Human Flourishing in Science and Technology: Lecture Slides PDF

Midterm – Session 4 (Part I) Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado, MS Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 1 The Human Person Flourishing in terms of Science and Technology GE 107 – Science, Technology and Society Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 2...

Midterm – Session 4 (Part I) Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado, MS Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 1 The Human Person Flourishing in terms of Science and Technology GE 107 – Science, Technology and Society Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 2  Lesson Objectives: 1. Identify different conceptions of human flourishing; 2. Determine the development of the scientific method and validity of science; and 3. Critic human flourishing vis-à-vis progress of science and technology to be able to define for themselves the meaning of a good life. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 3 What makes you happy? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 4  In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions, ranging from contentment to intense joy. To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do something good or positive. To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in the brain as a reward for behavior that prolongs survival. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 5 Is happiness a destination or a journey? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 6  The hedonistic view of well-being is that happiness is the polar opposite of suffering; the presence of happiness indicates the absence of pain (HEDONIA) Because of this, hedonists believe that the purpose of life is to maximize happiness, which minimizes misery. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 7 1.Hedonia 2.Eudaimonia Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 8 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 9  Eudaimonia “good spirited” Coined by renowned Greek philosopher Aristotle (385-323 BC) to describe the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans. This has often been translated into “human flourishing” in literature, arguably likening humans to flowers achieving their full bloom. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 10  Eudaimonia, a term that combines the Greek words for “good” and “spirit” to describe the ideology. Eudaimonia defines happiness as the pursuit of becoming a better person. Eudaimonists do this by challenging themselves intellectually or by engaging in activities that make them spiritually richer people. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 11 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 12 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 13 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 14 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 15 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 16  Nicomachean Ethics philosophical inquiry into the nature of the good life for a human being Human flourishing arises as a result of different components such as phronesis, friendship, wealth, and power. In the Ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these qualities will surely bring the seeker’s happiness, which in effect allows them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the GOOD. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 17  As time changes, elements that comprise human flourishing changed. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 18  Human Flourishing Live comfortably Explore more places Develop more products Make more money Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 19 Early Concept of Human Flourishing Simple machines to make hunting and gathering easier. Make grander and more sophisticated machines. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 20 Human Flourishing Today Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 21  Concept of Human Flourishing Today Different from what Aristotle originally perceived then “man of the world” Man situate himself in a Global neighborhood Working side by side among institutions and the government Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 22  Competition as a means of survival has become passé. Coordination is the new trend. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 23 Western versus Eastern Civilization (On SocietyLoren and Human Flourishing) Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 24  Human Flourishing (Western Civilization) More focused on the individual. Human flourishing as an end. Aristotelian view Aims for eudaimonia as the ultimate good. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 25  Human Flourishing (Eastern Civilization) Focused is More community-centric. Community takes the highest regard that the individual should sacrifice himself for the sake of the society. Chinese Confucian system – Teaches its followers that your well-being depends directly on the well-being of others Japanese Bushido (Ancient Code of the Samurai Warrior) The whole is greater than their components. The Chinese and the Japanese encourage studies of literature, sciences, and art, not entirely for oneself but in service of a greater cause. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 26  Eastern Western Conception Conception Focus is community- More focused on the centric individual Individual should sacrifice for the sake of Human flourishing as an society end Chinese Confucian Aristotelian view system Aims for eudaimonia as Japanese Bushido the ultimate good. Encourage studies of literature, sciences, and art for a greater cause Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 27  The Greek Aristotelian view, aims for eudaimonia as the ultimate good. A person who has achieved such state would want to serve the community, but it is brought upon through deliberation based on his values rather than his belief that the state is greater than him. Human Flourishing – global perspective and as man of the world. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 28 Science, Technology and Human Flourishing Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 29 Science, Technology and Human Flourishing Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 30  Science, Technology and Human Flourishing Science and technology bring a lot of contributions. Every discovery, innovation and success contributes to our pool of human knowledge. There is human’s perpetual need to locate himself in the world by finding proofs to trace evolution. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 31  Science, Technology and Human Flourishing Human flourishing is deeply intertwined with goal setting relevant to science and technology. Technology is relevant as a tool in achieving science. “Technology is a human activity that we excel in as a result of achieving science.” (Heidegger) Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 32  Science, Technology and Human Flourishing The end goals of both science and technology and human flourishing are related, in that the good is inherently related to the truth. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 33 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 34 1. Science as Methods and Results Science stems from objectivity brought upon by a rigid method. Claim to reason and empirism. Science is effectively raised in a pedestal untouchable by other institutions. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 35 Steps in Scientific Method 1. Observe. 2. Determine the problem. 3. Formulate hypothesis. 4. Conduct experiment. 5. Gather and analyze. 6. Formulate conclusion and provide recommendation. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 36 What separates science from the so- called pseudoscience??? What makes a discipline scientific??? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 37  Verification Theory This is the earliest criterion that distinguishes philosophy and science. The idea proposes that a discipline is science if it can be confirmed or interpreted in the event of an alternative hypothesis being accepted. This theory gives premium to empiricism and only takes into account those results which are measurable and experiments which are repeatable. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 38  Verification Theory Vienna Circle (early 20th century) A group of scholars who believed that: – only those which can be observed should be regarded as meaningful – reject those which cannot be directly assessed as meaningless. Einstein’s theory??? Quantum mechanics??? Evidence versus theory Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 39  Verification Theory Suppose, for instance, this girl, Lea has a (not-so- scientific) theory that her classmate Ian likes her. Good, she thought, I like him, too. But how do I know that he likes me? She began by observing him and his interactions with her. Several gestures she noted include his always exchanging pleasantries with her whenever they bump into each other, his big smile when he sees her even when riding a jeepney. Through these observations, she was then able to conclude that Ian does like her because, she thought, why would anyone do something like that for a person he does not like? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 40  Verification Theory As it turns out, however, Ian is just generally happy to meet people he knew. He had known Lea since they were in first year and regards her as a generally okay person. It is no surprise then that upon learning that Ian basically does this to everyone, Lea was crushed. She vowed to herself that she would never assume again. Based from the story, is it justified for Lea to think that Ian does not like her? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 41  Falsification Theory As long as an ideology is not proven to be false and can best explain a phenomenon over alternative theories, we should accept the said ideology. Allowed emergence of theories otherwise rejected by verification theory. Encourages research in order to determine which among the theories can stand the test of falsification. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 42  Falsification Theory Karl Popper – Aim at production of new, falsifiable predictions – Scientific practice is characterized by its continual effort to test theories against experience and make revisions based on the outcomes of these tests Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 43  Falsification Theory Marx’s Theory of Social History Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalysis Not testable and thus not falsifiable Are these scientific? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 44  Falsification Theory Ian is generally everybody’s friend. He likes to be around people and generally aspires to become everybody’s friend. However, there is this one girl, Lea, who seemed to not like him when he is around. Every time he waves at her, she turns away, and when they are in the same room, she avoids his glances. Through this, he concluded that Lea does not like him and does his best to show her that he is not a threat. He began greeting her whenever they pass by each other at the corridor, even going so far as calling her attention when he was in the jeepney and saw her walking past. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 45  Falsification Theory When they are able to talk to each other, he found out that Lea is just really shy and is not accustomed to people greeting her. He then was able to conclude that his initial impression of her not liking him (as a person) is wrong and thus said proposition is rejected. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 46  Falsification Theory Falsification method is prone to the same generalizations committed by the verification method. There is no known rule as to the number of instance that a theory is rejected or falsified in order for it to be set aside. There is no assurance that observable event or “evidences” are indeed manifestations of a certain concept or “theories.” Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 47 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 48 2. Science as a Social Endeavor Alternative demarcation that explores the social dimension of science and technology. Science cease to belong solely to gown- wearing, bespectacled scientists at laboratories. The new view perpetuates a dimension which generally benefits the society. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 49 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 50 Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 51 North Sentinel Island Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 52 North Sentinel Island Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 53  Far-off places in South America where many of the tribes remain uncontacted, do not regard western science as their science. Whatever their science is, it can be ascertained that it is in no way inferior to that of globalized peoples’ science. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 54 3. Science and Results People who do not understand science are won over when the discipline is able to produce results. When Jesus performed miracles and garnered followers, people are sold over the capacity of science to do stuff they cannot fully comprehend. Science is not the only discipline which is able to produce results – religion, luck, and human randomness. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 55  For some communities without access to science, they can turn to divination and superstition and still get the same results. Science is not entirely foolproof (e.g. weather reports and disasters). Science does not monopolize the claim for definite results. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 56 4. Science as Education Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 57  There still exists a repressing concept that comes about as a result of unjustified irreverence of science – our preference of science-inclined students over those which are less adept. In the Philippines, a large distribution of science high schools can be found all over the country, forging competition for inspiring students to secure a slot and undergo rigorous science and mathematics training. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 58  Senior High School in the Philippines STEM Accounting and Business How is science perceived by those who graduated from this field? Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 59  Aristotle’s eudaimonic person is required to be knowledgeable about science, among other things of equal importance. They are supposed to possess intellectual virtues that will enable them to determine truth from falsehood or good reasoning from poor reasoning. A true eudaimon recognizes that flourishing requires one to excel in various dimensions, such as linguistic, kinetic, artistic, and socio-civic. He understands that he should not focus on one aspect alone. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 60  SUMMARY Human flourishing is defined as being “good spirited” in the classical Aristotelian notion. Humans generally have a notion on what it means to flourish; albeit in the advent of science and technology, they chose to hinge their ends alongside the latter’s results. While it is true that science equips its knowers some details about he world, its main claim to objectivity and systematic methodology is at the very least flawed. Loren Grace Jaranilla-Anunciado FSUU 61 Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development Forget 'developing' poor countries, it's time to 'develop' rich countries By: Jason Hickel  Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development  As the UN’s new sustainable development goals are launched in New York, there’s little to celebrate about the business-as-usual approach. Recent research found 70% of people in middle- and high-income countries believe overconsumption is putting our planet and society at risk.  This week, heads of state are gathering in New York to sign the UN’s new sustainable development goals (SDGs). The main objective is to eradicate poverty by 2030.  Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development Growth has been the main object of development for the past 70 years, despite the fact that it’s not working. Orthodox economists insist that all we need is yet more growth. More progressive types tell us that we need to shift some of the yields of growth from the richer segments of the population to the poorer ones, evening things out a bit. Neither approach is adequate. Why? Because even at current levels of average global consumption, we’re overshooting our planet’s bio-capacity by more than 50% each year.  Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development What does this mean for our theory of development? Economist Peter Edward argues that instead of pushing poorer countries to “catch up” with rich ones, we should be thinking of ways to get rich countries to “catch down” to more appropriate levels of development. We should look at societies where people live long and happy lives at relatively low levels of income and consumption not as basket cases that need to be developed towards western models, but as exemplars of efficient living.