challenges man to bring the concealed to unconcealment or uncovering those that are
covered over. This is what he called continuous revealing.

MARTIN HEIDEGGER (1889-1996)

A well-known German philosopher, examined the two usual definitions of technology; means to
an end and a human activity, because he believed that these are somewhat incomplete. He
called them the instrumental and anthropological definition of technology or simply means by
which the human ends are realized. To Heidegger, this may not be a false definition but it is a
misleading one because this limits our thinking.

THE INSTRUMENTAL DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY

According to Heidegger, the instrumental definition of technology encourages us to view

technology from different periods of time as not having fundamental differences. He explained
that while technology is geared towards meeting a human needs, still there is a
difference between older handicraft technologies with modern technology. The problem
begins when humans see it only as a means to an end and disregard the fact that there is a
good technology and a bad technology.
 Another problem Heidegger saw in the instrumental definition of technology is that it only
invites man to a continual desire to master it and use it to solve particular human existing
problems and it ends there. For Heidegger, this definition of technology is insufficient as it
doesn’t not bring out its real essence.

HEIDEGGER’S TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING

Heidegger believed that the genuine substance or the real essence of technology is found in
“enframing”. This is the continuous bringing into unconcealment that which is concealed or
known as the non-stop revealing. Heidegger saw technology as a way of revealing and
continues to demand for something to be bought out into the open. To further understand,
Heidegger further studied Aristotle's Four causes and illustrated it using a silver chalice which he
said owes its make up from the four causes.

1. Causa materialis or the material cause

The material by which the silver chalice was made of silver.
2. Causa Formalis or the formal cause
The form of the shape that gave the silver chalice its image.
3. Causa Finalis or the final cause
The purpose or the primary use by which the silver chalice was made for: to be used during
the Holy Communion as a vessel for the wine that represent the blood of Christ.
4. Causa Efficient or the Efficient Cause
The agent that has caused for the silver chalice to come about: the silversmith.

The four causes are all deemed responsible for the making of the silver chalice. This
making of something is termed as poiesis and this is characterized by an external force. It is
bringing something concealed to uncealment which then makes technology as not only means
to an end but also a mode of revealing.

The definition of technology is the entire process of bringing a particular naturally

occurring matter, into a useful and new product by means of external efforts. The silver chalice
was made using the silver, having its form, for its purpose, and by the silversmith. External
factors have caused for the silver chalice to be made. On the other hand, something that came
about without any external forced, like a flower blooming in the field or a tree bearing its fruit is
termed science. The flower blossomed and the tree bore fruit even without external help.

Another example of the continuous revealing that Heidegger cited is the existence of a
technology with initial purpose then improving it as time goes by due to the increase in
the demands. The ancient windmill which only relies on the wind blowing and does not store
energy which can be for immediate use and can also be stored up for future use was improved
and innovated to produce clean energy.

Because of this continuous revealing, Heidegger also pointed out the danger that comes
with technology. The call to unconceal that which is concealed is also causing something to be
concealed even more. And as one tries to understand something, there is the tendency to be
closed to the counterpart of which is being opened to him. There is also tendency for man to
misunderstand the thing that is being unconcealed before him. Here, Heidegger calls for man to
be more discerning and considerate of the things that is being unconcealed before him and
those that have relationship with that thing being unconcealed.
THE SOCIETY IN THE FACE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

When one looks around him now, he will see that man tends to find his happiness in the works
of modern technology. Smart phones, tablets, laptops that come in different shapes and sizes
with distinct features seem to be the measure of man's value. Social media has also affected the
life on many. Face to face social interactions are being lessened and people keep working hard
to update their gadgets. There seems to be no contentment as every time a new product is
released, man finds another need that can only be answered by a new product. These new
products also tend to replace man in the society as the demand for manual labor is becoming
less and less because of the availability of machineries.

The human condition is not of without hope. Heidegger argued that this can be prevented if man
will not allow himself to be overwhelmed with the enframing that he was set upon, but he pause
for a while and reflect on the value of what is presented before him. A balance has to be struck
between technology being instrumental and anthropological. One has to understand that
technology does not only concern the means but also the end as one proverb goes, "The end
does not justify the means" For Heidegger, the solution for this is that man should not
be controlling and manipulative of what he has but to also allow nature to reveal itself to him.
With this, according to Heidegger, man will have free relationship with technology.

ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT:

Read articles or watch video clips about the following titles. Based on your readings/learnings
choose one among these two and then write a reaction paper about it. Your one page
review/reaction paper should include but not limited to the summary of the content and
your personal views on the issues presented. FORMAT: Arial 12, single spacing.

• The Magician’s Twin: CS Lewis and the case against Scientism

• Akiro Kurosawa’s Dreams “Village of the Watermills”

ATIENZA/MENDOZA 1
Lesson 5. The Good Life

COURSE MATERIAL

What is “the good life?” Most probably you will say that you are having a good life if you
and your family are physically well, have enough or more than enough financial capacity to
satisfy your basic needs and wants, the family members are living comfortably together in your
own house in a peaceful community, and have at least a vehicle. Or for some, good life means
living a simple life.
One basic way to use the word “good” is to express moral approval. When we say
someone is living well or that he has lived a good life, he may simply mean that he is a good
person, someone who is courageous, helpful, trustworthy, kind, selfless, generous,
helpful, loyal, principled, and so on. The moral conception of the good life has exemplified
by some known individuals. Socrates and Plato both gave absolute priority to being a
virtuous person over all other supposedly good things such as pleasure, wealth, or power
(Westcott, 2020).
For Epicarus, an ancient Greek philosopher, life is worth living if we can experience
pleasure, where pleasure is enjoyable, fun and pleasant. This is the hedonist view of that
pleasure is what makes life worth living. Even today when we say someone is living a good life,
we may mean that they are enjoying recreational pleasures: good food, party, travel, doing what
makes one happy.
For Aristotle, good life is a happy life. He both agree with Socrates that to live a good life
one must be a morally good person and Epicurus that happy life involves variety of pleasurable
experiences. According to Aristotle, we may not realize it, but happiness is the end goal
of everything we do.
The materialism view of happiness is that, matter makes us attain happiness. Material
wealth as the primary source of the meaning of their existence. Democritus, an ancient Greek
philosopher and Leucippus led a school whose primary belief is that the world is made up of tiny
indivisible units called atomos or seeds, and even human beings are made up of matter.
Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means
of overcoming destructive emotions. For stoics, happiness can only be attained by careful
practice of apathy. In this world view, they adopt the fact that some things are not within our
control, that
the sooner we realize this, the happier we can become.
The Theism view is that “communion with God is the ultimate basis of happiness.”
That everything we have are temporary and we have to move around while witing for
the ultimate return to the hands of God.
Humanism is another school of thought espouses man has his freedom to carve
his destiny and the captain of his own ship. Humanists see themselves as individuals who are in
control of themselves and the world outside them. As a result of the motivation of the humanist,
scientists eventually turned to technology in order to ease the difficulty of life by developing
machines, tools, processes, and many others.
Finding happiness is dependent on the individual’s preference. To be satisfied with what
you have may lead to happiness and having a good life. For many, food gives them happiness
which satisfies their cravings and feel better, without knowing that some of this food my lead
them to sickness and unhappiness.

