Chapter 4 discusses the concept of human flourishing, defining it as the highest good and success in achieving one's life goals, connected to Aristotle's idea of 'eudaimonia.' It explores various perspectives on what constitutes a good life, including moral, pleasurable, and fulfilled living, and examines philosophical schools of thought such as materialism, hedonism, stoicism, theism, and humanism. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the role of technology in supporting and enhancing the pursuit of a good life, highlighting the basic needs and aspirations involved.

1. CAMILLE ROSE M. DANO-SERANTE
Chapter 4
Science, Technology
and Society, The
Human Condition
and The Good Life

2. Learning Objectives:
Introduction
- Define what is Human Flourishing
- Interview different people about Human
Flourishing
- Importance of Human Flourishing
- Examine what is meant by Good Life
- Identify how humans attempt to attain
what is deemed to be a good life
- Recognize possibilities available to
human being to attain a good life

3. 01
Human
Flourishing

4. Human Flourishing
Is the highest good of a human attempt to achieve his/her
goal.
It is a success as a human being when he/she achieved it for
the betterment of his/her life.
“EUDAIMONIA” – means good-spirited. It is a term that
connected to the renowned Greek philosopher Aristotle, to
describe the peak of human happiness that can be attained.
Living well or flourishing, not just feeling happy and content.

5. “How? How will you achieve your
FLOURISHING?”

6. FACTORS of Human Flourishing:
- Friendship
- Wealth
- Power
- Phronesis
ARISTOT
LE
- He defined a good life as something
that is purposeful and goal-directed.
- He also said that “the good in every
human being is found in his/her
nature”.

7. - The good is what is objectively good for a
person. (living a life that is proper to man)
- It is on the person’s actions how he/she will
pursue his/her own good/ flourishing.
- Self-interest is flourishing and a person is
responsible for his/her own character and
he/she has a natural obligation to make
something for himself/herself by pursuing
his/her goals in life.
ARISTOT
LE

8. The Good Life
Moral Life Life of Pleasure Fulfilled Life
1. What is a good life?
2. How one should live well?
3. What does it take to live fruitfully?

9. Westacott (2018)
There are three (3) ways by which
we can understand what is meant by
a “Goodlife” or living well”.

10. 1. The Moral Life
- one basic way in which we use the word “Good” is to
express moral approval.
- People who are living well are good persons, courageous,
honest, trustworthy, kind, selfless, generous, helpful, loyal,
and principled.
- Those are the important virtues a person who lives a moral
life possesses and practices.

11. PLATO
- It is better to suffer wrong than do it. A good man who is
tortured to death is more fortunate than a corrupt person
who uses wealth and power dishonorably.
- Morally good person enjoys inner harmony & happiness
more than the wicked one.

12. 2. The Life of Pleasure
- Pleasure is enjoyable, fun and well-pleasant.
- Pleasure makes life worth living known as HEDONISM.
-” Hedonist” has a slightly negative connotation which
suggests that they are devoted to what some have called
“lower pleasures” such as sex, food drink, and sensual
indulgence in general.

13. 3. The Fulfilled Life
- We value many things because they are means to other
things.
- Enjoying a positive state of mind results in happiness.
Considering happiness includes:
- to live a morally virtuous life
- having good health and longer life
- comfortable enough
- must have good friends
- enjoy the respect of others
- exercise human abilities and capabilities.

14. Good Life School of Thoughts
1. Materialism
- Founded by Greek philosophers Leucippus and his
disciple Democritus
- This belief aims that comfort, pleasure, and wealth are
the only highest goal.
2. Hedonism
- Since life is limited, one must indulge itself with
pleasures.
- They try to maximize total pleasure and if pleasure was
finally gained, happiness remained fixed.

15. Good Life School of Thoughts
1. Stoicism
- Created for those who lived their lives in the real world.
- Asserts that virtue is happiness and judgment would be
based acts on behavior rather than words.
2. Theism
- Ultimate basis of happiness for theists is communion
with God.
- They believe that they can find the meaning of their
lives by using God as the creator of their existence.

16. Good Life School of Thoughts
1. Humanism
- Affirms that human beings have the right and
responsibility to give meaning and shape their own
lives.
- Scientists dwell on the thought that the world is a place
for discovery in seeking ways how to improve the lives
of its inhabitants.

17. - From ARISTOTLE’S “Eudaimonia” means “True
Nature”.
- He deemed happiness to be a vulgar idea, he stressed
that not all desires are worth pursuing, even though
some of them may yield pleasure, they would not
produce wellness.
- ARISTOTLE “True happiness is found by leading a
virtuous life and doing what is worth doing”
- BONIWELL “The feeling good is not good enough for
a good life, each person must realize his/her
potentialities which would lead him/her to the greatest
fulfillment.”
What is the ultimate goal of a good life?

18. - Technology will support and enhance a good life
- A good life requires essentially basic needs that
are met and aspirations for freedom, belonging,
and self-realization is fulfilled as much as
possible.
- Technology allowed to tamper with time and
space.
- Whether we use technological advancement or
not, there are all in pursuit of attaining a good
life.
What is the Role of technology in achieving
a good life?

19. Any Questions?