Human Flourishing in Science and Technology - Chapter 5

• Chapter 5 discusses human flourishing in terms of science and technology.
• It explores various perspectives on technology and its impact on society.
• The chapter aims to develop the ability to critique concepts of human flourishing, analyze its relationship with science and technology, and conceptualize personal views on the topic.

Introduction

• Science and technology have transformed the human landscape, leading to both limitless happiness and diminished roles for humans in society.
• Questions arise about whether these changes threaten human nature and whether the rewards of technological advancement fulfill the goals of every person in society.

Selected Views on Technology

• Technology's understanding varies, impacting societal views and applications.

Aristotelianism

• Flourishing aims to achieve the utmost good.
• Technology organizes ways to satisfy human demands.
• It focuses on results, with the value of a product determined by its societal usage and impact.

Technological Pessimism

• Jacques Ellul strongly concurs that technology is developing and helpful, but also believes that it is questionable in many respects.
• Technology has replaced everyday life, becoming a framework people cannot break free from.
• Ellul's pessimistic arguments: technological advancement comes at a cost, causes additional difficulties, has negative impacts, and has unanticipated and terrible repercussions.
• Critics judge Ellul's points as unconvincing and untrue, as he appears to have misjudged the objective judgments that a technician and other technological agencies make regarding the technology when they assess the positive and negative consequences it could cause to society. Technological advancement can cause more issues than it solves.

Technological Optimism

• It is supported by technologists, engineers, and regular people who believe that technology can cure all troubles and bring answers to future challenges.
• Technology can still provide solutions even if technical difficulties develop.
• Technocratism regards technology as the ultimate authority on everything.

Existentialism

• Key issue: The existence or manner of being of someone or something guided by the authenticity rule.
• This viewpoint investigates the meaning of existence or being and the choices individuals must make.
• Martin Heidegger supports this philosophy and addresses the core of technology.
• Heidegger states the true core of technology is enframing.
• It challenges humans to bring the concealed to the revealed, a constant unveiling.

Martin Heidegger on Science and Technology

• Heidegger investigated two common definitions of technology: a means to a goal and a human activity.
• He considered both confused and intertwined.
• He says that this is not an incorrect definition, but it is deceptive since it confines our understanding.

Aristotle's Four Causes

• Heidegger deepened his understanding of Aristotle's Four Causes, illustrating them with a sliver chalice, which he said is composed of the four causes.
• Causa Materialis or the Material Cause: The material by which the silver chalice was made of- silver.
• Causa Formalis or the Formal Cause: The form or the shape that gave the silver chalice its image
• Causa Finalis or the Final Cause: The fundamental function for which the sliver chalice was created was to hold the wine, which stands in for the blood of Christ, during Holy Communion.
• Causa Efficiens or the Efficient Cause: The agent that has caused for the silver chalice to come about- the silversmith.
• The birth of the sliver chalice is attributed to each of the four factors.
• Technology transforms into both means and revelation.
• Unlike physis (natural occurrences), technology involves external forces.

Heidegger's Technology as a Way of Revealing

• Enframing contains the true essence of technology: ongoing revelation.
• It involves a two-way exchange where the concealed calls out to be revealed and someone sets upon it.
• Hydroelectric plants exemplify technology as a way of revealing.
• Enframing: organizes whatever is available to humans, particularly what is hidden, while the true essence of modern technology is challenging humans to uncover what is hidden.
• Human Reveal: humans can't reveal what's hidden without it calling out to be revealed, and what's hidden won't become known unless humans respond to its call..
• Heidegger highlights the risk of technology hiding something further even as it reveals.
• Misinterpretation and lack of discernment also pose risks.

The Mode of Revealing in Modern Technology

• Technology still brings things into being, with revelation ongoing.
• Technology provokes nature to reveal itself.
• Stockpiles satisfy future expectations, storing resources like power generated by a hydroelectric plant.
• Constant revelation occurs when humans engage with nature, responding to the call of concealment.
• "Enframing" highlights humans to uncover what is hidden.

The Danger of the Nonstop Revealing

• Man must respond to the need for better means to achieve a goal with the ongoing struggle of the revealed to become even more exposed
• Revealing involves both opening up and closing down aspects of reality.
• Man's tendency to misunderstand what is provided poses a threat, as does immersion in the frame, neglecting implications.

The Society in the Face of Science and Technology

• Society has a preference for the enjoyment that come from modern technology may even be seen by those close to an individual. A man's worth seems to be the ability to use devices like a smartphone.
• There is decreasing face-to-face contact. And an absence of contentment as a new product brings out the new desire that can only be satisfied with new technology.
• It is important to balance anthropological research, technology, and the ends dont justify the means.
• The solution is for man to stop manipulating and dominating nature and allow nature to show itself to him.

Human Being

• Defining a human being lacks explicit philosophical or scientific description.
• Smith (2012) shared because "Biologists aren't equipped to tell us whether an organism, Is a human organism because "*human" is a folk-category rather a scientific one.
• According to Blakemore and Greenfield (1987; as cited in Bernaldez, 2001), the ability to reason sets humans apart from other animals.
• The question shouldn't be whats what. It's what it is that makes it what it is when referring to asking of the human form.

Understanding Human Flourishing

• Humans possess skills to operate and have the desire for joy.
• Aristotle's teachings dictate that every man's existence has a purpose and that it serves the alm of achieving that purpose.
• Eudaimonia signifies well-being linked to ethical actions.

On Epicurus' Viewpoint

• Moderation and balance leads to happiness. It supports the hedonism-based ethical doctrine that says pleasure is the standard of morality. However, It also emphasizes the need to weigh pleasure against suffering in order to achieve well-being.

On Nietzsche's Viewpoint

• In contrast to other philosophers, Nietzsche had a differing viewpoint on happiness, stating it to be a "ideal state of laziness".
• Philosophers' ideas prove to be an understanding of what it means to flourish.

Science and Technology and Human Flourishing

• Science and technology have advanced society, communication, medicine, and industry.
• Innovation continues to change people's ethical and moral preferences in society.
• Concerns arise about the ethical implications.
• Development and human flourishing are inevitable together.
• The eudaemonistic direction of the happiness or end where breakthroughs are leading.
• Human ethics and morals need to promote growth and development.