Some more Philosophical Views on The Good Life:

Plato/Socrates on the good life:

In his work Apology, Plato gives an account of a speech given by Socrates
while defending himself against allegations of impiety and corrupting the youth in the year 399

ATIENZA/MENDOZA 2
BC. When being asked by the court why Socrates simply cannot stop questioning the way
people

ATIENZA/MENDOZA 3
 live, Socrates responds with a simple, yet profound answer. According to Socrates the
unexamined life is not worth living. Living life without ever reflecting upon it is not worth living.
The person who unquestioningly and continuously repeats the cycle of waking up, working and
going back to sleep, is not living the good life. Even further, people that do not reflect on the
nature of things are not living a worthwhile life. If a person is not examining what they value and
why, the chances of them being able to live a good life are reduced.
Examining, reflecting and questioning the nature of things, however, is not
enough.
Similarly, it’s not enough to reflect on your personal values. Living the good life requires you to
become a Master of yourself. Socrates compared this process to a charioteer directing
two horses. Socrates argued that each and every one of us is such a charioteer. We all have
to handle two horses. The first horse is stubborn. It is a direct reflection of our animal instincts
with a boundless appetite for lust and pleasure. The first horse goes in whatever direction it
pleases, if not tightly controlled. It is egotistical and does not reflect what it does. It simply
does. The second horse is of a much nobler and more sensible spirit. It resembles
reason and man’s capability to reflect upon that which he does. If the charioteer ever wants to
live the good life, the stubborn appetites of the first horse must be controlled. Only by using your
reason to reign in your passions, the two horses will lead you on the path of the good
life. In line with this arguing, not being able to control your desires and passions will
make you behave like an uncontrolled and misdirected stubborn horse. Socrates concluded
that by living a just life, based on reflection, examination and servitude to society, a person
can truly live the good life. But those who allow desires and passions to guide their actions,
are most likely not living worthwhile lives.

Aristotle on the Good Life:

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato, and teacher
of Alexander the Great and is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western philosophy
On one of his best known work Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle views on living well begin with a
consideration of ends and means. Suppose I want a car—the car is my end or goal. I can earn,
borrow, or steal the money to get the car—these are my means. The means I choose depends
on which is easier, quicker, likelier to succeed, etc. Now suppose I get my car? That is itself a
means to another end, say of getting to school or work. And of course, getting to school or work
is the means to another end, getting to class or a job. And these are the means of
making money, which is itself a means of buying food, clothing, and shelter, which are the
means of staying alive. Such considerations led Aristotle to wonder whether there is any final or
ultimate end, an end for which everything else is a means, an end that is not a means to
anything else.
In short, he wanted to know if there is an ultimate end, goal, or purpose for human life.

For Aristotle, the final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good
life. All actions should aim at this end. But since living well may mean differently for different
people, Aristotle argued that not all those leading to living well like desires are the same. There
are acquired desires, which differ between individuals, and natural desires, which are
the same for everyone. Acquired desires—say for caviar—correspond to our wants, whereas
natural desires—say for food—correspond to our needs. Acquired desires or wants correspond
to apparent goods; things that appear good because we want them. Natural desires or needs
correspond to real goods; things that are good for us whether we want them or not.
With these considerations in mind, Aristotle states that the good life consists in the
possession, over the course of a lifetime, of all those things that are really good for us.
Moreover, what is really good for any one of us corresponds to the natural needs that are the
same for all of us. Thus, what is good for one person is good for another; in other words, there is
a right plan for living well. What are these real goods that we should all seek to obtain in order to
live well? According to Aristotle, they are:
1) bodily goods – health, vitality, vigor, and pleasure;
2)external goods - food, drink, shelter, clothing, and sleep; and
3) goods of the soul – knowledge, skill, love, friendship, aesthetic enjoyment, self-esteem, and
honor.

The first two types of goods are limited goods—we can have more of them than we
need. Goods of the soul are unlimited goods—we cannot have more of them than we need.
However, one may have the knowledge of these goods but continue not doing them. Aristotle
argued that the way to bridge the gap between knowledge of the good life and actually living it
was through the development of a good moral character. And this entails developing
good habits. A good habit allows us to perform certain actions without effort. We can have a
good habit of playing the piano, studying hard, hitting golf balls, or thinking well. We can also
habitually make good choices to avoid overeating or drinking too much.
Aristotle calls good habits virtues or excellences. Virtues of the mind are intellectual
virtues; while virtues exemplified by a regular disposition to choose correctly are moral
virtues. For Aristotle, wisdom is the most important intellectual virtue but moral virtue plays a
special role in living well. The reason moral virtue—the habit of making the right choices—is so
important is that our choices determine whether we live well. And if we make too many
bad choices we will live poorly.
So we need to develop the good habits or virtues which help us obtain what is really
good for us, as opposed to bad habits or vices which lead us toward things that merely appear
good. Good habits or moral virtues are the principal means to having good lives because they
allow us to habitually make the choices that both constitute and lead to good lives.
The most important moral virtues or habits are moderation, courage, and
justice. Moderation keeps us from overindulging in pleasure or seeking too much of the limited
goods. Courage is having the disposition to do what it takes to live a good life, and justice is the
virtue that allows us to have friends and enjoy the benefits of cooperation.
However, both knowledge of the good life and good habits may not be enough
because living well is not completely within our control. Why? First, some real goods, like wealth
or health, are not completely within our power to possess. And second, we didn’t create the
initial conditions of our birth or the environment into which we were born. Thus moral virtue,
while necessary, doesn’t guarantee a good life. We also need to be fortunate or lucky. If we
are wise, virtuous, and fortunate we will have good, meaningful lives.

ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT:

Questions for Reflection:

1. In your own opinion, what constitutes a good life?

2. What does Aristotle say about the good life? Does it still stand in the contemporary world?
3. Does technology really lead us to a good life?

For in depth understanding you can also read:

What Is and What should be the role of scientific culture in modern society – Richard Feynman
in the Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard Feynman 1999
Perseus Books. USA pp97-115

The Concepts of the Public Good: A View from the Filipino Philosopher by Rolando Gripaldo in
the Making of a Filipino Philosopher and Other Essays, 2009, National Bookstore pp 82-101
THE BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY

There are four kinds of benefits that can be distinguished if one looks at its recent history and
considers its future:

1. Higher Living Standards. New drugs, better medical attention, and improved
sanitation and nutrition have more than doubled the average life span in industrial nations within
the past century. Machines have released us from much of the backbreaking labor that in
previous ages absorbed most of people's time and energy. The ancient dream of a life free from
famine and disease is beginning to be realized through technology. The standard of living of
low-income families in industrial societies has doubled in a generation, even though relative
incomes have changed little. Many people in developing nations now look on technology as their
principal source of hope.

2. Opportunity for Choice. Individual choice has a wider scope today than ever before
because technology has produced new options not previously available and a greater range of
products and services. Social and geographical mobility allow a greater choice of jobs and
locations. In an urban industrial society, a person's options are not as limited by parental or
community expectations as they were in a small-town agrarian society. The dynamism of
technology can liberate people from static and confining traditions to assume responsibility for
their own lives. Birth control techniques, for example, allow a couple to choose the size and
timing of their family.

3. More Leisure. Increases in productivity have led to shorter working hours. Computers
and automation hold the promise of eliminating much of the monotonous work typical of earlier
industrialism. Through most of history, leisure and cultural pursuits have been the privilege of
the few, while the mass of humanity was preoccupied with survival. In a wealthy society there is
time for continuing education, the arts, social service, sports, and participation in community life.
Technology can contribute to the enrichment of human life and the flowering of creativity. Labor
saving devices free us to do what machines cannot do. Proponents of this viewpoint say that
people can move behind materialism when their material needs are met.

4. Improved Communications. With new forms of transportation, one can in a few

hours travel to distant cities that once took months to reach. With electronic technologies (radio,
television, computer networks, and so on), the speed, range, and scope of communication have
vastly increased. The combination of visual images and auditory message have an immediacy
not found in the linear sequence of the printed words in newspapers. These new media offer the
possibility of instant worldwide communication, greater interaction, understanding, and mutual
appreciation in the “global village.” At present, through the different social network sites, citizens
could already participate in an instant debate on political issues or any other issues they may
feel they are involved. Technology brings psychological and social benefits as well as material
progress.

Science and Technology and the Good Life

Science and Technology also takes part on the achievement of a good life. Today, we
cannot expect our life without science and technology revolving around it every single second.
Science and technology are extremely essential in our everyday life as they have made things
more simple, fast and secured. They are the means that provide us with ways and objects that
help us live a better life. As discussed, you can list as many as possible benefits of science and
technology to humans helping us live a good life. Technology provides us higher living
 standards, opportunity for choices, more leisure and improved communications, all of which
leading humans to an easier and enjoyable life. With all these, let us remember to not depend
on these too much, maximize its use but not abuse it, as it pose not just advantages but also
harms to human race.

