Eudaimonism

LESSON 1: ● Refers to pursuing the right

actions that lead to one’s
HUMAN well-being
● Virtue ethics- normative ethical
FLOURISHING theories developed by ancient
Greek philisophers
AND SCIENCE ● Arete- “excellence of any kind
that is necessary in order for one
AND individual to flourish and attain
the good life.”
TECHNOLOGY
Hedonism
● Pleasure is the most valuable
Eudaimonia
pursuit of mankind and
● Best captures the concept of
everything that one does is to
Eudamonia
gain pleasure
● From Gree word eu “well” and
● Can be traced back to Aristippus,
daimon or daemon “spirit”
a Greek philosopher who was
● Defined as contented state of
convinced that life’s objective is
being happy, healthy, and
to experience maximum pleasure.
prosperous
● Also understood as the effort to
Eudaimonic well-being
attain self-discovery and
● Another approach to good is from
fulfillment within the setting of
the historical and philosophical
society, each with the right to
teachings of Aristotle
pursue his or her own efforts to
● He assumed that happiness is a
achieve such state
vague idea, emphasizing that not
● An objective state that
all desires are worth pursuing
characterizes the well-lived life as
● Though some may yield pleasure,
an individual’s ideal emotional
they will not always produce
state
lasting happiness
● It is thought of as the highest
human good that is good-in-itself
● Epicurus and other notable
Human Flourishing According to
hedonists agree with Aristiotle
Aristotle
that Eudaimonia is the highest
➢ Nichomachean Ethics
good
 - Explained the term Old Testament
Eudamonia in 4th century ➢ The concept of human flourishing
BC in the old testament is best
- However, earlier thinkers described the the world Shalom
such as Democritus, ➢ Shalom means peace, harmony,
Socrates and Plato present and completeness
similar concepts. ➢ Shalom is a sense of wholeness
- Socrates: believed that involving an individual’s
virtue is a sort of relationship with God and His
knowledge (knowldege of creations.
good and evil) ➢ Dr. Neal Platinga on Educationg
- Plato: observed that even for Shalom (2015)- shalom is the
bad people are capable of webbing together of God,
feeling guilty when they do humans, and all creation in
something wrong. He justice, fullfillment, and delight.
claimed that the mind ➢ The Bible equates Shalom to
must govern the spirit, universal flourishing and delight.
emotions, and physical
desires to attain New Testament
eudaimonia. ➢ The concept of human flourishing
- However, aristotle said that in the Bible’s New testament
such happiness is based through the the Beatitudes.
on a life of virtue. ➢ Each beatitude begins with the
- Aristotle stated that greek word makarios meaning
eudaimonia is not an blessed or happy.
instrumental good but ➢ Beatitude- Latin beatus meaning
rather, the ultimate good blissful, happy, fortunate, or
for it is intinsically good or flourishing.
good in itw own sake. ➢ In Classical greek, makar form
makarios refers to the state of
Human Flourishing in the Christian living a life of happiness without
Perspective struggles of difficulties.
➢ St. Augsustine and St. Thomas ➢ Makarios is commonly used as
Aquinas proposed that synonym for eudamonia because
eudaimonia requires one to have both connote happiness, peace of
knowledge of God. mind, and joy.
➢ John Locke, stressed that ➢ Scot McKnight higlighted in his
happiness is pursued through discussion of the beatitudes that
prudence. the entire philosophy of the good
 life and the late-modern theory of changes that could reshape the
happiness are at worl when Jesus very essence of humanity and
says ‘Blesses are…’ every aspect of life on our planet
(2016).
Human Flourishing in the ● Stephen Hawking, Stuart Russell,
socio-psychological perspective Max Tegmark, and Frank Wilczek
➢ Science and technology clearly published an open letter “The
affect the human experience and Independent” in May 2014- the
human understanding of emergence of artificial
happiness. intelligence poses a great danger
