Human Flourishing

GROUP 2
Present
Unit 1: Explaining the impact of
science and technology on society and
its role in nation-building.
A. HUMAN FLOURISHING
IN TERMS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is Flourishing?
Flourishing is “when people experience positive

emotions, positive psychological functioning and positive
social functioning,most of the time,” living “within an
optimal range of human functioning.”
Human Flourishing
- Human flourishing is the pursuit of self-actualization and fulfillment within a
larger community, where each individual has the right to pursue their own
efforts.
- It is also known as “personal flourishing” involves the rational use of one’s
individual human potentialities, including talents, abilities, and virtues in the
pursuit of his freely and rationally chosen values and goals.
- It is at the same time, a moral accomplishment and fulfillment of human
capacities, and it is one through being the other
According to Aristotle, all humans
seek to flourish. It is the proper and
desired end of all our actions. To
understand something, one must
understand its nature.
Four aspects of human nature:
1. Physical - requires nourishment, exercise and rest.
2. Emotional – we have wants, desire, urges and reactions. We all have emotional
need and wants.
3. Social being –we must live and function in the society where we belong.
4. Rational being- we are creative, expressive knowledge-seeking and able to
obey reason.
Human Flourishing Today
Our concept of human flourishing today proves to be different from what
Aristotle originally perceived then. Humans of today are expected to
become ―a man of the world. The man supposed to situate himself in a
global neighborhood, working side by side among institutions and the
government to be able to reach a common goal. Competition as a means
of survival has become passes: coordination is the new trend.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND HUMAN
FLOURISHING
• According to Heidegger “ Technology is a human activity that we

excel in as a result of achieving science”
• The end goals of both science and technology and human

flourishing are related, in that the good is inherently related to the
truth.
WHAT IS THE EXPLANATION OF HUMAN
FLOURISHING IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?
- “Science and Technology changes us – and the world around

us – in countless ways. It eases our labor, cures diseases,
provides abundant food and clean water, enables
communication and travel across the globe, and expands our
knowledge of the natural world and the cosmos.”
HAS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REALLY
HELPED HUMAN TO FLOURISH?
• We have something more subtle and versatile: intelligence. Intelligence by

itself is not a survival trait
• The ability to anticipate the future and plan for it is a tremendous advantage
(see science)
• The ability to build tools, shelter and weapons is a huge advantage (see
technology).
• So we are evolved to develop science and technology to our advantage.
(Button, 2019)
“We are evolved to develop science and
technology to our advantage.”
HOW TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING
What is TECHNOLOGY?
Came from two Greek words:

• “TECHNE” meaning art, craft, or skill
• “LOGOS” meaning to speak of, imply the practical
application of techne
• TECHNOLOGY is the application of scientific knowledge to

the practical aims of life.
What is the essence of technology?
INSTRUMENTAL DEFINITION:
Technology is a means to an end.
ANTHROPOLOGICAL DEFINITION:
Technology is a human activity.
Heidegger viewpoint of technology
• He strongly opposes the view of technology is a “mean to an end” or

“Human Activity”
• Heidegger points out, technological objects are means to an end, and

are built and operated by human beings, but the essence of
technology is something else entirely.
THE QUESTIONS CONCERNING
TECHNOLOGY by Martin Heidegger
• Technology is not an instrument (it is a mode of understanding)
• Technology is not a product of human activity (develops beyond our

control and comprehension)
• Technology is the highest danger

• Ancient Greek philosophical concept, Poiesis, which refers to the act of
bringing something out of concealment.
• Aletheia , a Greek concept that refers to disclosure or truth.
• TECHNOLOGY is a way of Poiesis – a way of revealing that unconceals

Aletheia or the truth.
• Technology is a mode of BRINGING FORTH

PRIMITIVE CRAFTS VS. MODERN TECHNOLOGY
• Sailboats – mode of transportation, they revealed the different land

masses around the world, we were able to travel from different
islands that were not known before.
• Cars – they were used to discover new places, they were used as an
inspiration to build new vehicles.
Modern Technology challenges nature by extracting something
from it and transforming, storing and distributing it. It makes
people think how to do things faster, more effectively and with less
effort
TEHCNOLOGY: WORKING WITH NATURE (relationship with
nature) (before)
TECHNOLOGY: CONTROLING THE NATURE (productivity)

(modern)
DIFFERENCE OF BRINGING FORTH AND
CHALLENGING FORTH
• Bringing Forth - mean humans only five form to what already exist
without disruption and control
• Challenging Forth means humans control the productive process

and according to heidegger, reduce it to something else, often
inferior to its essence.
Modern Technology reduces beings into
“not beings”
THE DANGER OF TECHNOLOGY
“The danger lies on how human let themselves be consumed by

technology.” According to Heidegger, one of the most
important points is how this idea makes us complacent to
existential danger. With this mindset, we could ruin ourselves.
“Who suffers if you kill the environment? It’s the poor. And whose
duty is it to protect people? It’s the government. And when you
make decisions based on business interests, you have shirked
your responsibility. You have lost the moral ascendancy to rule the
government because, to you, business and money is more
important than the welfare of our people.” Gina Lopez(May 2017)
“Pre-industrial societies did not used to look at nature like this.
Technology of today is much less human and ore brutal. The
poesis of today does not concern itself with relationships, its
concern is productivity.”
Heidegger points out that there is an ultimate
irresponsibility in how we deal with technology
today. Our lack of understanding of the essence of
technology is even more harmful.
Thank you very
much!

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GROUP 2

Flourishing is “when people experience positive

• According to Heidegger “ Technology is a human activity that we

• The end goals of both science and technology and human

- “Science and Technology changes us – and the world around

• We have something more subtle and versatile: intelligence. Intelligence by

Came from two Greek words:

• TECHNOLOGY is the application of scientific knowledge to

• He strongly opposes the view of technology is a “mean to an end” or

• Heidegger points out, technological objects are means to an end, and

• Technology is not an instrument (it is a mode of understanding)

• Technology is not a product of human activity (develops beyond our

• Technology is the highest danger

• Aletheia , a Greek concept that refers to disclosure or truth.

• TECHNOLOGY is a way of Poiesis – a way of revealing that unconceals

• Technology is a mode of BRINGING FORTH

• Sailboats – mode of transportation, they revealed the different land

TECHNOLOGY: CONTROLING THE NATURE (productivity)

• Challenging Forth means humans control the productive process

“The danger lies on how human let themselves be consumed by

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