Lesson 6: When Technology and Humanity Cross COURSE MATERIAL

Our world is entering a period of truly transformative change where many of us will be surprised by
the scale and pace of developments we simply hadn’t anticipated. These exponential
technological advances offer tremendous potential, and with these opportunities come
tremendous new responsibilities. It is a big challenge for us humans to embrace these changes
brought by science and technology together without losing our own humanity. This is true
especially to digital technology where changes are so abrupt that sometimes it already threatens
humanity.

“Technology” came from the Greek words techne which means art, and logos which means word.
This makes technology a discourse on arts. It was in the 17th century when the concept was only
used to talk about the arts or applied arts. Then, the use of tool and machine was attached to the
concept of technology. Nowadays, most people live with great reliance to the different
technological advancements. We cannot deny the fact that technology is already inevitable part of
the society. Technology today does not only bring convenience but also pleasure and happiness.
It keeps on progressing due to ever-progressing mind of mankind, but it is still important to note
that “anything too much is bad.” Various ethical dilemmas have been identified throughout time
involving technology mostly when misused. People responsible for the technology lay the
dilemmas for the public to see and realize what they are in for.

Technological Devices and the Role they play in the Philippine Society

Television
In the late 1800s, a German student Paul Gottlieb Nipkow was successful in sending
images through wires with the aid of rotating disk, the invention was called “Electric telescope.” In
1907, two inventors, Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton an English scientist and Boris Rosing, a
Russian scientist, created a new system of TV using cathode ray tubes in addition to mechanical
scanner system. This gave rise to two types of television systems, mechanical and electronic
television. Several experiments done by different scientist before they have achieved the modern-
day television we have now. According to Kantar Media, 92 % of urban homes and 70 % of rural
homes own at least 1 television set. Most of the time, Filipinos watch television shows during their
free time or anytime of the day.
Television nowadays is mainly used as platform for advertisements and information dissemination.
It also serves as recreational activity, good stress reliever and a good way to bond with the family
members. It can also be a platform to different propagandas and advocacies. The Department of
Education even announced that in the new normal in education, they will utilize television for
educational purposes, though, there were educational shows even before 1980s and 1990s.

Mobile Phones
Martin Cooper, a senior engineer of Motorola made the first mobile phone call on April 3, 1973
with his Motorola DynaTAC 8000X model. Initially, this kind of device weighs 1.1 kilograms,
and it was capable of 30-minute talk time, but 10 hours charging time. Filipinos love to use their
mobile phones anywhere, anytime. More than half of the Filipino Population own at least one
mobile phone. Survey results showed that one in every three Filipinos cannot live without a mobile
phone.
Primarily, mobile phones are used for communication such as texting or calling.
Additional features of mobile phones or smart phones enable its use for: surfing the internet, take
pictures, send graphic messages, online gaming, stores music, data, videos, and many others, it
is like an all-in-one device. In the new normal, mobile phones are avenue for learning, online
classes can be done with the use of mobile phone. Aside from its many uses, mobile phones are
very portable and can fit in the pocket or small bag.

Personal Computers and Laptops

Between 1833 and 1871, Charles Babbage, an English Mathematics professor, conceived and
designed the, Analytical Engine which was used as the basic framework of the computers,
resembling today’s modern machines. The computer design before was so big that occupies the
whole floor of buildings. Generations of engineers and scientists developed the much smaller
versions of the computer, until they developed the portable Laptops. The first laptop was invented
by Adam Osborne in 1981. Survey says that, Filipino families own more than one, or at least one
computer or laptop. In line with the growing number of computer and laptop sales, there has been
growing number of internet users in the Philippines and one of the highest digital population in the
world.

Although almost all functions of this device are also available in mobile phones, a lot of people
prefer to do their job using either a personal computer or laptop. The advantages in using of this
bigger gadget includes: wide screens, keyboard, availability of mouse and touchpad thus easier to
maneuver, and bigger data storage components. Online class will be more convenient if personal
computer or laptop will be used.

Ethical Dilemmas we face with these technological advancements

People become lazy and unhealthy. People tend to use the technology in everything that they do,
from washing the clothes, doing the dishes, cleaning the house and many others. They tend to be
in front of their gadget practically most of the time. Just push few buttons, or clicks on their mouse
can do the task, without exerting much effort or stretching a muscle. They become overly
dependent on technology. They have the tendency to be unaware of the time because they are
engrossed with the use of technological devices, and skip meals. Kids of this generation are easily
annoyed or get mad when disturbed when using gadget. Some individuals experience alienation,
because they no longer get out to mingle with other people.

Moral Dilemma

People especially children are freely exposed to different things on their devices who are not
capable yet of deciding what is right or wrong. So, everything they see on the internet may appear
for them as normal and good. Children become vulnerable to character change due to exposure to
violence in some videos and games, and this greatly affect how they view the world.

Ethics of Responsibility
Ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an
activity. People called for ethics of technology to protect mankind from ethical dilemma.
Technological devices somewhat unethical because they bring undesirable consequences to
people. Ethics of responsibility is an appropriate theory that can be used to these dilemmas.
Ethics of responsibility focuses on the positive rather than the negative. Instead of asking “What is
not to be allowed?” Ask “What is to be allowed?”

TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY

According to the article written by Gerd Leonhard in his book Technology VS Humanity,
technology has become: (1) exponential, (2) combinatorial and (3) recursive. It continues to
grow exponentially most of the time through modification, improvement and combination of
existing technology and other times through recursive or self-sustaining, self-amplifying
improvements. We are said to be at a crucial junction, and we must act with much greater
foresight, with a decidedly more holistic view, and with much stronger stewardship as we unleash
technologies that could end up having infinitely more power over us than we could ever.

According to him, we can still find a balanced way forward that will allow us to embrace technology
but not become technology, to use it as a tool and not as a purpose. To safeguard humanity’s
future, we must invest as much energy in furthering humanity as we do in developing technology.
Let us also believe that if we want a world that remains a good place for humans, with all our
imperfections and inefficiencies, we must put significant resources (monetary and otherwise) into
defining what a new kind of humanism may actually entail. It will not be enough to just invest into
the technologies that promise to make us superhuman—as we will soon ride on the shoulders of
machines whose workings, we don’t even understand any more. If we don’t become more
proactive on these issues, an exponential, unfettered, and uncontrolled intelligence explosion in
robotics, AI, bioengineering, and genetics will eventually lead to a systematic disregard of the
basic principles of human existence, because technology does not have ethics—but a society
without ethics is doomed.

You will probably agree that technology has already entered our daily lives to such a high degree
that most of us cannot live without it. Let us work hand in hand, to retain our humanity, with all
the attributes, values, virtues, and thoughts that we have while enjoying what technology offers.

Robotics and Humanity

ROBOT – is an actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with degree of

autonomy, moving within its environment, to perform intended task

Types of Robots

1. Pre-programmed Robots – operated in a controlled environment where they do

simple, monotonous tasks. Ex. Mechanical arm on an assembly line, like to weld a door on, to
insert a certain part into the engine, etc. – and its jobis to perform that task longer, faster and more
efficiently than a human.
 2. Humanoid Robots – robots that look like and /or mimic human behavior. These robots
usually perform human-like activities like walking, carrying objects, etc., and are
sometimes designed to look like us, even having human face expression. Ex. Hanson
Robotics’ Sophia and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas.
3. Autonomous Robot – operated independently of human operators, usually designed to
carry out tasks in open environments that do not require human supervision. Ex.
Roomba vacuum cleaner, which uses sensors to roam throughout a home freely
4. Teleoperated Robot - mechanical bots controlled by humans. These usually work in extreme
geographical conditions, weather, circumstances, etc. Ex. Human-controlled submarines
used to fix underwater pipe leaks, or drones used to detect landmines on a battlefield
5. Augmenting Robot – either enhance current human capabilities or replace the lost human
capabilities. Ex. Prosthetic limbs

Roles played by Robots

1. Used to ease the workload of mankind, make life more efficient and less stressful
2. Perform more complicated tasks which human beings are not capable of doing
3. Perform simplest tasks at home so their masters can perform the complex ones
4. Perform activities to entertain people
5. Made to serve as toys

Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics

Isaac Asimov in 1940s wrote a series of stories on robots, and formulated the Laws of Robotics in
his novel, which states:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to
harm
2. A robot must obey the orders given It by human beings except where such orders would
conflict with the first Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the
First and the Second Law.