➢ Recent studies show that human to humanity
undeq of human flourishing ● Such technology can outsmart
includes mental and physical humans in terms of business and
health, satisfaction in one’s life, research, manipulate human
meaning and purpose, and social leaders, and develop dangerous
relationships. and highly advanced weapons.
➢ Carol Ryff (1995)- a psychology ● They also noted that the
professor studied different successful creation of artificial
models and theories of happiness intelligence may and will be the
in different subfields of biggest discovery in human
psychology. She concluded that history but would also be the last.
there are six components of
well-being. Martin Heidegger
- German philosopher
1. Personal growth - Best work “The Questionning
2. Self-acceptance Concerning Technology” (1954)
3. Autonomy - His criticisms are rooted in the
4. Environmental mastery idea that solving problems
5. Positive relationships caused by technology cannot be
6. Purpose in life solved by simply improving
technology
The Consequences of Human - Technology is not purely
Flourishing technological
● Modernization advances science, - Technology can be understood
technology, and the human future based on its two functions:
at the cost of nature’s Instrumental and Anthropological
degradation. - Technology is Instrumental
● Gerd Leonhard- there would be because it is a means to an end.
an avalanche of technological
 - Technology is anthropological
because it is a human activity.
- This definition is not wrong
however, it limits the
understanding of technology as
simply a tool for getting things
done.
- Heideger sees reality as a result
of causes or means.
Aristotles Four Causes
1. Material cause (causa materialis)
or the material out of which an
object is made
2. Formal cause (causa formalis) or
the shape or form of the object
as it was produced
3. Final cause (causa finalis) or the
purpose or function of the object
4. Efficient cause (causa efficiens)
which causes change in an object
Bringing forth
- the taking of each of the causes
with meticulous consideration to
create the final product.
- Falls under two categories
namely poeisis and physis
Poesis
➢ The bringing forth of an object
into existence from creation or
art, practiced by craftsmen and
potes
Physis
➢ The bringing forth of an object
from nature, which is a HUMAN ACTIVITY?
self-producing process of coming
into existence.
Techne
➢ Technology comes from the
Greek term technikon related to
greek term techne
➢ As in technique, is both a skill of
a manufacture and art.
HEIDEGGER’S VIEW ON TECHNOLOGY
How can technology be ‘a way of
revealing’?
● everything we perceive or think
of or interact with “emerges out
of concealment into
unconcealment,
● by entering into a particular
relation with reality, reality is
‘revealed’ in a specific way
● technology is the way of
revealing that characterizes our
time
● technology embodies a specific
way of revealing the world, a
revealing in which humans take
power over reality
● while the ancient Greeks
experienced the ‘making’ of
something as ‘helping something
to come into being’ – as
Heidegger explains that modern
technology is rather a ‘forcing
into being’
● technology reveals the world as
raw material, available for
production and manipulation
WHY IS TECHNOLOGY NOT A
● According to Heidegger, there is
something wrong with the
 modern, technological culture we
live in today. In our‘age of
technology’ reality can only be
present as a raw material (as a
‘standing reserve’).
● This state of affairs hasnot been
brought about by humans; the
technological way of revealing
was not chosen by humans
● Rather, our understanding of the
world - our understanding of
‘being’, of what it means ‘to be’ -
develops throughthe ages. In our
time ‘being’ has the character of
a technological ‘framework’, from
which humans approach theworld
in a controlling and dominating
way.
● Every attempt to climb out of
technology throws us back in.
The only way out for Heidegger is
“the will not towill”.
● We need to open up the
possibility of relying on
