This document discusses human flourishing in relation to science and technology from several perspectives. It explores philosophical views of human flourishing from Aristotle and other ancient thinkers. It also examines the concept of human flourishing from a Christian perspective based on ideas in the Old and New Testaments. Additionally, it outlines a socio-psychological perspective on human flourishing and well-being based on the work of Carol Ryff involving six key components.

1. HUMAN FLOURISHING
AND SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to discuss human
flourishing in order to understand the
philosophical ramifications that are
meaningful to the student and society.

3. THE HUMAN PERSON FLOURISHING IN TERMS OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Introduction:
• Among the animals on earth, we, humans, identify ourselves as the ones who have higher intellectual capacity. We
have learned that things around us hold potential when combined with other things or when used in ways that these
things are innately inclined to be used. Through time, passionate search, experiment or even accidental encounter, a lot
of things were discovered, and we are determined to use, produce, and manipulate nature. This lesson explains briefly
the attributes and capacity of man and his role in relation to technology and to society. It begins with St. Augustine’s
idea that human beings were created by God, the Supreme Good, and that He has endowed us with intellect and the
freedom to choose what is good and ultimately go back to Him. The journey towards God necessitates graces from
Him in order for us, humans, to choose to do and innovate things for each other and for everyone's good. This lessons
also establishes some philosophical considerations on how technology can be construed as a tool for higher purposes
aside from the usual idea of it being the provider of more efficient and comfortable ways of achieving and doing
things.(Adonis Kathleen, 2019)

4. THE HUMAN PERSON FLOURISHING IN TERMS OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Technology has always been defined as a means to an end and being a human activity.
• It has long filled the word. Everyday routines are marked with technological advances that reflect what
a society is good or known for. Technology has well advanced since the middle ofthe20th Century
especially after the end of World War II. It is not unexpected for technology to involve question of
knowledge which lead to its formation as one of the branches of philosophy. This also led to the
furtherance of technology based on how it is viewed and understood. But there is more to that.
• Aristotle, was born 304 B.C. an ancient Greek philosophy scientist and one of the most significant
thinkers and who contributed so much to science, technology, political theory, and aesthetics world;
followed that knowledge of the world begins by looking and examining that which exists. To
understand the human person flourishing in terms of science and technology, it is good to first
examine technology in its essence.

5. What is Happiness?
• 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.
• To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in the brain as
a reward for behavior that prolongs survival.

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. Because of this, hedonists believe that the purpose of life is to
maximize happiness, which minimizes misery.
• 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.
• In Philosophy, eudaimonism refers to pursuing the right actions that lead to one’s “well-being.” Ancient
Greek philosophers developed normative ethical theories called virtue ethics that emphasize the virtues of
mind and character. According to them, such virtues are linked to the concept of arete, meaning “excellence
of any kind that is necessary in order for one individual to flourish and attain the good life,“
• Eudaimonia is an objective state that characterizes the well-lived life as an individual’s ideal emotional
state. It is thought of as the highest human good that is good-in-itself.

7. Aristotle
• Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life with other people. Aristotle
taught that people acquire virtues through practice and that a set of concrete virtues
could lead a person toward his natural excellence and
• According to Aristotle, there is an end of all of the actions that we perform which we
desire for itself. This is what is known as eudaimonia, flourishing, or happiness, which is
desired for its own sake with all other things being desired on its account. Eudaimonia
is a property of one's life when considered as a whole. Flourishing is the highest good
of human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim. It is success as a human
being. The best life is one of excellent human activity.

8. Eudaimonia
• “good spirited”
• Coined by Aristotle
• Describes the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans.
• “Human flourishing”
• From Nicomachean Ethics (philosophical inquiry into the nature of the good life for a
human being.)

9. -Human Flourishing arises as a result of different components such as:
• Phronesis
• Friendship
• Wealth
• Power

10. • In ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these will surely bring the seekers
happiness, which in effect allows them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the
Good.
• As time changes, elements that comprise human flourishing changed.
• People found means to live more comfortably, explore more places, develop more
products, and make more money.
• Humans of today are expected to become “man of the world". 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.