Ethical Dilemmas faced by Robotics

Safety. Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot? The
agent of the robot or the maker/inventor?
Emotional component. Technology is fast progressing, and it is not possible for robots to develop
emotions.
What if the robots become sentient? Should they be granted robots rights?
ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT:

Activity 1. Collect at least 5 packaging of foods with Nutri Facts. Accomplish the table below.
1 2 3 4 5
Name of product
Amount per pack
Serving size
Amount of sugar in
grams
Amount of sodium
in milligrams
Unknown/unfamiliar
ingredient/s

Questions:
1. Do you usually read the Nutrition facts of the food labels?
2. Did you expect that the products contain that amount of sugars?
3. Why do you think is the importance of reading the label of the food products?
4. What will happen if you eat too much salty and sugary foods?
5. What are the terms used in some food labels, use to hide the presence of sugars in
their products?
6. What are the diseases that one can acquire in consuming too sugary foods?
7. Why would manufacturers use too much sugar in their products?

You can also Watch the documentary then answer the questions below. The Secrets of sugar the
Fifth Estate CBC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxYI8QdfJ7g&t=1157sX

Activity 2: Reflection Questions

1. Aside from TV’s, Cellphones and computers, identify two digital technology that we
observe to continuously improve throughout the time.
2. How can you retain all the good traits and values that you have while enjoying technology?
Lesson 7: Why the Future does Not Need Us COURSE MATERIALS

With the rapid increase in capacity and efficiency of our present technology, it is possible
that sooner or later, they will completely replace humans in performing everyday tasks; that human
will depend on technology for all tasks at all times and so minimizing (if not totally eliminating)
humans’ significance.
In the year 2000, Bill Joy, an American computer scientist and co-founder of Sun
Mircosystems, wrote an article entitled “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” for wired Magazine. In
his article, he argues that, human face the possibility of extinction because of competition from
intelligent robots, which are made possible by technological advancements in artificial intelligence.
Joy further pinpointed the potential dangers that Genetic Engineering, Nanotechnology and
Robotics (GNR) can lead to substantial damage in the physical world if these technologies go out
of control. Tens of thousands of scientists, engineers, mathematicians and system analysts around
the world are working out theories and specialized applications of these self-replicating
technologies without consideration of their overall impacts. The rate of knowledge production has
been exponential as computers become faster and are programmed to become more self-reliant.
Once, Stephen Hawking warned that “The development of full artificial intelligence could
spell the end of the human race…. It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever-
increasing rate.” This is based on the idea that “humans are limited by slow biological evolution,
couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.” (BBC.com)
Despite of the usefulness and benefits technology can bring to our lives, there are still
problems faced by the different technological advancements. These problems are ethical in nature
that involve not only the machine that may malfunction but the human who controls the machine.
Furthermore, following Bill Joy’s discussion, all stakeholders, including people in higher
positions should act now to ensure our position in the future so to save our humanity. Just like in
the previous lesson, technology should not overpower us, we should be the one using it as a tool
and not us being used by it, as its medium. We should cater to technological advancements, but
should know what and when to limit them whenever they pose harms.

Readings: Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us. Retrieved

from: https://www.wired.com/2000/04/joy-2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70wCKsAsqAo

ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT

Reflection Question:
1. In at most four sentences, do you agree with Bill Joy that Genetic Engineering, Nanotechnology
and Robotics (GNR) can threaten humans? Defend. Write your answer in Google Classroom.
Lesson 9 Biodiversity and the Healthy Society

COURSE MATERIALS

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or

ecosystem or the vast variety of life forms in the entire earth. The variability among living things
from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are part. Biodiversity is the source of essential goods and ecological
services that constitute the source of life for all. Sustainability of the ecosystem ensures a better
survival rate against natural disaster. Disappearance of species in a certain environment causes
imbalance in the ecosystem. Human activities are the major cause of wildlife decline. WWF
projected 67% decline on wildlife by 2020 (Marco Lambertini, Gen. Dir. WWF International).
Conservation efforts are necessary to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species and
their habitats.

Threats to Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss and destruction.
2. Alterations in ecosystem composition
3. Over-exploitation
4. Pollution and contamination
5. Global climate change

Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a major factor that contributes to sustainable food production for human
beings. The society must have access to a sufficient variety of nutritious food as its determinant
of their health. There must be intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use
of fertilizers, plant protection, or the introduction of crop varieties or cropping patterns affect
biodiversity and thus impact global nutritional status and human health.

Health, Biology and Biodiversity

Basic needs of living things such as air, water, food, and habitat are provided by its
environment. Advances in agriculture, sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene have had a far
greater impact on human health. Environmental hazards increase the risk of cancer, heart
disease, asthma, and many other illnesses. Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and
hygiene are responsible for a variety of infectious diseases. Environmental hazards increase the
risk of asthma and other respiratory disease, skin diseases, waterborne illness and many
others.
Activities that promote health and extend human life could have adverse environmental
effects. Ex. Waste produced by livestock, carbon emission from food manufacturing and
transportation, medical waste from hospitals. Climate change could deteriorate farming system
and reduce nutrients in some foods. Energy production and use, help sustain human life, but it
can also pose hazards to human health and the environment, such as air pollution, water
pollution, oil spills, and destruction of habitats. Activities that promote health and extend human
life could have adverse environmental effect such as: food production causes environmental
damage from pesticides and fertilizers, soil salinization, waste produced by livestock, carbon
emission from food manufacturing and transportation, deforestation and overfishing. In terms of
health care, hospitals use large quantities of electricity and produce medical and hazardous
wastes. Good health care results to reduced mortality, this can lead to overpopulation, which
results to environmental stresses, these includes clearing of land, generating pollution waste,
and others.
 A mitigating plan and a workable plan of action should be studied in order not to
compromise biodiversity, while at the same time, promote good health among the society. We
must recognize the value of organisms which we share the planet with.

Lesson 10: Genetically Modified Organisms: Science, Health and Politics

A Genetically Modified Organism is simply something whose genetic material (DNA) has been
changed in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. Genetic
engineering allows scientists to insert, or suppress, desired traits or features into an organism –
enhancing a crop’s resistance, for instance, or promoting photosynthesis. This artificial
manipulation of DNA would never happen in nature. It replaces the traditional method of
selective breeding, a common and completely safe practice used by growers.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Since something is altered in the original composition of the organism, and the process is being
controlled by a set of procedures, environmental concerns will surely arise. Some of them are
summarized as follow:

1. Increased use of toxic herbicides and pesticides

The majority of GM crops are those which have been engineered to be herbicide (weed-
killer) resistant. ‘Roundup ready’ soya, produced by Monsanto and grown extensively in
North and South America, allows farmers to spray soya plants with Roundup - a toxic
cocktail of glyphosate and other chemicals. This may not harm the genetically engineered
crop – but the treatment creates chemical residues and run off, making it disastrous for
surrounding ecosystems.
It also encourages the development of ‘superweeds’ which are resistant to glyphosate,
such as the giant pig weed, which grows over 2m tall, or Morning Glory. The latter has
evolved a reproductive system which ensures its tolerance of glyphosate. This was not
something predicted by the genetic engineers.

