STS and the Human

Condition
GROUP 2

CUARESMA, Kathleen Joy Y. NIMUAN, Cristine Joy V.

ERESE, Allea Lorraine DJ RAMIL, Maricel P.
GARCIA, Jeraldine M. RAMOS, Prince Haven DL
INCISO, Kyla Alessandra S. YALUNG, Giro Paolo M.
MANALO, Mark Jacob L.
Human flourishing and science and
technology.
Technology as a way of revealing.
 Technology can be defined as the advancement of
scientific knowledge to solve simple to complex problems
Martin Heidegger 

- Known to criticize technology.

- He states that technology comes from the Greek term Technikon.
Related to the Greek term techne. Techne , as in technique, is both
a skill of manufacture and art
Technology is instrumental because it is means
to an end and anthropological because it
is human activity.
Aristotle’s four causes in parallel to his own perspective:

01 02 03 04
MATERIAL FORMAL FINAL EFFICIENT
CAUSE ( CAUSA CAUSE ( CAUSA CAUSE ( CAUS CAUSE ( CAUSA
MATERIALS ) OR FORMALIS ) OR EFFICIENS ),
A FINALIS ) OR WHICH CAUSES
THE MATERIAL THE SHAPE OR THE PURPOSE CHANGE IN AN
OUT OF WHICH FORM OF THE OR FUNCTION OBJECT.
AN OBJECT IS OBJECT AS IT
WAS
OF THE
MADE..
PRODUCED. OBJECT.
4 Causes Diagram of a Table

Wooden table

-> Material Cause: Wood

-> Formal Cause: Design
-> Final Cause: Dining
-> Efficient Cause: Carpentry
Bringing-forth takes consideration to create the final product.
Which has 2 categories:

---Poiesis is the bringing forth of an object into existence from creation or art.

---Physis on the other hand, is the bringing forth of an object from nature.

the bringing forth of technology brings what the Greeks refer to as aletheia meaning unconcealment or
truth
“Challenging-forth”
 2 different ways modern technology challenges nature to provide energy.

1. It unlocks the purpose.

2. It is able to maximize while maintaining the bare minimum.

What is a good life?
 Element of “The Good Life”

01 02 03
HEDONISTIC PREFERENCE OBJECTIVE LIST
THEORY THEORY THEORY
Components of Good Life based on the writings
of Aristotle

01 02 03
SUCCESS AND PLEASURE RELATIONSHIPS
MATERIAL
COMFORT

04 05
REASON AND CHARACTER AND
VIRTUES SPIRITUALITY
Steps toward the good life

08
Relationshi Secure Fulfilling Values and Work and
Balance Health
p Income oneself spirituality leisure

Novel Arrow of a Good Life

Five ‘School of Thought’ are provided to attain
happy and good life:

01 02 03
MATERIALISM HEDONISM STOICISM
(DEMOCRITUS (EPICURUS) (EPICURUS)
AND LEUCIPPUS)

04 05
THEISM HUMANISM
What is technology?
 

-”techne” and “logos”

-words or discourse about the way things are gained
-is the application of scientific knowledge to the practical
aims of human life.
Is technology a need or a want?

Technology
-each person in the society is affected by technology
-we survive each day with great reliance to technology
-It is inevitable
Offers of technology
-Communication
-Entertainment
-Education
-Convenience
Offers of technology
-physical and psychological issues
-obesity
-eyestrain
-isolation
-depression
-cyberbullying
Television sets, mobile phones, computers and humanity
Brief history of television Brief history of mobile phones Brief history of computers
-Philo Farnsworth -Martin cooper -Charles Babbage
-1927 -1928 -1871
Robotics and Humanity

Robotics
An actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes
with a degree of autonomy, moving within its environment, to
perform intended tasks.
Classifications of Robots

Service Robot
• A robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment
excluding industrial application.
• A robot may be classified according to its intended application as an
industrial robot or service robot.
2 Main Categories of Service robots

1. Personal Service Robot 2. Professional Service Robot

• Service Robot for Personal • Service Robot for

Use. Professional Use
• Used for non-commercial • Used for a commercial task,
tasks, usually by laypersons. usually operated by a
properly trained operator
Roles Played by Robotics

• Ease the workload of mankind.