technologies while not becoming
enslaved to them and seeingthem
as manifestations of an
understanding of being
Modern Technology to Martin
Heidegger:
● Challenging since it is very
aggressive in activity.
● A mode of revealing – never
comes to an end and happens on
our own time.
● Challenges nature and demands
resources for human
consumption and storage.
● The age of switches, standing
reserve and stockpiling for its
own sak
Technology as Poiesis: Applicable
to Modern Technology
● Modern technology challenges
nature and demands of its
resources that are most of the
time, forcibly extractedfor human
consumption and storage.
● It brings about a “setting upon”
of the land – Mining is an
example of modern technology
that challenges forthand brings
about the setting upon of land.
● It extracts minerals from the
earth and forcefully assigns the
land as a means to fulfil the
never-ending demands ofpeople.
● The revealing always happens on
our own terms as everything is
on demand.
● Information at our fingertips,
food harvested even out of
season, gravity defied to fly off to
space.
● We no longer need to work with
the rhythms of nature because
we have learned to control it.
● We order nature, and extract,
process, make ready for
consumption, and store what we
have force it to reveal.
Questioning as the Piety of ● Essence of technology
Thought ● It is as if nature is put in a box or
in a frame so that it can be better
Piety understood and controlled
● the quality of being religious or according topeople’s desires.
reverent. synonyms: devoutness, ● Poiesis is concealed in enframing
piousness, religiousness, as nature is viewed as an
holiness, godliness, sanctity, orderable and calculable system
saintliness, devotion to God, of information.
veneration, reverence, faith, ● Heidegger distinguished between
religious duty, spirituality, calculative thinking and
sacredness, pietism. meditative thinking.
● For Heidegger, piety means ● Calculative thinking – one
obedience and submission. In orders and puts a system to
addressing what technology has nature so it can be understood
brought forth, one cannot help better and controlled.
but be submissive to his/her ● Meditative thinking – one lets
thoughts and reflections elicit. nature reveal itself to him/her
● In stepping back and taking stock without forcing it.
of things, we begin to wonder ● Enframing is done because
and question. people want security, even if the
● One may admire the intricacy of ordering that happens in
mechanisms and the enframing is violent andeven if
sophistication of mobile the Earth is made as a big
applications. gasoline station from which we
● There is so much wealth of extract, stockpile, and put in
insights that can be gathered standing reserve,ready to be
when people stop, think, and used as we see fit.
question.
● This kind of questioning leads Human Person Swallowed by
one to search for his/her place in Technology
the universe and in the grand
scale of things. ➢ If we allow ourselves to get
swallowed by modern technology,
Enframing: Way of Revealing in we lose the essence of who we
Modern Technology are as beings in thisworld.
Enframing – human orientation toward ➢ If we are constantly plugged
technology, or the way of revealing in online and no longer have the
modern technology. capacity for authentic personal
 encounters, then we aretruly ● In doing so, we also become
swallowed by technology. aware of the crisis we have
➢ If we cannot let go of the plunged the Earth into
conveniences and profits brought ● The danger is made present and
about by processes and industries more palpable through our art
that pollute the environment and and poetry
cause climate change, then
technology has consumed our
humanity.
➢ “But where danger is, grows the
saving power also.” (poet
Holderlin), the saving power lies
in the essence of technology as
technology.
➢ The essence of technology is not
found in the instrumentality and
function of machines constructed,
but in the significance such
technology unfolds (Heidegger,
1977)