2. Pleiotropy. DNA is a complex structure. Altering it in any way can create new
consequences and structures in the cell’s composition, as well as its relationship with
other cells. Chemists call this Pleiotropy. Genes are not like Lego pieces – if you change
or remove an element, there are ramifications way beyond the changed ‘piece’. In every
organism, genes, proteins and pathways interact with one another and are regulated in a
complex, multi-layered network process.

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 2

 Despite scientists’ claims, it is impossible to predict the impacts of even a single gene
modification. Pleiotropic effects have included alterations in the crop’s nutritional, toxic
and allergenic properties. For example, a GM soya tested in 1996, developed 27%
higher levels of a major allergen, trypsin-inhibitor. In 2008 a GM maize had the
unpredicted appearance of a new form of the protein which is a known allergen. Even
the new technique, called CRISPR, heralded for its accuracy, still has unknown effects
on non- targeted cells. CRISPR scientists rely on algorithms to predict the most obvious
cell changes, but in a recent test case there were 100s of unforeseen effects.

3. Contamination GM crops can – and do - cross pollinate with wild and non-GM plants.
Other sources of contamination are the inadvertent spread of seed by farm machinery,
as well as mixing seeds during storage. Cross pollination will not only contaminate wild
plants, affecting their natural genetic makeup, but will seriously compromise any organic
or non-GM farming system. Despite claims that GM and non-GM can co-exist, it is
patently untrue.

Genetic engineering is a process by which a gene or a segment of DNA of an

organism is transferred to another organism. The term Genetic Engineering was
coined by Jack Williamson in 1951. It was through the effort of the genomics where
genes in each DNA of an organism are mapped and identified, this leads the genetic
engineers to combine genes of different organisms creating “Genetically Modified
Organisms” or GMOs.

Agricultural plants are one of the most frequently cited examples of GMOs. Some
benefits from engineered organisms are:
1. Increase crop yield, reduce the cost of food production
2. Reduced the need for pesticides and herbicides
3. Enhance the nutrient composition and food quality
4. Resistance to pest and diseases
5. Greater food security
6. Medical benefits to the world’s growing population
7. Organisms grow and mature faster
8. Tolerance to environmental stressors
9. Production of non-protein (bioplastic) or nonindustrial (ornamental plant) products.

Some Genetically Modified Organisms

In Food and Agricultural Industries
1. Pest Resistance – resists certain pests. Ex. Bt Corn
2. Virus resistance – resists certain viruses. Ex. GM papaya or rainbow papaya
3. Herbicide tolerance – tolerance to chemicals that kills weeds.

4. Fortification – GMO fortified with certain minerals. Ex. Golden Rice or rice with vit. A
5. Cosmetic Preservation – resist natural discoloration Ex. Arctic Apple. Apple
modified to suppress the browning due to superficial damage
6. Increase growth rate – has faster growth rate than ordinary salmon. Ex.
AquAdvantage salmon

GMOs in Non-food crops and Microorganisms

1. Flower production – for modified color and extended vase life of flower. Ex. Blue roses
 2. Paper Production – trees for higher yield of paper production. Ex. Poplar trees with
genes for ferulic acid
3. Pharmaceutical productions – GMO to produce pharmaceutical products Ex.
Periwinkle for enhanced production of an alkaloid vinblastine, a drug for cancer
treatment
4. Bioremediation – can assist in the bioremediation of polluted site. Ex. Shrub tobacco
5. Enzyme and Drug production – produce enzymes for food processing and medicine.
Ex. A Bacillus bacterium with a gene of a thermophilic anaerobe producing CGTase
an enzyme used for food flavor enhancer.
6. GMO in medical field – for diagnosis and treatment of human dreaded diseases. Ex.
Humulin, insulin produced by bacterium with gene of human to produce human
insulin.

Potential Risks of GMOs

Several concerns arise regarding GMOs, since there are unknown consequences
when the natural state of an organism is altered. Such alterations can change the organism’s
metabolism, growth rate, and other environmental factors. These consequences not only
concern the GMO but also the natural environment in which the organism is allowed to
proliferate.

Potential Risk to Humans

1. Possibility of exposure to new allergens in genetically modified organisms
2. Transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes to gut flora.
3. Insertion of the genes requires vectors and these vectors may become part
of the food and may become toxic to the consumer.
4. Several researches validate the link between genetically engineered foods to
immuno-suppression in rats’ study, this can also be true to other animals and
humans.
5. Cancer promoting hormone called insulin-like growth factor-1 are increased in
GM cows to produce more milk. Study shows that the hormone could survive
digestion and make its way into the blood stream of the consumer which is
linked to growth of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
6. Nutritional value of food can be altered by genetic engineering. Study
shows that nutrients are lost in GE foods.

Potential Risk to Environment

1. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary pests and weed problems.
Pests may develop resistance to the GMOs with pest-resistance, leading to
formation of super pest.
2. Production of new pathogens may result in recombination of virus and bacteria.
Vectors of the modified gene to the target cell are often viruses or bacteria. These
vectors may cause new disease not only to the GMOs but also to the consumers.
3. Presence of GMOs may interfere with the natural communities through
competition or interaction.
4. GMOs may also interfere with the biochemical cycles.

Bioethics and GMO

There are five sets of ethical concerns, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) in
the United Kingdom, have raised about GM crops.
1. Potential harm to human health;
 2. Potential damage to the environment;
3. Negative impact on traditional farming practice;
4. Excessive corporate dominance; and
5. “Unnaturalness” of the technology.

Biosafety on GMOs

International organizations developed principles and treaties that somehow ensure

biosafety on GMOs. The World Health Organization (WHO) together with Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) created Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Codex is responsible for the
development of standards, codes of practices, guidelines, and recommendations on food
safety. The principles include pre-market assessments of the GM food products and its
evaluation of direct and indirect effects.
Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety is an international environment agreement which
aims to ensure safe handling and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). The protocol
seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risk pose by LMOs resulting from
modern biotechnology. They require the exporters to seek consent from the importers before
its first shipment of LMOs.
The International Trade Agreement on Labeling of GM foods and food products.
The agreement requires the exporters of GM products to label their products and give rights
to importing parties to reject or accept the GM products.

Readings:
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic and Recombinant DNA Technology
Retrieved from: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-
gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732/
GE Food and your Health
https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/311/ge-foods/ge-food-and-your-
health#:~:text=The%20scientists%20specifically%20warned%20that,%2C%20pesticides%20or
%20heavy%20metals).
Ethical Arguments Relevant to the Use of GM crops. Retrieved from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871678410005649#:~:text=Five
%20sets%2 0of%20ethical%20concerns,'unnaturalness'%20of%20the%20technology.

ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENT

1. Research on three GMO’s developed in the Philipines. Discuss the need for each.
2. Which one is better, the organic or the GMO? Defend.

References:
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biodiversity/
https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/gmos-health-concerns

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 5

Lesson 11: The Nano World

COURSE MATERIALS:

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can
be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science,
and engineering.

Fundamental Concepts in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

It’s hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is. One nanometer is a billionth of a
-9
meter, or 10 of a meter. Here are a few illustrative examples
• There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch
• A sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick
• On a comparative scale, if a marble were a nanometer, then one meter would be
the size of the Earth

Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve the ability to see and to control individual
atoms and molecules. Everything on Earth is made up of atoms—the food we eat, the clothes
we wear, the buildings and houses we live in, and our own bodies.
But something as small as an atom is impossible to see with the naked eye. In fact, it’s
impossible to see with the microscopes typically used in a high school science class. The
microscopes needed to see things at the nanoscale were invented relatively recently—about 30
years ago. Once scientists had the right tools, such as the scanning tunneling microscope
(STM) and the atomic force microscope (AFM), the age of nanotechnology was born.
Although modern nanoscience and nanotechnology are quite new, nanoscale materials
were used for centuries. Alternate-sized gold and silver particles created colors in the stained-
glass windows of medieval churches hundreds of years ago. The artists back then just didn’t
know that the process they used to create these beautiful works of art actually led to changes in
the composition of the materials they were working with.
Today's scientists and engineers are finding a wide variety of ways to deliberately make
materials at the nanoscale to take advantage of their enhanced properties such as higher
strength, lighter weight, increased control of light spectrum, and greater chemical reactivity than
their larger-scale counterparts.

