STS Chapter 2 Science and Technology and society and the human condition

1. CHAPTER 3:
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY AND THE
HUMAN CONDITION

2. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND HUMAN FLOURISHING

3. Eudaimonia
 Literally means good spirited
 Coined by Greek philosopher Aristotle
(385-323 BC) the pinnacle of happiness
that is attained by humans.
 This has often been translated into
human flourishing in literature

5. • Human flourishes and finds meaning
in the world that he/she builds.
• Human may unconsciously acquire,
consume or destroy what the world
has to offer.

9. Science as A Social Endeavor
 Several philosophers like Paul Thagard,
Imre Lakatos, Helen Longino, David
Bloor and Richard Rorty presented
science as a social endeavor.
 This new view perpetuates a dimension
which generally benefits society.

10. Science and Results
 People who do not understand
science are won over when the
discipline is able to produce
results.
 Such disciplines are religion, luck,
and human randomness

11. How Much is Too much?
 In 2000, world leaders signed the Millennium
Development Goals(MDG) that targets eight concerns,
one of which states that they should be able to forge
global partnership for development.
 However, there are some setbacks in this. Economists
believe that growth is the primary indicator of
development. In that, resources are needed.
 Technology has been a primary instrument in enabling
the global community to pursue such goal like utilizing
resources, machineries and labor.

12. How Much is Too much?
 What is missing in this equation is, growth
presents an illusory notion od sustainability.
 The same analogy applies to the capacity of
nature to accommodate our needs.

13.  Group Presentation: For each group, state a brief history or
discovery that brought about the invention or discovery of the
things stated below. State their contribution in the scientific
development. How does it connects to human flourishing?
 a. Gravity f. Benzene Ring
 b. Telescope g. Large Hadron collider
 c. Processed food h. Guns
 d. Microscope i. Internet
 e. Radio j. Cell phones
Note: Group 1: Letters a-e
 Group 2: Letters f-j


15. The Human Condition Before
Common Era
• Early ancestor’s primal need to survive
paved way for the invention of several
developments.
• Homo Erectus have been using fire to cook,
that marked the era of Stone Age
• Homo Sapiens began to sharpen stones like
knife
• People discovered minerals and began
metalwork.

16. The Human Condition in the
Common Era
• Formation of communities caused humans
to expand more in territory and more people
to feed; large separate communities hailing
from the same ancestors paved way for
civilizations.
• Humanity became more complex
• Primary goal was not merely to survive, but
to live a good life

17. The Human Condition in the
Common Era
• Position-wise, the humans of today are
much better off compared to humans
several centuries ago.
• Advancements in medicine, technology,
health and education were also noted

18. Notable comparison Then
and Now
• Mortality Rate
• Average Lifespan
• Literacy rate
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

23. CHAPTER 4:
THE GOOD LIFE

24. ARISTOTLE AND HOW WE ALL
ASPIRE FOR A GOOD LIFE

26. PLATO: GOOD OF LIFE

27. HAPPINESS AS THE GOAL
OF A GOOD LIFE

28. JOHN STUART MILL
saying that an
action is right as far
as it maximizes the
attainment of
happiness for the
greatest number of
people.

29. MATERIALISM
Why
materialism
makes you
miserable?

30. HEDONISM
A person who
believes that
the pursuit of
pleasure is
the most
important
thing in life; a
pleasure –
seeker.

32. THEISM

34. WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND
HUMANITY CROSS

35. ROLES PLAYED BY THESE
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

36. ETHICAL DILEMMA FACED BY THESE
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
1. Most parents would argue that
these devices make their children
lazy and unhealthy.
2. Moral Dilemma
3.Taking credit for others' work.

37. ROBOTICS AND HUMANITY
Robots play different roles
not only in the lives of the
people but also in the
society as a whole. They
are primarily used to ease
the workload of mankind.
They were invented to
make life more efficient and
less stressful On one hand,
they perform complicated
activities which human
beings are incapable of
doing.

38. Roles Played by Robotics
 Ease the workload of mankind
 Perform complicated activities which
humans are incapable of doing
 There are also robots which are made for
pleasure.

39. ETHICAL DILEMMALS FACED BY
ROBOTICS
1. Safety
Who should be accountable if someone’s
safety is compromised by a robot?
Who should be blamed, the robot, the
agent using the robot, or the
maker/inventor of the robot?

40. ETHICAL DILEMMALS FACED BY
ROBOTICS
1. Emotional Component
What if robots become sentient? Should
they be granted robot rights? Should they
have their own set of rights to be upheld,
respected and protected by humans?