• Make life more efficient and less stressful.

• Perform complicated activities.

• Pleasure, entertainment in parks or exhibits.

• Toys, Child-friendly.

• Used in Movies.
George Devol

An American inventor known for developing Unimate, the 1st material handling robot
employed in industrial production work.
Isaac Asimov

-Father of Robotics
-The one who created the “Three Laws of Robotics”.
-An American Writer and professor of biochemistry in Boston University
Three Laws of Robotics

01 02 03
A Robot may
Examine life, not
engage
injure
life Worry
A Robotonly
must
about
obeythe A Robot must
Treasure friendship,
protect
awith
human
vengeance;
being or,always things
orders that
givenareit in
byyour
human theown
its reciprocal
existence as
search for
through inaction,
new pleasures
allow a control,
beings except
the things
whenthat
such attachment
long as suchthat
protection
fills
and newbeing
human destinies
to come
withto can
orders
be conflict
influencedtheand
First the need
does not for
conflict
affiliation.
with
your mind.
harm. changed
Law. by your actions, the First or Second
not about the things that
are beyond your capacity
Law.
to direct or alter.
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Robotics

Emotional
SAFETY
Component
• Who should be held accountable if • It is not completely impossible for
someone’s safety is compromised robots to develop emotions.
by a robot? • Should they be granted robot rights?
• Who should be blamed, the robot,
the agent using the robot, or the
maker/inventor of the robot?
William Nelson Joy a.k.a. Bill Joy

• American Software Developer, Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Sun

Microsystems
1998 - He read the draft of Ray Kurzweil’s book entitled “The
Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence”.
April 2000 - He published an article entitled “Why the
Future Doesn’t Need Us” in Wired Magazine

"Our most powerful 21st-century technologies—robotics, genetic

engineering, and nanotech—are threatening to make humans an
endangered species.“
Bill Joy, Wired, April 2000
MOST POWERFUL 21ST CENTURY
TECHNOLOGY
1. GENETIC ENGINEERING
-It is a process by which the genes of an organism is being modified or manipulated using
technology to make it have certain characteristics.

Examples of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

a. Pigs resistant to Porcine b. Naked Chickens: Birds c. Land mine-detecting plants
Reproductive and Without Feathers
Respiratory Syndrome
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Faster Growth Rate and  Disruption of the Natural Process 

Increased Life Span of Gene Flow
Improve Human Health Disease Development and/or Disease
Transmission
Reduce Food Cost and  Potential for Unwanted Side Effects and
Increase Food Production Problematic Pathogens
Improve Soil Quality Potential Environmental Harms

New Possibilities Unfavorable Level of Diversity

MOST POWERFUL 21ST CENTURY
TECHNOLOGY
2. NANOTECHNOLOGY - is the study and manipulation of matter at a scale of about 1 to 100
nanometers. It also encompasses science, medicine, engineering, computing and robotics at this
scale, called the nanoscale.

Examples
a. Sunscreen b. Computers c. Clothing
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Nanotechnology

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Life-saving medical treatments Economic disruption

New and faster kinds of computers Possible threats to security, privacy, health and the
environment.

More efficient power sources  A potential new toxins and pollutants may be
created
MOST POWERFUL 21ST CENTURY
TECHNOLOGY
3. ROBOTICS - a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design, manufacture
and operation of robots

Examples

INDUSTRIES EDUCATION SAFETY

 Advantages and Disadvantages of Robotics

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Work in unpredictable, hazardous environments. Potential job losses

Automate manual, repetitive activities Respond to unexpected situations

Assists during surgeries without getting tired. Requires constant power source, maintenance
What will happen if technology continues to progress?

The developments can improve the speed, quality, and cost of goods and services, but they also displace
large numbers of workers. This possibility challenges the traditional benefits model of tying health care
and retirement savings to jobs.

Flexicurity,” or flexible security, is one idea for providing health care, education, and housing assistance.