ETHICAL ISSUES RAISED BY NANOTECHNOLOGY

Although the modern world is already gearing towards nanotechnology due to

advantages its offer, there are still ethical and societal impacts that we need to consider. These
impacts can be summarized as follow:

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 6

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5393069/

Lesson 12: GENE THERAPY

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the
future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s
cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene
therapy, including:

▪ Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
▪ Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.
▪ Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.
 Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases
(including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the technique
remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Gene
therapy is currently being tested only for diseases that have no other cures.

ETHICAL ISSUES OF THE GENETHERAPY

There are many issues and questions about the ethics of gene therapy surrounding the
practice. Gene therapy involves making changes to a person's genetic profile, which is like a set
of instructions or a blueprint for that unique individual. One of the ethical concerns involves
whether it's morally right to make such changes, especially if they may also affect future
generations. Other concerns about the ethics of gene therapy have to do with the application of
the technique; many feel it's acceptable to use it to treat harmful disorders but not to enhance a
person's fundamental traits. There are also concerns relating to accessibility of these expensive
treatments and the risk of them becoming reserved for the wealthy.
One of the main concerns about the ethics of gene therapy has to do with the existence
of the practice itself and whether it's morally acceptable. All types of gene therapy involve
permanently altering the genetic profile of an individual; one type called germline gene therapy
allows the changes to be passed on to offspring and future generations. Opponents of the
practice express reservations about the risks of unknown long range side effects and
developmental problems for future generations and believe that more study is necessary before
taking these risks. Some also take issue with gene therapy on religious grounds because they
view it as tampering with God's design. Supporters of gene therapy cite the enormous potential
to save lives and eradicate genetic disorders and seem to feel the rewards are worth the risks.
Another serious concern about the ethics of gene therapy is that it has the potential to be
misused. Many individuals agree that it can be beneficial for the treatment of life-altering harmful
disorders. There are concerns, however, that this could lead to using it to eliminate any
difference from society's ideal. Some people are concerned that gene therapy could be the
beginning of genetic engineering to create the "perfect" human. Another concern is the
potential abuse of gene therapy to enhance a person's performance, thereby altering abilities
such as intelligence, speed, or coordination. Researchers and the American Medical
Association agree that such uses of gene therapy would be a violation of ethics and shouldn't be
permitted.
There are also issues about the cost of treatment related to the ethics of gene therapy.
Given the experimental nature of gene therapy, it is very expensive, and usually not covered by
medical insurance. The cost makes gene therapy treatments out of reach for most individuals
since it is generally only affordable for the very rich. There is concern that gene therapy could
become an exclusive treatment reserved for the wealthy elite, with others denied access. In
keeping with the medical code of ethics, many in the medical community are committed to
making it accessible to all regardless of socioeconomic status.

ACTIVITY/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Do you think gene therapy will really lead to creating perfect humans?
Why or why not?

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 9

LESSON 13: ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS COURSE MATERIALS

Maybe some of you have seen posters, ads, and the like carrying the message ''Go
Green!'' But, what does it mean to ''go green''? It takes a variety of forms, but essentially, going
green means being mindful of the natural environment and making economic choices that aren't
harmful to the earth. When people ''go green,'' they are practicing environmental awareness.
The term means exactly what you expect it to: being aware of the natural environment and
making choices that benefit--rather than hurt--the earth. In recent years, environmental
awareness has gained increased attention for opening the minds of the many about the possible
environmental consequences of different human made activities.

20 Major Current Environmental Problems

Pollution
There are 7 key types of pollution – air, water, soil, noise, radioactive, light and thermal.
All these types of pollution are interlinked and influence each other. Therefore, we need to
tackle all of them together. Pollution of air, water and soil requires millions of years to recover.
While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff, air pollution is caused by
various gases and toxins released by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil
pollution is majorly caused by industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

Soil Degradation
Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are in good condition
to produce crops. According to UN estimates, about 12 million hectares of farmland a year get
seriously degraded. Soils get damaged due to many reasons. Such reasons include erosion,
overgrazing, overexposure to pollutants, monoculture planting, soil compaction, land-use
conversion and many more.

Global Warming
Climate changes like global warming are the result of human practices like the emission
of greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’
surface causing more violent and destructive natural disasters that include flooding, melting of
polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation that may result to
flash floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, excessive snow or desertification.

Overpopulation
The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces a shortage of
resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing
countries is straining the already scarce resources. Intensive agriculture practiced to produce
food damages the environment through the use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and
insecticides. Overpopulation is also one of the crucial current environmental problems.

Natural Resource Depletion

Another crucial current environmental problem is the depletion of Natural resources. We,
humans, use so many natural resources that it would need almost 1.5 Earths to cover all our
needs. This will further increase in the future due to massive industrialization in Asian countries
like India and

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 10

 China. Increased use of natural resources leads to a number of other environmental issues,
such as industrialization, population growth and air pollution.
Over time, natural resource depletion will lead to an energy crisis. The chemicals emitted from
many natural resources contribute to climate change. Fossil fuel consumption results in the
emission of greenhouse gases, which is primarily responsible for global warming and climate
change.

Generating Unsustainable Waste

The huge production of waste due to our hyper consumption is a major threat to the
environment. As per the study, the average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day. This
hyper consumption results in non-biodegradable trash in the form of plastic packaging, toxic e-
waste, and harmful chemicals that leach into our waterways. When this waste ends up in
landfills, it generates enormous amounts of methane, which ranks as one of the worst
greenhouse gases because of its high potential for global warming. It creates severe explosion
hazards.

Waste Disposal
The overconsumption of resources and the creation of plastics are creating a global
crisis of waste disposal. Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount
of waste or garbage and then sadly, dumping this waste in the oceans or less developed
countries. Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes also threaten the health
being of humans. Waste disposal is, therefore, one of the urgent current environmental
problems.

Deforestation
Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen, as well as
helps in regulating temperature and rainfall. At present, forests cover 30% of the land, but every
year tree cover lessens, due to the growing population demand for more food, shelter and cloth.
Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land available for residential,
industrial or commercial purposes.

Polar Ice Caps

The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. Although NASA studies
have shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is increasing, however, this increase is only
one-third of what is being lost in the Arctic. There is enough evidence that shows sea levels are
rising, and the melting of Arctic ice caps is a major contributor. Over time, the melting of polar
ice caps could lead to extensive flooding, contamination of drinking water and major changes in
ecosystems.

Loss of Biodiversity
Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and loss of
biodiversity. Ecosystems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger when any
species population begin to vanish. Another example is the destruction of coral reefs in the
various oceans, which support the rich marine life. Balance of natural processes and resources
should be balanced since they are crucial to the survival of the ecosystem.

Climate Change
Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in the last
couple of decades. It occurs due to global warming, which happens due to the increase in
temperature of the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and the release of harmful gases by
industries. Climate
 change has various harmful effects but not limited to the melting of polar ice, change in
seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall
weather scenario.

Ocean Acidification
It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of total atmospheric CO2 is
produced by humans. The ocean acidity has increased by the last 250 years, but by 2100, it
may shoot up by 150%. The main impact is on marine life like shellfish and plankton and in
return the entire ecosystem.