11. HUMAN FLOURISHING IN THE CHRISTIAN
PERSPECTIVE
• Human flourishing is a state of excellence where individuals and communities experience
fulfillment, peace, abundance, and completion. It encompasses intellectual, moral,
emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. As creatures made in the image of God, flourishing
involves communion with God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
GCU is committed to a Christ-centered vision for human flourishing that contributes to the
common good and advances flourishing for all. Humans are unique among God’s creatures,
as they are created to increase in number, fill the earth, and cultivate good civilizations.
• From a Christian perspective, St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas proposed
that eudaimonia or human flourishing requires one to have knowledge of God. On the
other hand. John Locke, who derived fundamental principles of his philosophy from the
Bible, stressed that happiness is pursued through prudence.

12. HUMAN FLOURISHING IN THE CHRISTIAN
PERSPECTIVE
Old Testament
• The concept of human flourishing in the old Testament is best described by the word
shalom, which, according to theologians, means peace, harmony, and completeness. It is a
sense of wholeness involving an individual’s relationship with God and His creations. It
involves trusting the word and plan of God that he has already from the beginning of
creation. According Dr. Neal Plantinga,in his article Educating for Shalom (2015), a more
suitable definition of the word shalom is the webbing together of God, humans, and all
creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight. People commonly refer to it as peace, but its
meaning goes beyond mere peace of mind or truce among enemies. The Bible equates
“shalom” to universal flourishing and delight-a rich state of affairs that inspires wonder
and joy for every creature on Earth reigned over by the Creator and Savior.

13. HUMAN FLOURISHING IN THE CHRISTIAN
PERSPECTIVE
New Testament
• The concept of human flourishing is captured in the Bible’s New Testament through the Beatitudes.
These are the eight blessing preached by Jesus to his followers in Matthew 5:1-12, Each beatitude
begins with the Greek word makarios (plural makarioi) meaning “blessed” or “happy.” The term
beatitude comes from the Latin beatus meaning “blissful,” “happy,” “fortunate,” or ,”flourishing“.
• The beatitudes begin with the phrase “Blessed are..””, or "Happy for they may impart which qualities
and attitudes one must have on Earth in order to flourish in afterlife.
• In the classical Greek, makar from makarios refers to the state of living a life of happiness without
struggles and difficulties,Makarios is commonly used as a synonym for eudaimonia because both
connote happiness, peace of mind, joy, and the good life. According to the Bible, Jesus preached that
human flourishing can be achieved by placing God at the center of one’s life.Scot McKnight
highlighted in his discussion of the Beatitudes t that”the entire philosophy of the good life’ and the
late-modern theory of “happiness’ are at work when Jesus] says, ‘Blessed are..: (2013)”

14. HUMAN FLOURISHING IN THE SOCIO-
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
• Science and technology clearly affect the human experience and human
understanding of happiness. Advancements in science and technology, having
made life easier, greatly influence the way people view what the good life is.
Recent studies show that human understanding of human flourishing includes
mental and physical health, satisfaction in one’s life, meaning and purpose, and
social relationships.
• Carol Ryff (1995), a psychology professor, studied different models and theories
of happiness in different subfields of psychology. She concluded that there are six
components of well-being.

15. SIX COMPONENTS OF RYFF’S MODEL OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
• Personal growth
• Purpose in life
• Positive relationships
• Self-acceptance
• Environmental mastery
• Autonomy

16. • Anthony Bradley (2013), a professor at the King’s College in New York, echoed
Ryff’s idea in his article “The New Legalism”
• An emphasis on human flourishing, ours and others’, becomes important because
it is characterized by a holistic concern for the spiritual, moral, physical,
economic,material, political, psychological, and social context necessary for
human beings to live according to their design.

17. THE CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN FLOURISHING
• Humanity has taken control of the environment to develop
technological innovations, utilizing natural resources for development.
Modernization advances science, technology, and the human future,
but it also degrades nature. Scientists like Stephen Hawking, Stuart
Russell, Max Tegmark, and Frank Wilczek warn that artificial
intelligence poses a great danger to humanity, potentially outsmarting
humans in business and research, manipulating leaders, and
developing advanced weapons. The impact of rapidly developing
technologies extends beyond human existence, affecting not only
humans but also the environment.

18. LESSON SUMMARY
• Human flourishing is defined as being “good spirited” in the classical Aristotelian
notion.
• While it is true that science equips its knower some details about the world, its
main claim to objectivity and systematic methodology is at the very least flawed.
• We have to rethink of our perception of a good life apart from one presented in
this regard.