This document discusses the relationship between science, technology, and human flourishing. It defines human flourishing as fulfilling one's true nature and achieving happiness or well-being. The document outlines how science and technology have historically helped humans flourish by improving living standards through advances in areas like education, health, and communication. However, it also notes challenges like unsustainable growth and environmental exploitation that can threaten long-term human flourishing. The document argues that while science and technology have greatly benefited society, human flourishing requires consideration of other domains like ethics, aesthetics, and community in addition to continual scientific progress.
This document discusses the relationship between science, technology, and human flourishing. It defines human flourishing as fulfilling one's true nature and achieving happiness or well-being. The document outlines how science and technology have historically helped humans flourish by improving living standards through advances in areas like education, health, and communication. However, it also notes challenges like unsustainable growth and environmental exploitation that can threaten long-term human flourishing. The document argues that while science and technology have greatly benefited society, human flourishing requires consideration of other domains like ethics, aesthetics, and community in addition to continual scientific progress.
This document discusses the relationship between science, technology, and human flourishing. It defines human flourishing as fulfilling one's true nature and achieving happiness or well-being. The document outlines how science and technology have historically helped humans flourish by improving living standards through advances in areas like education, health, and communication. However, it also notes challenges like unsustainable growth and environmental exploitation that can threaten long-term human flourishing. The document argues that while science and technology have greatly benefited society, human flourishing requires consideration of other domains like ethics, aesthetics, and community in addition to continual scientific progress.
terms of Science and Technology Human Person Flourishing everyone else in this world, is aiming to know what‗s ―good‖ for your life helps you shape yourself to become a purposeful, goal- directed individual Finding your ultimate good not only enhances your understanding of yourself, but the whole world as well Human Person Flourishing must continuously search for what is good to further realize the goals in life. A human being naturally lives his life to improve and excel as a human being Aristotle: the desire to flourish is a natural human inclination; the actions that we perform have its end ---to achieve the goal Science, Technology and Human Flourishing
Eudaimonia - to mean ‗good indwelling
spirit‗ defines the peak of one‗s happiness or the process of fulfilling or realizing one‗s true nature human flourishing Aristotle‗s Nicomachean Ethics, wherein he discussed that human flourishing ascends as a result of different components such as phronesis, friendship, wealth and power. Ancient Greek society : believe that acquiring these components will surely bring the seekers happiness, which in effect allows them to participate in the greater perception of what we call the Good; The western conception is more likely focused on the individual in contrast to the eastern which is more community- centric; Chinese Confucian system and the Japanese Bushido where they encourage the study of literature, sciences and art, not entirely for one‗s self but for a greater cause like establishing a harmonious and well- ordered society; the western conception: grasps human flourishing as an ‗end‗ and that humans aim for the ultimate good or “eudaimonia‟ ;. As time goes by, the basics that makes up human flourishing has changed. People found other ways to live more comfortably explore different places and earn more money and vice versa. because the needs and necessities of people are changing from time to time, this brought them to develop more refined machines to help them in their daily lives and endeavors; led people to advances in different fields such as education, health, and communications ―Man of the world is what humans today expected to become – they are situated in a global neighborhood, helping each other, together with the government and different institutions to accomplish a common goal. Coordinating with one another has become the new trend and competing became outmoded Human flourishing should be tackled not just in a single idea but in a global perspective. Science as Methods and Results
Science has always been systematic in searching for
things. It roots from objectivity and uses logical approach on discovering how things work in the universe, one important aspect of scientific process is that it only focuses on the natural world. The scientific method (search for the proponent) is a series of steps followed by science investigators to find answers for specific questions. The steps of scientific methods 1. Observation on your surroundings will help you come up with an idea 2. Question should be made after you observation. 3. Hypothesis comes next. 4. Experiment You should develop a procedure that states very clearly how you plan to conduct an experiment. 5. Results include detailed observations and data 6. Conclusion Science as Social Endeavor Philosophers: Paul Thagard, Helen Longino, and David Bloor, among others, presented an alternative distinction that explores the social dimension of science and technology The new idea of science and technology aims to enable a dimension which generally benefits the society Science as Social Endeavor these tribal people have their own ‗science‗ but since they remained untouched for a long time, they do not refer Asian science as their own shared knowledge and experiences that will foster solidarity among these people across the globe Science as social endeavor is to have various problems solve, cater various needs and sustain the development of the society through the help of scientific knowledge. Science and Results For people who don‗t seem to know science, they‗ll just completely rely on either superstitious beliefs or divine providence Science is not entirely faultless, it doesn‗t get 100% accurate all the time. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA, often blamed for their imprecise weather reports at times displays fallibility and limitations of their scope, for they can‗t totally tell the exact weather condition for the following days, as well as the occurrences of some natural disasters. Science and its Limitations
Science has generated the
knowledge that allows us to discover, explore, invent, innovate, perform and answer vital questions about nature, life and existence. Science might seem to be endless, but it is not. Science doesn't make moral judgments
Is euthanasia the right thing to do?