The Nitrogen Cycle

We often ignore the effects of the use of nitrogen by humans. Nitrogen is a crucial
component of all life. A process through which it is converted or ‘fixed’ to a more usable form is
called fixation. The fixation happens biologically or through lightning, or it can be done
industrially. People have learned to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia (NH3-) and fertilizers that
are nitrogen-rich to supplement the amount of nitrogen fixed naturally. Problems may occur
when humans intervene in its natural nitrogen cycle.
It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for about 50% of the nitrogen fixation on
earth through the cultivation of nitrogen-fixing crops and the production of human-made
fertilizers. When nitrogen is used more than plant demand, it can leach from soils into
waterways and contributes again to another consequence called eutrophication. Excess levels
of nitrogen in water can hamper marine ecosystems, through overstimulation of plant and algae
growth. This blocks the light from getting into deeper waters, thus damaging the rest of the
marine population. The problem can also occur during nitrification and denitrification. Nitrous
oxide (N2O) can be formed when the chemical process is not completed. N2O is a potent
greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that protects us from
the sun’s harmful rays. The depletion of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed
to pollution caused by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-fluoro carbons (CFCs). Once these
toxic gases reach the upper atmosphere, they create a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest of
which is above the Antarctic by disassembling it since they attract an oxygen atom from Ozone
(O3), leaving O2 only as a free gas.
CFCs are banned in many industries and consumer products. The ozone layer is valuable
because it prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth. This is one of the most
important current environmental problems.

Acid Rain
Acid rain occurs due to the presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere. Acid rain
can be caused due to combustion of fossil fuels or erupting volcanoes or rotting vegetation
which releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere. Acid rain is a known
environmental problem that can have a serious effect on human health, wildlife and aquatic
species.

Water Pollution
Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Water is becoming an economic
and political issue as the human population fights for this resource. One of the options
suggested is using the process of desalinization. Industrial development is filling our rivers, seas
and oceans
 with toxic pollutants, which are a major threat to human health as they continue to pollute those
bodies of water.

Overfishing
Overfishing affects natural ecosystems severely and leads to an imbalance of ocean life.
Around 63% of global fish stocks are estimated to be overfished. Overfishing caused fishing
fleets to migrate to new waters that would further deplete the fish stocks. Moreover, it has
negative effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing to support their living.

Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl refers to the migration of population from high-density urban areas to low-
density rural areas, which results in the spreading of the city over more and more rural land.
Sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues and health issues.
The ever-growing demand for land displaces the natural environment consisting of flora and
fauna, instead of being replaced.

Public Health Issues

The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to the health of humans and
animals. Dirty water is the biggest health risk in the world and poses a threat to the quality of life
and public health. Runoff to rivers carries with it toxins, chemicals and disease-carrying
organisms. Pollutants cause respiratory diseases like Asthma and cardiac-vascular problems.
High temperatures encourage the spread of infectious diseases like Dengue. Polluted
environment and medicine abuse may also lead to stronger variants of bacteria and viruses that
may bring about deadly diseases like COVID 19.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic modification of food using biotechnology is called genetic engineering. Genetic

modification of food results in increased toxins and diseases as genes from an allergic plant can
transfer to the target plant. Genetically modified crops can cause serious environmental
problems as an engineered gene may prove toxic to wildlife.
Another drawback is that increased use of toxins to make insect resistant plants can cause
resultant organisms to become resistant to antibiotics.

The need for change in our daily lives and the movements of our government is growing.
Since so many different factors come into play, such as voting, governmental issues, the desire
to stick to a routine, many people don’t consider that what they do will affect future generations.
If humans continue moving forward the way we do now, towards the future, then there will be no
future at all to consider. Although humans are somehow already trying, there are still so many
things we can do to try and put a dent in what we already know. By raising awareness in your
local community and within your families about these issues, you can help contribute to a more
environmentally conscious and friendly place for you and your future generations to live.

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 13

Lesson 14: Climate Change and the Energy Crisis COURSE MATERIALS:

Climate Change

Climate is sometimes mistaken for weather. But climate is different from weather
because it is measured over a long period of time, whereas weather can change from day to
day, or from year to year. The climate of an area includes seasonal temperature and rainfall
averages, and wind patterns. Different places have different climates. A desert, for example, is
referred to as an arid climate because little water falls, as rain or snow, during the year. Other
types of climates include tropical climates, which are hot and humid, and temperate climates,
which have warm summers and cooler winters.
Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns
in a place. It is said to be caused by increasing amount of greenhouses gases particularly
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Naturally, greenhouse gases trap enough heat so that during
night when there is no source of heat energy particularly the sun, heat on earth is still enough
for all the organisms to survive. However, due to human made activities, the increase in these
gases lead to over trapping of heat that is resulting to global warming causing worldwide climate
change.
Climate change could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole. Climate
change may cause weather patterns to be less predictable. These unexpected weather patterns
can make it difficult to maintain and grow crops in regions that rely on farming because
expected temperature and rainfall levels can no longer be relied on. Climate change has also
been connected with other damaging weather events such as more frequent and more intense
hurricanes, floods, downpours, and winter storms.
In Polar Regions, the warming global temperatures associated with climate change
have meant ice sheets and glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate from season to season.
This contributes to sea levels rising in different regions of the planet. Together with expanding
ocean waters due to rising temperatures, the resulting rise in sea level has begun to damage
coastlines as a result of increased flooding and erosion.
The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning fossil fuels,
like natural gas, oil, and coal. Burning these materials releases greenhouse gases into Earth’s
atmosphere causing the average temperature to rise. This warming of the planet impacts local
and regional climates. Throughout Earth's history, climate is really changing but when occurring
naturally, this is a slow process that has taken place over hundreds and thousands of years.
Unfortunately, human influence this world-wide climate to change at a much faster rate.
One of the top contributories to greenhouse gases are power plants that use non
renewable energy sources like coals and fossil fuels. This issue has been acknowledging by
stakeholders forcing them to consider alternative sources of energy like clean energy sources.
Aside from environmental impacts, this is timely since nonrenewable sources actually are
already on the verge of being unavailable due to humans over consumptions leading to
worldwide energy crisis.

Energy Crisis
The energy crisis refers to the fact that sooner or later we may run out of energy.
There is the danger that humans may experience severe energy shortages in the coming
decades. This may result in shortages of power, difficulties with agriculture and so on.

STS MODULE ATIENZA/MENDOZA 14

 From time immemorial people have used cow-dung and firewood as the main sources of energy.
Later they have begun to use coal and petroleum and most recently nuclear and solar energy.
The rise in consumption of petroleum and its products during the last two decades has
increased very much and the stock of petroleum and other sources of energy are fast depleting.
In fact, the world has become frightened over the energy crisis. The oil-producing countries
have held the whole world to collect money and have increased the price of oil manifolds
recently, hitting specially the developing and underdeveloped countries below their bets.

Causes

The causes of energy shortages include:

• Over-reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

• Poor energy infrastructure.
• Some countries siphoning energy off from others.
• Poor energy efficiency.
• Overuse of energy.

Impact of Energy Crisis

This crisis of conventional energy source is standing on the way of socio-economic

growth in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Of petroleum products, diesel and
kerosene are much more extensively used in India to run pump-sets and tractors in agricultural
fields and domestic usages. At the present rate of consumption, the source of all conventional
energy are depleting at a faster rate.

Solution of Energy Crisis

It is heartening to note that scientists and technologists have taken steps to face the
crisis.
They are advising both short and long-term measures.
We can solve the problem of energy crisis, if we do the simple acts as below:
1. Use less energy.
2. Improve energy infrastructure.
3. Save energy where possible.
4. Rely less on fossil fuels.
5. Switch to renewable energy.
6. Go vegan – vegan foods are less energy intensive to produce.
7. Fly less.
8. Drive less.
9. Take public transport.
10. Campaign to improve awareness of the energy crisis.
11. Educate others about the energy crisis.
12. Install energy-efficient appliances in the home.
13. Save water.
14. Do not waste food.
15. Insulate your property.
 In the rural areas people are being advised to use more agricultural wastes and
cow-dung. Bio-gas plants should have to be encouraged for cooking and lighting purpose.
Hydroelectric power stations, though they produce only few percentages of the total power in
the Philippines, should be encouraged further. Geological explorations are to be intensified for
locating deposits of natural gas. But the most interesting is that in this moment of crisis
scientists have already started works to preserve atomic and solar energy, an endless source of
energy. They have already developed solar cooking range though not commercially.

