Chapter 7: Human Flourishing PDF - GNED 06

CHAPTER 7: HUMAN FLOURISHING GNED 06 1st SEMESTER | S.Y. 2024-2025 | SIR ESLABON COVERAGE: CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN THAT EVOLVED OVER...

CHAPTER 7: HUMAN FLOURISHING GNED 06 1st SEMESTER | S.Y. 2024-2025 | SIR ESLABON COVERAGE: CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN THAT EVOLVED OVER TIME 1. Introduction a. Characteristics of Human That Evolved Over Time  There were a lot of human characteristics that changed Walking Upright over time. These changes happened because – the Using of Different Tools environment change, increased knowledge, culture Domestication of Animals adaptations. Human Body Complexity of the Brain WALKING UPRIGHT Social Life  The early records of humanity showed that humans 2. Human Flourishing evolved from four-legged species to walking upright a. Flourishing and Mental Health individuals. Positive Emotion  The earliest humans climbed trees and walked on the Engagement ground to gather food and find shelter for their survival. Relationships  This flexibility helped them get around in diverse habitats Meaning and cope with changing climates, which eventually Accomplishment helped them in the evolution of their physical attributes. 3. Human Flourishing and STS  Changes in the physical characteristics of humans were brought about by adaptation to the changing INTRODUCTION environment. USING OF DIFFERENT TOOLS  A human being is defined as a species called Homo sapiens.  Various activities such as foraging, hunting and fishing to They have the power of articulate speech, superior provide a wide range of food supply led to advances in mental development, and are capable of upright tools and tool-making. stance.  Stones, wood, bone, ivory and metals, and learned to produce and use fire.  The modern human being is an individual person  Animal domestication and adoption of permanent responsible for the advancements in society today. settlements has led to utilization of bronze, which further  The creativity of humans brought all of the researches, developed metal smelting, use of copper, and an alloy of innovations, inventions that we have right now. Therefore, tin. a man is also a thinking, creative being.  New materials have led to production of new inventions  According to Aristotle, man/human is defined as a such as guns, and even electronic devices such as rational animal because he can think and use reason laptops. consistently. DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS We are the highest level of life form and we are the only one who can think and have the ability to  The early humans who were hunters and gatherers reason out based on facts and not based emotions, started domesticating animals. feelings, or purely on instincts.  They settled in one place, learned to tame animals and domesticate them.  Furthermore, humans are the only ones with spiritual  They also raised animals for clothing, medicine, beliefs; the spiritual soul that humans possess satisfies shelters, and food. our different beliefs, religions, doctrines on the  The first animals to be domesticated were the goats, existence of God. followed by sheep and chickens.  On the other hand, our material body is part of the  Larger animals like oxen or horses were also physical world and can be satisfied through our needs, domesticated for plowing and transportation. and our wants; which brought out the existence of science and technology. HUMAN BODY  According to Aristotle, the way human beings do things is by making rational choices.  Changes in their body structures helped them survive in  Rational Choice Theory - individuals choose specific hot and cold climates. actions or scientific investigations that are most in line with  Nine million years ago, early humans had short bodies their personal preference. with long arms and legs and also large and long guts We make decisions based on what benefits us. (digestive tract). We tend to maximize gain while minimizing loss. This type of structure allowed them to climb trees to We choose what satisfies us. get fruits as their source of food are mainly plant- This will also help man choose or judge whether based. biomedical sciences, biotechnology, or A wide rib cage made room for the stomach, nanotechnology threaten or enhance humanity. intestines, and other organs that break down food.  Humans evolved tall and narrow bodies that helped them to stay cool while long legs allowed them to travel long distances in search for food. GNED 06 | STS RCM 1  CHAPTER 7: HUMAN FLOURISHING GNED 06 1st SEMESTER | S.Y. 2024-2025 | SIR ESLABON These humans also had shorter digestive tracts. Therefore, it is the society that is the standard Compared to the human species before them, meat of good and evil. and fire had also been available for them. d. Regulation of Policies and Standards It has been suggested that cooking, which breaks Society is the foundation of the government. down plant fibers and connective tissue in meat, The government helps in the management of the allows humans to extract more nutrients with less natural and human resources that belong to digestive effort, thus contributing to an evolutionary society and regulates the distribution of public reduction of gut tissues, and making more energy facilities to