Art as a Way Out of Enframing

● Heidegger proposes art as a way
out of this enframing. With art,
we are better able to see the
poetic in nature inreality.
● It leads us away from calculative
thinking towards meditative
thinking.
● Through meditative thinking, we
will recognize that nature is art
par excellence.

Art as a Way Out of Enframing

● Though enframing happens, it
cannot completely snuff out the
poetic character of technology.
● We pounder technology and
question it.
 - Dr. Ron Jenson’s 5Ps
Lesson 2: The power, prestige, pleasure,
position, and prosperity
Good Life - Success is not the ultimate
good because it is still
Based on hedonistic Theory dependent on validation of
● One’s “good” is a matter of how society
he or she feels regarding the 2. Pleasure
quality of his or her experiences - Not the ultimate goal, but
● It identifies self-interest with good in moderation
happiness that hedonists define - Self-focused pleasure is
as the presence of pleasure and not a long-term happiness
absence of pain - Best king: being involved
in worthwhile activity
Based on Preference theory 3. Relationships
● A person’s “good” is what wants - Essential to a good life
most for himself or herself - Meaningful, pleasant
● Example, some people prefer relations wtih mutual
material wealth over prestige, admiration are necessay in
fame, or a good reputation a good life
4. Reasons and virtues
Based on Objective List Theory - One of the elements of the
● A person’s “good” includes at ultimate good
least some elements that are - Reason is the
independent of personal contemplation of
preferences and consists of unchangeable truths
valuable experiences such as - Practically, it is the
meaningful relationships, capacity to make decisions
friendships, accomplishments, in the sphere or what can
etc. be changed
- Central parts of the good
Susan Wolf states that happiness and life: theoretical and
meaningfulness are important elements practical reasons
of a good life. 5. Character and spirituality
- Individual’s character is
Antonia Macaro’s components of a good the root if his or her inner
life based on the writings of Aristotle strength
1. Success and material comfort - King Solomon Book of
Ecclesiates- to fear God
 and keep his
commandments are
fundamental duties of a
man
Steps Toward the Good life
➢ A study by Anne Birgitta Pessi
(2008) provides a novel arrow
model that illustrates the steps
toward a good life
Relationship- balance- health- secure
income - fulfilling oneself - values and
spirituality - work and pleasure
➢ The most central step toward a
good life concerned relationships.
- Based on survey by Pressi,
most important and central
themes concerned the
family, esp. The house and
children.
➢ Second step is balance,
contentment, and safety
- Significant theme: peace
of mind, elements of
equilibrium, safety, being
at peace with oneself,
contentment, and
physical/psychic/mental
well-being.
➢ Third step is health
➢ Fourth is income or finances
➢ Fifth: fulfilling one’s self
- Most significant theme:
meaningfulness. This
include having meaningful
things to do, a purpose in
life, reaching goals, living
according to one;s value.
Having dreams and joy i
life
➢ Sixth: values, spirituality, and
being at peace
-two most central themes: peace
and safety in literal aspect,
(peaceful home) peace of soul in
relation to one’s “wholesome”
basic values
➢ Last step: meanigful work and/or
hobbies
Science and technology as a means to
achieve a good life
➢ Progress os ST can be seen as
parallel to how humans move
toward what is perceived as the
good life
➢ Nonetheless, good life is a moral
concept, human virtues must be
constantly be kep in mind
➢ The ultimate good is the measure
of the value of all human
activities
➢ And the ultimate value of life
measures how well one has lived
up to his or her full potential as a
human being
➢ Technological progress as a
means to achieve a good land
fulfilled life must be necessariyly
equate to advancements that are
anchored in balance and human
values