Renewable or Clean Energy Sources:

Renewable energy is energy that has been derived from earth’s natural resources that are
not finite or exhaustible, such as wind and sunlight. Renewable energy is an alternative to the
traditional energy that relies on fossil fuels, and it tends to be much less harmful to the
environment. These are also known as clean energy since when used, these types of energy
are known to emit very minimal environmental harms

Solar.
Solar energy is derived by capturing radiant energy from sunlight and converting it into
heat, electricity, or hot water. Photovoltaic (PV) systems can convert direct sunlight into
electricity through the use of solar cells.

Benefits
One of the benefits of solar energy is that sunlight is functionally endless. With the
technology to harvest it, there is a limitless supply of solar energy, meaning it could render fossil
fuels obsolete. Relying on solar energy rather than fossil fuels also helps us improve public
health and environmental conditions. In the long term, solar energy could also eliminate energy
costs, and in the short term, reduce your energy bills.

Current Limitations

Although solar energy will save you money in the long run, it tends to be a significant
upfront cost and is an unrealistic expense for most households. For personal homes,
homeowners also need to have the ample sunlight and space to arrange their solar panels,
which limits who can realistically adopt this technology at the individual level.

Wind
Wind farms capture the energy of wind flow by using turbines and converting it into
electricity. There are several forms of systems used to convert wind energy and each vary.
Commercial grade wind-powered generating systems can power many different organizations,
while single-wind turbines are used to help supplement pre-existing energy organizations.
Another form is utility-scale wind farms, which are purchased by contract or wholesale.
Technically, wind energy is a form of solar energy. The phenomenon we call “wind” is caused by
the differences in temperature in the atmosphere combined with the rotation of Earth and the
geography of the planet.

Benefits
Wind energy is a clean energy source, which means that it doesn’t pollute the air like
other forms of energy. Wind energy doesn’t produce carbon dioxide, or release any
harmful
 products that can cause environmental degradation or negatively affect human health like smog,
acid rain, or other heat-trapping gases. Investment in wind energy technology can also open up
new avenues for jobs and job training, as the turbines on farms need to be serviced and
maintained to keep running.

Current Limitations

Since wind farms tend to be built in rural or remote areas, they are usually far from
bustling cities where the electricity is needed most. Wind energy must be transported via
transition lines, leading to higher costs. Although wind turbines produce very little pollution,
some cities oppose them since they dominate skylines and generate noise. Wind turbines also
threaten local wildlife like birds, which are sometimes killed by striking the arms of the turbine
while flying.

Hydroelectric

Dams are what people most associate when it comes to hydroelectric power. Water
flows through the dam’s turbines to produce electricity, known as pumped-storage hydropower.
Run-of- river hydropower uses a channel to funnel water through rather than powering it through
a dam.

Benefits

Hydroelectric power is very versatile and can be generated using both large scale
projects, like the Hoover Dam, and small-scale projects like underwater turbines and lower
dams on small rivers and streams. Hydroelectric power does not generate pollution, and
therefore is a much more environmentally-friendly energy option for our environment.

Current Limitations

Although hydroelectric power does not pollute the air, it disrupts waterways and
negatively affects the animals that live in them, changing water levels, currents, and migration
paths for many fish and other freshwater ecosystems.

Geothermal

Geothermal heat is heat that is trapped beneath the earth’s crust from the formation of
the Earth 4.5 billion years ago and from radioactive decay. Sometimes large amounts of this
heat escapes naturally, but all at once, resulting in familiar occurrences, such as volcanic
eruptions and geysers. This heat can be captured and used to produce geothermal energy by
using steam that comes from the heated water pumping below the surface, which then rises to
the top and can be used to operate a turbine.

Benefits

Geothermal energy is not as common as other types of renewable energy sources, but it
has a significant potential for energy supply. Since it can be built underground, it leaves very
little footprint on land. Geothermal energy is naturally replenished and therefore does not run a
risk of depleting (on a human timescale).
Current Limitations

Cost plays a major factor when it comes to disadvantages of geothermal energy. Not only
is it costly to build the infrastructure, but another major concern is its vulnerability to
earthquakes in certain regions of the world.

Ocean
The ocean can produce two types of energy: thermal and mechanical. Ocean thermal
energy relies on warm water surface temperatures to generate energy through a variety of
different systems. Ocean mechanical energy uses the ebbs and flows of the tides to generate
energy, which is created by the earth’s rotation and gravity from the moon.

Benefits
Unlike other forms of renewable energy, wave energy is predictable and it’s easy to
estimate the amount of energy that will be produced. Instead of relying on varying factors, such
as sun and wind, wave energy is much more consistent. This type of renewable energy is also
abundant, the most populated cities tend to be near oceans and harbors, making it easier to
harness this energy for the local population. The potential of wave energy is an astounding as
yet untapped energy resource.

Current Limitations

Those who live near the ocean definitely benefit from wave energy, but those who live in
landlocked states won’t have ready access to this energy. Another disadvantage to ocean
energy is that it can disturb the ocean’s many delicate ecosystems. Although it is a very clean
source of energy, large machinery needs to be built nearby to help capture this form energy,
which can cause disruptions to the ocean floor and the sea life that habitats it. Another factor to
consider is weather, when rough weather occurs it changes the consistency of the waves, thus
producing lower energy output when compared to normal waves without stormy weather.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen needs to be combined with other elements, such as oxygen to make water as it
does not occur naturally as a gas on its own. When hydrogen is separated from another
element it can be used for both fuel and electricity.

Benefits
Hydrogen can be used as a clean burning fuel, which leads to less pollution and a cleaner
environment. It can also be used for fuel cells which are similar to batteries and can be used
for powering an electric motor.

Current Limitations

Since hydrogen needs energy to be produced, it is inefficient when it comes to

preventing pollution.
Biomass

Bioenergy is a renewable energy derived from biomass. Biomass is organic matter that
comes from recently living plants and organisms. Using wood in your fireplace is an example of
biomass that most people are familiar with. There are various methods used to generate
energy through the use of biomass. This can be done by burning biomass, or harnessing
methane gas which is produced by the natural decomposition of organic materials in ponds or
even landfills.

Benefits

The use of biomass in energy production creates carbon dioxide that is put into the air,
but the regeneration of plants consumes the same amount of carbon dioxide, which is said to
create a balanced atmosphere. Biomass can be used in a number of different ways in our
daily lives, not only for personal use, but businesses as well. This energy came from wood,
biofuels like ethanol, and energy generated from methane captured from landfills or by
burning municipal waste.

Current Limitations

Although new plants need carbon dioxide to grow, plants take time to grow. We also
don’t yet have widespread technology that can use biomass in lieu of fossil fuels.

Renewable Energy: What Can You Do?

As a consumer you have several opportunities to make an impact on improving the
environment through the choice of a greener energy solution. If you’re a homeowner, you
have the option of installing solar panels in your home. Solar panels not only reduce your
energy costs, but help improve your standard of living with a safer, more eco-friendlier energy
choice that doesn’t depend on resources that harm the environment. There are also
alternatives for a greener way of life offered by your electric companies.

The Philippines, geologically, is a very strategic country when it comes to renewable

sources of energy since we are surrounded by water, near the equator and sits on the pacific
ring of fire. Ironically, however our current status suggests that majority of our energy sources
still come from non-renewable like coal and fossil fuels. Although there are initiatives taken by
the government as to producing clean energy, financial, economic and some related factors
still hinder us on achieving such. It is our task as citizens of this country to take necessary
actions, even small steps, even our own simple ways to help our country conserve energy and
maximize what we have right now without harming the environment.

ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENT:
Watch “2 degrees: Panahon na” by Dingdong Dantes and answer the following questions:
1. Why is the documentary entitled 2 degrees Panahon na?
2. Discuss Climate Change and its impact in the Philippines.
3. What actions can you possibly pledge to somehow contribute in energy
conservation?