individuals. available for tall bodies and large brains. A society gives us a central regulating  Around 400,000 years ago, had compact bodies and authority. short guts. e. Achieving a Common Goal Humans moved to colder climates, and as such, The society forms a collective movement to they needed compact bodies to keep them warm. work together for what would benefit all of them. Their guts were also shorter for they depended on I hope we are reminded of the importance of raw meat and cooked food. having social circles, our families and friends  Common to these three generations of humans are their around because after all, no man is an island. large skeletal structures. USE OF LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS  The present generation has bones that are sleeker and weaker.  Before, people only communicate using language, This started around 50,000 years ago when human symbols and sounds. beings learned to settle to permanent locations  They used pigments, paintings, and wood carvings to and produce their food. record what was going on in their daily lives. This less physically demanding lifestyle paved the  Some pieces of information were stored in stone way for these adaptations. paintings, on the walls of caves, and other canvasses. COMPLEXITY OF THE BRAIN  Our ancestors used jewelry and other personal adornments to reflect their identity- age, sex, and social  Brain is the most complex organ in the body. status.  The brain of humans today is three times larger than the  Now, we use the printing press, sounds, language, brain before. computer to communicate.  The more information the brain receives, the faster it HUMAN FLOURISHING processes, and the more adequately it will be able to respond to environmental changes and the better will be  Since we are rational beings, most of our decisions are the chances of survival. based on what will satisfy us the most. SOCIAL LIFE  These decisions are, consciously or subconsciously, anchored on attaining happiness, to flourish.  All of us long to belong.  It is an effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment  Society - came from the word societas within the context of a larger community. a friendly association with others  It is also understanding your purpose or your goals in group of people who share common economic, life. social, and industrial infrastructures.  According to Aristotle, a man’s life has a purpose and  Building social networks helps them survive the different the function of life is to attain that purpose. challenges in the changing environment.  We do not simply live; we live to achieve the things that  Family is the smallest unit of the society, and from one we want. family to another, they built a society that could satisfy  We must all live each day with a purpose, whether to the needs of each group. help, to grow, to be healthy, or simply to be happy. Importance of Belonging to A Society or Having FLOURISHING AND MENTAL HEALTH Association with Others  The positive physical well-being of man is linked to its a. Support for Each Other positive psychological and social functioning. People come together to support each other because of their common needs, goals, concerns  When you feel positive, it triggers psychological resilience and ideologies. to help you recover faster from stressful situations. These needs whether physical, emotional,  Martin E.P. Saligman formulated the Well-Being Theory financial, or even in medical form can all be fulfilled by the society we are in. Human flourishing is not only found on the happiness b. Formation of Social Groups of individuals alone but also in psychological well- A society is characterized by social networks. being. It becomes a foundation of the government According to him, human flourishing rest on five and considered the building blocks of all nations. pillars – P.E.R.M.A. c. Formation of Culture POSITIVE EMOTION Culture defines the pattern of human activity in a society  This includes pleasure, ecstasy, warmth, comfort and other emotions that contribute to the “pleasant life”. GNED 06 | STS RCM 2  CHAPTER 7: HUMAN FLOURISHING GNED 06 1st SEMESTER | S.Y. 2024-2025 | SIR ESLABON ENGAGEMENT  This is all about flow: being with one with the music, time stopping, and the loss of self-consciousness during an absorbing activity, which contribute to the “engaged life”.  Being fully engaged means doing everything with enthusiasm. RELATIONSHIPS  The feeling of satisfaction, flourishing, or well-being can be experienced when we are in a relationship or with other people.  Other people are the best antidote to the downs of life. Connections to others can give life purpose and meaning. MEANING  A “meaningful life” can be based on man’s value or worth, or derived from belonging to and serving something bigger than the self. ACCOMPLISHMENT  People pursue achievement, competence, success, and mastery for its own sake, in a variety of domains, including the workspace, school, games, etc. HUMAN FLOURISHING AND STS  Changes happening to human beings were due to adaptation and the need to survive.  Humans are now able to think complex thought processes and create things that wouldn’t be possible during prehistoric times.  The ability to ponder on philosophical contexts became a norm for the modern man. GNED 06 | STS RCM 3