Lesson 3: when
technology and
humans cross
WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY
CROSS
In recent years, technology has
advanced at an unprecedented pace,
transforming the way we live, work, and
interact with the world around us. From
artificial intelligence and robotics to
biotechnology and nanotechnology,
emerging technologies are opening up
new possibilities for human development
and progress. However, as technology
and humanity cross paths, questions
arise about the impact of these
technologies on our lives and society as
a whole. What are the ethical and social
implications of these technologies? How
can we ensure that they are used for
the benefit of all, rather than just a few?
In this context, it is crucial to explore
the intersection of technology and
humanity and to critically examine the
opportunities and challenges that arise
when these two domains converge.
UDHR
The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights is a milestone document that was
adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly in 1948. It is considered to be
the foundation of international human
rights law and has been translated into
over 500 languages. Here are three
important points about the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights:
The UDHR was created in
response to the atrocities committed
during World War II, as a means of
ensuring that such violations of human
rights would never happen again. The
declaration represents a collective effort
by the international community to
establish a common standard of human
rights that should be respected and
protected by all nations and peoples.
The UDHR has inspired the
development of other human rights
treaties and conventions, including the
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social, and
Cultural Rights, and the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. These treaties
have helped to further clarify and
expand upon the rights and freedoms
outlined in the UDHR, and have helped
to ensure that these rights are
recognized and protected around the
world.
Despite its universal recognition,
the principles of the UDHR continue to
be violated in many parts of the world.
Some governments and groups continue
to discriminate against individuals based
on their race, gender, religion, or other
status, and to deny them their basic
human rights. As such, there is a
continued need to promote and protect
human rights, and to hold violators
accountable for their actions.
The UDHR also recognizes the
importance of collective action and
international cooperation in promoting
and protecting human rights. The
declaration emphasizes the need for
individuals, organizations, and
governments to work together to create
a world in which human rights are
respected and protected for all. This
includes efforts to promote education
and awareness about human rights, as
well as initiatives to support individuals
and communities whose rights are being
violated.
1 The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights outlines the fundamental
rights and freedoms that are inherent to
all human beings, regardless of their
race, gender, religion, nationality, or any
other status. The declaration recognizes
that all human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights and that
these rights are universal, inalienable,
and indivisible.
2 The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights includes 30 articles that
cover a wide range of human rights
issues. Some of these articles include
the right to life, liberty, and security of
person, the right to freedom of thought,
conscience, and religion, the right to
work and education, and the right to
participate in government and to enjoy
social security. The declaration also
prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth, or other
status.
3 The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights has had a profound
impact on the development of
international human rights law and has
been used as a basis for many other
human rights treaties and declarations.
The declaration has inspired numerous
national and international human rights
organizations and has been used as a
tool for advocacy and education on
human rights issues. Despite its
importance, however, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights is not
legally binding, and many governments
and individuals continue to violate its
principles and provisions.
HUMANS VS ROBOTS
Human vs robots is a topic that has
gained increasing attention in recent
years as technology has advanced and
robots have become more prevalent in
various industries. Here are three
important points to consider when
comparing humans and robots:
Human beings have unique qualities
that robots cannot replicate. For
example, humans have emotions,
intuition, and creativity that allow them
to make complex decisions and adapt to
new situations. While robots can be
programmed to simulate some of these
traits, they cannot match the depth and
complexity of human thought and
experience.
The use of robots in certain industries
can have unintended consequences for
human workers. For example, the
automation of manufacturing and
assembly jobs can lead to widespread
job loss and displacement of workers. It
can also lead to a widening gap
between skilled and unskilled workers,
as those with technical expertise are
needed to maintain and program the
robots.
The development of advanced artificial
intelligence has raised concerns about
the potential for robots to become
autonomous and make decisions
independently of human control. This
has led to debates about the ethics of
allowing robots to make decisions that
could have life-and-death consequences,
such as in the use of autonomous
weapons or in self-driving cars.
The integration of robots into society
raises important questions about the
role of technology in our lives and the
extent to which we are willing to cede
control and decision-making power to
machines. It also raises questions about
the potential impact of technology on
social relationships and human identity.
The development of robots and AI has
the potential to revolutionize a number
of industries and improve quality of life
for many people. For example, robots
can be used to perform dangerous or
difficult tasks, such as search and
rescue operations, or to provide care for
the elderly or disabled.
Overall, the relationship between
humans and robots is complex and
multifaceted, and it raises a number of
important ethical, social, and economic
