JANSAMUEL F.

VILLARAN 1CE- B

1. How was the concept of technology crossed the humanity in this movie?

In this movie, technology is advanced to the point where they showcase artificial
intelligence. And through many scenes after Will, the main lead, merges with the AI, he gains
knowledge and ability transcending humans, therefore making technology become a means to
help the environment, inspired by the dream of Evelyn, the female lead, about making the world
a better place through care of nature. This also enables technology to drastically advance,
which is shown in the advanced application of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has become a
means for regeneration and creation. It shows in the movie how nanotechnology enhances
human capabilities and regenerates wounds and also solves problems that the earth is
experiencing by eradicating pollution, creating more green life and making bodies of water pure.
And also, it helps people with disabilities, like people with congenital blindness, by regenerating
their eyes by targeting the damaged or missing cells. But humans feared what they didn’t
understand, which made them destroy artificial intelligence.

2. Do you think that the plot of this movie is anchored on scientific principles? Explain.

Transcendence incorporates and depicts technology and science, as well as how

advancements in these fields affect the world, society, and the user. Furthermore, the movie is
backed up by scientific principles and processes. This is depicted in the film, such as the concept
of AI and the process by which Will becomes or merges with the AI, rather than simply magically
becoming a supreme being. In addition, the movie showed what kinds of technologies may exist
and that this could be possible in the future, a hundred or a thousand years to come. For example,
AI already exists and, just like many technologies, it will develop to become so advanced that it will
affect the world greatly, greatly similar to the movie.

3. Among the possible inventions presented in the movie, which of these is your most
favorite? Why?

Of course, it would be advanced nanotechnology. Imagine if that advanced technology

could be developed. Then it would be a way for us humans to advance and explore the
unknown. We can develop technologies applicable to both space, which we have yet to fully
comprehend, and our planet, particularly underwater, given that we have yet to explore more
than 80% of the ocean. Moreover, this would greatly assist in the development of ground-
breaking technologies in medicine, energy, and biology. With this, we can help ourselves,
society, and also save the world.
4. What are the concepts of good life and human flourishing presented in the movie?

A good life is a life with purpose. It is a life where you make the most of everything in any
kind of situation, be it good or bad, where in the toughest of times you stay calm, collected and are
able to perceive through. It is a life journey shared with family, friends, and other loved ones. And
human flourishing is a thriving concept where one works hard to achieve, grow, improve, and
develop to gain satisfaction. This is shown throughout the movie, as Will wants to grow, develop,
and become better along with his partner. Moreover, it was shown in the movie that Will has been
accomplishing many things and challenging himself to develop further. And he also has the virtues
like self-control, wisdom, and wanting to help and share nature, his partner, and the people around
him with his given power.

5. If it happens that you and a member of your family would have a life-threatening disease or
disorder, you will avail the technology of Dr. Will Carter? Why or why not?

If it’s the Will Carter of the movie, then I will. This is because in the movie, it is shown
that Dr. Will Carter has no ill intentions towards humanity and only wishes for the betterment of
everybody and the world. He heals a man he doesn’t know and enhances his physical abilities. 
He also has self-control and rational decision-making. If there is a cure for me and my family’s
disease, then I would rather accept it than suffer in the old ways of healing. But of course, this
answer is because I know his character. If the person is unknown to me, I would need to
conduct extensive research and investigation into the person, the outcome of his works, and his
initiatives. I need to know if he is not a person who is irresponsible in using technology.

6. Honestly, what was your feeling after watching this movie? Why do you think you have that
kind of feeling?

I felt sad, angry, surprised and fascinated. I felt sad because of how the ending became
for Will and Evelyn. It’s an ending they don’t deserve. I felt angry because those people that are
against them didn’t investigate more if Will had any bad intentions for humanity, for his partner,
or for the world before they attacked him and caused something they regret for the world. I was
surprised because Will is Will in the end, and that he only wishes to make his partners' dream of
making earth and humanity better. Then lastly, I felt fascinated because the story is really good,
and it relates greatly to our lesson and also greatly informs us students in many life-lessons.
This movie as a whole is great and wonderful, even though it's been 8 years ago. It didn’t fall
behind in its amazing story compared to today’s films.

7. What do you think is the social philosophy of the director why he came up with this
plot?

I think the director’s social philosophy is that a person should not lose themselves or
what makes them human in times of acquiring power and reaching great heights in the journey
of their life. In addition, the director also demonstrates that there is good in technology for those
who have the right character and knowledge. This was presented in the movie as Will, who died
and became an AI, developed in a way that did not lose himself and still loved his partner and
society. Furthermore, it also shows the character and knowledge of Will, who just wants the
betterment of not just him and his partner, but also the world that we live in. This is proven by
how he didn’t harm humans until the end of the show, and how he respected and valued the
dream of his partner by making it into reality.

8. What part of the movie reflects our real-life situation, and what have you learned from the
movie that you can apply with regards to the crossing of technology and humanity?

The part of the movie that reflects our real-life situation would be the part where one
side of a party makes or concludes that someone or something is bad, a failure, or a threat
without further investigation or observation. I learned from this story that we should not lose our
humanity when dealing with technology, our love and understanding of one another. Also, when
we gain power or when we use technology, we must be responsible. As the famous saying
goes, "with great power comes great responsibility." Moreover, we must use technology
cautiously because it will not only affect us but also everything around us. Lastly, use those
powers to not just help ourselves, but to also share and help others with that technology.
 

9. In relation to the article "The future doesn't need us." What part of the movie affirms with the
article? Do you also agree? Why or why not? (10 points)

The movie and the article have a similarity, which is about how in society, all work will
be done by vast, highly organized systems of machines and no human effort will be necessary
because of the development of intelligent machines that can do all things better than human
beings can, and, in this sense, the accelerated advancement of technology will become a huge
force in the fields of medicine, labor, energy, and life as a whole.
The article "The future doesn't need us" is all about Bill Joy’s argument on technology,
specifically, our most powerful technology in the 21 st century---robotics, genetic engineering,
and nanotechnology. He claimed that these technologies would endanger the human species
and could lead to extinction. Just like we humans, a superior species, affect and influence the
life around us, causing many problems for other organisms, technology will surely do the same
to us. These technologies, as they accelerate in advancement, will become an existence that
we humans are unable to neglect due to great dependency. Furthermore, as technology
advances, robotics will be advanced to the point that humans will merge with it. A human
species merged with machines will most likely come to a point of near immortality. These
changes will come gradually, and we will get used to them like any other technology that pops
up from time-to-time. In this way, technologies together could significantly extend our average
life span and improve the quality of our lives, which is helpful, but in the long run, each of these
technologies, a sequence of small, individually sensible advances, leads to an accumulation of
great power and, concomitantly, great danger, and causes serious conflict and concerns.
 In this sense, I don't accept or disagree with the idea of technology in a society where
humans need or have to become dependent to the point of suicidal if technology were
neglected and that technology has the greater power and control in a society or will become the
master of society. Technology, as we can see, has been a great existence, even in the past, as
it helped us human beings, but the problem here is us humans. We do not have the capability to
handle this technology responsibly. This can be proven as a fact by observing how our
management of technology affects other organisms and the world. Like how our technology that
we invented for convenience and betterment causes a major problem for the world: climate
change and global warming. If these technologies that are not yet that advanced have caused
the emergence of major problems, imagine what might happen if they advanced to the point like
in the movie. Can humans control these technologies as the creators? Can we handle it
responsibly, not how we handle technology in today’s time? These are the uncertainties that
made me disagree with this idea.