What universal rights should humans have? Should other animals have rights? These are important questions that Science will not be able to answer. Science helps us describe how the world is, but it cannot make any judgments about whether that state of affairs is right, wrong, good, or bad. ultimately individual people must make moral judgments. Science doesn't make aesthetic judgments
Science cannot tell us whether a painting is
beautiful or awful. Individuals make those decisions for themselves based on their own aesthetic preferences. Science doesn't tell you how to use scientific knowledge
Science, for example, can tell you how to
recombine DNA in new ways, but it doesn't specify whether you should use that knowledge to correct a genetic disease. science helps us describe how the world is, and then we have to decide how to use that knowledge. Science doesn't draw conclusions about supernatural explanations
Do gods exist? Do supernatural entities intervene
in human affairs? These questions may be important, but science won't help you answer them. Questions that deal with supernatural explanations are beyond the realm of what can be studied by science. For such questions are matters of personal faith and spirituality. Science as Education In the Philippines, numerous science high schools can be found. These schools offer aspiring students to secure a spot for a competent and high - quality science and mathematics education anchored on a specialized curriculum In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) offering schools, the prevalence of the said track is reflected in the number of students taking up the course. It is no surprise if the numbers favor the STEM track as the jobs that lies in it are the most in demand in today‗s society. The students must have also thought that enrolling in this science track will later place them in high-salary jobs and successful career. Being proficient alone in science and technology would be inadequate if one is in pursuit of human flourishing The eudaimonic person denoted by Aristotle is someone who is knowledgeable not only about science but also on other equally significant matters A true eudaimonic person is aware that in order for someone to flourish, he must not focus on one facet alone but also must excel in different aspects such as aesthetics, humanities and linguistics. The Modern Challenges of Human Flourishing In 2015, heads of state gathered in New York to sign United Nations‗ new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that targets to eradicate poverty by the year 2030 by establishing global partnership for development the primary goal to achieve ‗growth for all‗ might be putting our planet at risk in the long run. Growth is the primary indicator of development as supposed by economists Technology has been a significant tool in aiding them to achieve such goal by making use of natural resources, production of machineries and industry. What is missing here is that the world‗s bio-capacity to sustain all these efforts that will lead to our ‗growth‗ is limited Studies have shown that we‗re consuming the world‗s resources rapidly Joseph Hickel, suggesting that instead of pushing poor countries to catch up with the rich ones, the latter should ‗catch down‗. Developed countries should not push for more growth but rather make policies where developing countries and the nature can cope up, or else we‗ll suffer in the long run The rapid technological advancements leaves no room for nature to cope up to the world‗s growing demand, which may result in exploitation and permanent damages to nature Today, we are experiencing the result of the said exploits as the world experience climate change, which may hardly affect the planet‗s flora and fauna We can‗t just ignore the laws of nature. If we do not act soon, all of our efforts in combating poverty will be put in vain and we might even put ourselves in the brink of extinction. Technology as a Way of Revealing
The discoveries, success, and advancements in
science surely contribute to human‗s field of knowledge. liking to search for the unknown in this universe may lead us to uncover more about our existence It is in this matter that human flourishing is deeply interlinked with goal setting relevant to science and technology. Technology as a Way of Revealing
Martin Heidegger‗s statement, “technology is a human
activity that we excel in a result of achieving science”. Meaning to say, the end goals of science, technology and human flourishing are associated, wherein the good is inherently related to the truth. In his essay ―The Question Concerning Technology, he describes technology and its essence to human. He talked about its effect to man and its environment. It is also discussed on how man should properly manage technology he revealed that despite of the benefits that man can have from technology, it can work against him and bring danger. The idea of coal mining and farm cultivation are examples where man challenges resources; when man challenges nature, he wants the maximum yield at minimum expense The perception of man to resources is no longer of what they really are; instead, sees them as ways to fulfill his needs. Heidegger used Rhine River, European River, as an example: people tend to not see it as a huge body of water but instead a hydro-electric plant. Man does not see its natural tendency but the power he could benefit from it, and see it as a standing reserve. Humans always have the nature that ―nature should fit with them, instead of perceiving ―humans fit with nature Humans constantly enframing everything around their environment and they unconceal the standing reserve. As a result, man abuses the Earth‗s natural resources, and continuously destroys it for his selfish aim Once man continuously enframe without care to the environement, technology can work against him. Heidegger states, ―Where enframing reigns, there is danger in the highest sense therefore, trouble against man and his environment could arise. According to Heidegger, escaping from the fate of technology is impossible; however, questioning technology can save humans from catastrophic events that it could lead upon We must question how to use technology without hurting the world around us We need to open up the possibility of relying on technologies while not becoming enslaved to them and seeing them as manifestations of an understanding of being. When technology and humanity cross
Robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
poses ethical dilemma “Humans, limited by slow biological evolution, couldn‟t compete and would be superseded by A.I.”—Stephen Hawking, 2014 AI is our “biggest existential threat,” Elon Musk, 2014 “I am in the camp that is concerned about super intelligence, Bill Gates, 2015 These comments have initiated a public awareness of the potential future impact of AI technology on society and that this impact should be considered by designers of such technology to develop the best design future intelligent system that will lead to positive technological transitions on human and society. The technologies that surround us take many shapes and have different levels of developmental progress and impact on our lives. Industrial robots
these have existed for many
years and have made a huge impact within manufacturing. They are mostly preprogrammed by a human instructor and consist of a robot arm with a number of degrees of freedom (Nof, 1999). Service robots a robot which operates semi- or fully autonomously to perform useful tasks for humans or equipment but excluding industrial automation applications (IFR, 2017). They are currently applied in selected settings such as internal transportation in hospital, lawn mowing and vacuum cleaning. Artificial intelligence
software that makes technology
able to adapt through learning with the target of making systems able to sense, reason, and act in the best possible way in recent years, been a large increase in the deployment of artificial intelligence in a number of business domains including for customer service and decision support. Ethical Societal Challenges Arising with Artificial Intelligence and Robots
Ethical perspectives of AI and robotics should be addressed
in at least two ways First, the engineers developing systems need to be aware of possible ethical challenges that should be considered including avoiding misuse and allowing for human inspection of the functionality of the algorithms and systems Second, when moving toward advanced autonomous systems, the systems should themselves be able to do ethical decision making to reduce the risk of unwanted behavior The following are potential challenges from future highly intelligent systems regarding jobs and technology risks:
1. People may become unemployed because of
automation. Fewer jobs and working hours for employees could tend to benefit small elite and not all members of our society. 2. Losing human skills due to technological excellence. With the introduction of robots, and information and communication technology, the need for human knowledge and skills is gradually decreased This lessens our need to train and utilize our cognitive capabilities regarding memory, reasoning, decision making etc., this eventually could have a major impact on how we interact with the world around us. Artificial intelligence can be used for destructive and unwanted tasks. Surveillance cameras are useful for many purposes, but many are skeptical of advanced tracking of people using artificial intelligence It might become possible to track the movement and behavior of a person moving in a range of interconnected surveillance camera and position information from the user‗s smartphone Disclosures (e.g., by Edward Snowden in 2013) have shown that governments can leverage technology in the fight against crime and terror at the risk of the innocent being monitored. 4. Successful AI can lead to the extinction of mankind? Almost any technology can be misused and cause severe damage if it gets into the wrong hands. It is important that systems have built in mechanisms to prevent human errors and help to predict risk of mechanical failure to the extent possible. Supplement Artificial Intelligence – refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The term may also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving. Bushido – (Japanese: “The Way of the Warrior) the code of conduct of the samurai, or bushi (warrior) class of premodern Japan. The precepts of Bushido were made the basis of ethical training for the whole society, with the emperor replacing the feudal lord or daimyo as the focus of loyalty or sacrifice. Confucianism – or the Way of life was propagated by Confucius in the 6th and 5th century BCE. It has become the substance of learning, the source of values, and the social code of Chinese. Eudaimonia – in Greek philosophy, it means to achieve the best condition possible for a human being, in every sense – not only happiness, but also virtue, morality and a meaningful life. Enframe – state of unconcealing or using/utilizing the standing reserve, abusive and unguarded enframing may lead to exploitation of the natural resources. Phronesis – the habit of making the right decisions and taking the right actions in context, and relentless pursuit of excellence for the common good PAGASA – (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) is the Philippines‗ national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological and astronomical, climatological, and other special information and services primarily for the protection of life and property and in support of economic productivity and sustainable development. Robot – a machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain human movements and functions automatically SDG – (Sustainable Development Goals) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. Standing reserve – are the resources nature gives to manufacture to create or reveal technology. STEM – is an educational program developed to prepare primary and secondary students for college and graduate study in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This also aims to foster inquiring minds, logical reasoning and collaboration skills. ―Happiness doesn't depend on what we have, but it does depend on how we feel toward what we have‖