questions. As we continue to develop
and integrate robots into our lives, it will
be important to carefully consider the
potential benefits and drawbacks of this
technology and to work towards a future
in which humans and robots can coexist
in a way that promotes human dignity
and well-being.
1 Humans possess unique
qualities that robots do not have, such
as emotions, creativity, and empathy.
These qualities enable humans to
perform tasks that require social skills,
critical thinking, and decision-making
abilities that robots cannot replicate.
While robots can perform repetitive and
mundane tasks with high precision and
efficiency, they lack the cognitive
flexibility and intuition that humans
possess.
2 Robots have some advantages
over humans, such as their ability to
work continuously without breaks, their
precision, and their resistance to
fatigue, which makes them ideal for
tasks that are hazardous or repetitive
for humans. Robots can also operate in
environments that are too dangerous or
inaccessible for humans, such as outer
space, deep underwater, or nuclear
power plants.
3 The rise of robots and
automation has raised concerns about
the displacement of human workers, the
impact on the economy, and the ethical
implications of delegating tasks to
machines. As robots become more
advanced and capable, they may replace
humans in certain jobs, leading to job
losses and economic inequality. There
are also ethical concerns about the use
of robots in military applications and the
potential for robots to be programmed
to harm humans.
In conclusion, while robots can perform
some tasks more efficiently than
humans, they lack the emotional
intelligence and creativity that humans
possess. As technology continues to
advance, it is important to consider the
impact of robots on society and to
ensure that their use aligns with ethical
and moral values.
WHY THE FUTURE DOESN'T NEED US
The idea that the future doesn't need us
was introduced by Bill Joy, a computer
scientist and co-founder of Sun
Microsystems, in his 2000 essay titled
"Why the Future Doesn't Need Us." Here
are four reasons why the future may not
need us and one reason why it does:
1 Technology is advancing at an
exponential rate, and there is a risk that
we may lose control over it. As we
develop more powerful and intelligent
machines, there is a possibility that they
may become self-replicating or
self-improving, leading to an
uncontrollable and unpredictable
scenario known as the technological
singularity.
2 Automation and artificial
intelligence are replacing human labor in
many industries, leading to job
displacement and economic inequality.
As machines become more capable,
they may take over not only manual
labor but also cognitive tasks that were
once considered the domain of humans.
3 Emerging technologies such as
genetic engineering and nanotechnology
may pose new risks to human health
and the environment. These
technologies could be used to create
new forms of biological weapons, or to
manipulate the environment in ways
that could have unintended
consequences.
 4 The accelerating pace of
technological change is outstripping our
ability to understand and manage it. Our
legal and regulatory frameworks are
struggling to keep up with the rapid
pace of technological innovation, leaving
us vulnerable to the unintended
consequences of new technologies.
However, there is one reason why the
future does need us:
COUNTER
Humans possess a unique
capacity for innovation and creativity,
which can drive scientific and
technological advancements. Our ability
to imagine new ideas and solutions, and
to collaborate with others to bring them
to fruition, is essential for solving
complex problems and creating new
opportunities.
Humans have a deep sense of
meaning and purpose, which can help
us navigate the uncertainties and
challenges of the future. Our values,
beliefs, and sense of identity give us a
sense of direction and motivation, and
can help us build resilient communities
and systems that can adapt to change.
Humans have the capacity for
empathy, creativity, and compassion,
which are essential for addressing the
complex social and environmental
challenges facing our world. As we
confront the challenges of the future,
we will need to draw on our human
qualities to create a more equitable,
sustainable, and just society.
In conclusion, while there are many
reasons why the future may not need
us, it is important to recognize that
human qualities such as empathy and
creativity will be essential for creating a
better world. As we move forward, we
must work to ensure that our
technological innovations align with our
values and goals as a society.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the intersection of
technology and humanity is a complex
and rapidly evolving topic that touches
on a number of important subtopics,
including the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR), the relationship
between humans and robots, and the
question of whether or not the future
needs us.
The UDHR serves as a crucial framework
for ensuring that the development and
use of technology is grounded in a
commitment to human rights and
dignity. It highlights the importance of
recognizing the inherent worth and
value of every human being, and
provides a set of guidelines for
promoting equality and justice in the
face of technological change.
The relationship between humans and
robots is a multifaceted issue that raises
important ethical, social, and economic
questions. While robots can be used to
perform a wide range of tasks and
improve quality of life in many ways,
their integration into society can also
have unintended consequences, such as
job displacement and loss of autonomy.

Finally, the question of whether or not

the future needs us is a contentious
one, with arguments on both sides.
While some argue that technological
advancements will render human beings
obsolete, others contend that our
unique qualities and capacities as
human beings will always be necessary
and valuable. Ultimately, the future of
technology and humanity is in our
hands, and it is up to us to shape it in a
way that reflects our values and
aspirations for a just and equitable
society.

1. Promote diversity and inclusion

Technological advancements should be
developed with the needs of diverse
communities in mind, and their voices
should be included in the development
process. This ensures that technology is
inclusive and accessible to all and that
the rights of marginalized.