STS-C4

• Society applauds the recent advancements of scientific technology in fields such as medicine, energy, and communication
• While humankind profits in many ways from this technology, a few voices are heard cautioning society to consider the implications of this developments
• Part II provides a deeper appreciation of man's existence and their purpose in a world of technology
• It also discusses the concept of a good life and how it can be attained; and, ethical and moral dilemma brought about by the emergence of the robotic industry
• Learning Outcomes


  • Examine the human condition to deeply reflect and express philosophical ramifications that are meaningful to the student as a part of society
  • Critique human flourishing vis-a vis the progress of Science and Technology to define the meaning of the good life
  • Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative and creative solutions to the contemporary issues guided by ethical standards
  • Examine human rights in order to uphold such rights in technologica dilemmas
• Technology


  A way of revealing the world
• Technology (in Heidegger's view)

  • The essence of technology is not something we make; it is a mode of being, or of revealing
  • Technology even holds sway over beings that we do not normally think of as technological, such as gods and history
  • It is primarily a matter of modern and industrial technology
  • Technology is not just applying natural science practically; instead, science itself relies on technology's prior understanding of nature as calculable and orderable forces
• Two Characteristics of Modern Technology as a Revealing Process

  • The mode of revealing of modern technology is a challenging - it is putting to nature the unreasonable demand that it supply energy that can be extracted and stored
  • The challenging or demanding that brings forth the energy of nature is an "expediting" (meaning to speed up movement)
• Standing in Reserve


  Term used by Heidegger to name the things that are revealed in modern technology - Things as standing in reserve are not "objects" but are brought forth through challenging and expediting, lacking the autonomy and wonder of traditional objects
• Modern technology


  Artificial, views nature as a source standing in reserve for energy, part of an interconnected system
• Old technology


  Natural, respects nature as an autonomous object, follows the river's rules
• Enframing


  The "essence" or core of modern technology - the "frame" of modern technology is the network or interlocking things standing in reserve, revolving around human desires and demands, emphasizing manipulation and removing the sense of mystery from the world
• Disregarding this limited process of revelation means ignoring the essence of truth
• Due to human arrogance, nature is in the verge of destruction
• Eudaimonia


  "good fortune", "material prosperity" - a situation achieved through virtue, knowledge and excellence
• Three Motivating Parts of the Soul/Mind

  • Rational
  • Spirited or emotional
  • Appetitive
• Eudaimonia (Aristotle's view)


  Constituted by rational activity in the virtues of character and the intellectual virtues, particularly of things that are fundamental and unchanging
• Four Aspects of Human Nature

  • Physical - nourishment, exercise, and rest
  • Emotional - wants, desires, urges and reactions
  • Social - builds on emotions, function in particular societies
  • Rational - creative, expressive, knowledge seeking, and able to obey reason
• Human flourishing


  Using one's talents, abilities, and virtues in a rational way to pursue freely chosen values and goals - it involves fulfilling both a person's human nature and unique abilities, focusing on choices and actions related to specific and varying circumstances
• Goals that contribute to human flourishing

  • Knowledge
  • Character development
  • Productive work
  • Religious pursuits
  • Community building
  • Love
  • Charitable activities
  • Loyalty to people and causes
  • Self-confidence
  • Material well-being
  • Pleasurable experiences
• Living rationally (consciously)


  Means dealing with the world conceptually, implies respect for the facts of reality, not affected by the degree of one's intelligence or the extent of one's knowledge; rather, it is accepting and using one's reason to recognize reality, choose values, and take actions to the best of their ability
• Pursuing rational goals through rational means is the key to successfully coping with reality and achieving personal goals