LESSON 5: Technology as a Way of Revealing
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:
Explain the concept of human condition before science and technology;
Identify the change that happened in human condition after science and
Technology and
Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the human
being
Presentation of Contents
Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved the way for the invention of several
developments. As we always claim that humans are gifted with wisdom and more advanced
than any other creatures, our ancestors were able to utilize available materials to make their
life more comfortable.
The Good Life
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:
Examine what is meant by a good life in various philosophies;
Examine what you consider to be the good life and determine which philosophy that
represents;
Identify how humans attempt to attain what is deemed to be a good life;
Recognize possibilities available to human beings to attain the good life; and
Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative,
creative solutions and ethical solutions.
Activating Prior Learning
Checkpoint 1
“The truth is the aim of the theoretical sciences, the good is the end goal of the practical ones.
Every attempt to know is connected in some way in an attempt to find the good”.
Aristotle
Presentation of Contents
What is Good Life as Perceived by different schools of thought?
Aristotle and Good Life
It is interesting to note that the first philosopher who approached the problem of reality from
scientific lens is Aristotle who is also the first thinker who dabbled into the complex
problematization of the end goal of life: happiness.
Compared to his predecessor and teacher, Plato, Aristotle embarked on different approach in
figuring out reality. Plato thought that things in this world are not real and are only copies of the
real in the world of forms. While Aristotle puts everything back to the ground in claiming that
this world is all there and that this world is the only reality, we can all access.
Aristotle also forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what the senses can
perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external world that one can truly understand
what reality is all about. Change is a process that is inherent in things. We, along with all other
entities in the world start as potentialities and move towards actualities. The movement, of
course, entails change.
https://wellbeingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/seedling-growth.jpg
Figure 6.1
Look at the seed in the picture. It eventually germinates and grows into a plant. The seed that
turned to become the plant underwent change from the potential plant that is the seed to its full
actuality.
This can be likened to what Aristotle says that every human person aspires for an end. This end
is happiness or human flourishing. And no one resists happiness because we all want to be
happy.
Materialism
The first materialists were the atomists in Ancient Greece. Democritus and Leucippus led a
school whose primary belief is that the world is made up of and is controlled by the tiny
indivisible units in the world called atomos or seeds. Accordingly, the world including human
beings, is made up of matter and there is no need to possess immaterial entities as sources of
purpose. Atoms simply comes together randomly to form the things in the world. As such, only
material entities matter.
https://zenfulspirit.com/2018/02/16/materialism/
Figure 6.2
In terms of human flourishing, matter is what makes us attain happiness. The material things we
possess give us ultimate happiness. We see this at work with most people who are clinging on to
material wealth as the primary source of meaning of their existence.
Hedonism
The Hedonists see the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure. Pleasure has always been the
priority of hedonists. For them life is obtaining and indulging in pleasure because life is limited.
They believe that pleasure give meaning to their life without thinking of the future. The mantra
of this school of thought is the famous, “Eat, drink and merry for tomorrow we will die.
https://australianluxuryboatsales.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boat-1024x683.jpg
Figure 6.3
Stoicism
Another school of thought led by Epicurus, the stoics, exposed the idea that to generate
happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic. The original term apatheia,
precisely means to be indifferent. These group believe that they can do things at their own and
believe that happiness can only be attained by a careful practice of apathy.
http://lyfetainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1.-Can-Loneliness-Kill-You-Why-You- Feel-
Lonely.jpg
Figure 6.4
Theism
Most people find the meaning of their lives using God as the fulcrum of their existence. The
Philippines, as predominantly country, is witness to how people base their life goals on beliefs
that hinged on some form of supernatural reality called heaven. The ultimate basis of happiness
for theists is the communion with God.
https://coffeewiththelord.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/god-alone.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1
Figure 6.5
Humanism
Humanism as another school of thought espouses the freedom of man to carve his own destiny
and to legislate his own laws, free from the shackles of a God that monitors and controls. For
humanists, man is literally the captain of his own ship. They see themselves not merely as
stewards of the creation but as individuals who are in control of themselves and the world
outside them.
As a result of the motivation of the humanist current, scientists eventually turned to technology
in order to ease the difficulty of life. Scientists of today meanwhile are ready to confront more
sophisticated attempts at altering the world for the benefit of humanity. Some people now are
willing to tamper with time and space in the name of technology.
https://soheefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screenshot-2014-04-10-13.04.01.png
Figure 6.5
When technology and humanity cross
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of this topic, students will be able to:
List examples of technology and give their risks and benefits to humanity;
Examine some technological advancements and ethical issues they entail; and
Discuss the interplay between technology and humanity.
Presentation of Contents
When technology and humanity cross… Will it be a convergence or a clash between man and
machine?
Television sets, Mobile phones, Computers, and Humanity
A number of technological devices can be easily found inside the home, the most accessible
place to anyone. Having said that, it can also be easily inferred that these technological devices
are some of the most popular and most commonly used types of devices across all age groups.
To be more specific, these “celebrities” in the field of technology are television sets, mobile
phones, and computers. People all over the world use these technologies every day to
accomplish different purposes.
In television, used mainly as a platform for advertisements and information dissemination. It
remains to be the most used avenue by different
advertisement companies not only in the Philippines but also all
over the world. Various advertising companies trust that
television is still one of the most used technological devices up
until today. It also serves as a recreational activity and good
stress reliever to most families, specifically to Filipino families.
Television also is a good platform for different
propagandas and advocacies. Lastly, it can also be a Francis Navarro, Komando.com good
way to bond with one’s family members.
In mobile phones, used primarily for communication. It
offers services like texting and calling. In the past, these
were the only functions of the mobile phone but as
technology progressed, there have been many additional
features included on mobile phones. In the present, people
use their mobile phones to surf the Internet and to take
pictures more than text or to call people. This is the reason
canstockphoto.com why more and more people all over the world prefer to
buy smartphones over the old models where such features are
not available. These make this particular technological device very appealing to the masses.
Additionally, it is very portable and convenient because it can fit into any space, may it be inside
the pocket or bag.
Computers and laptops, on the other hand, can be used to surf the Internet and communicate. For
a lot of people, they prefer to do their job using either a personal computer or a laptop than a
mobile phone. Personal computer or a laptop has wide keyboard, wide screens and separate
keyboards than mobile phones. Another reason is that
the availability of a mouse or a touchpad made these
two technological devices easier to maneuver than
mobile phones. Lastly, for the youth and those who
love to play different computer games, personal
computers or laptops are really the better choice because
these allow them play with comfort and convenience.
http://crossram.co.uk
Ethical Dilemma Faced by these technological advancements
It is true that these technological devices are useful and beneficial, the fact remains that there are
several dilemmas faced by these “necessities”. First, most parents would argue that these devices
make their children lazy and unhealthy. This is because of the fact that people who are fixated on
these technological advancements start and end their day by using such devices. For example,
those who love to watch television shows stay in front of the television for more than six hours a
day while those who love to surf the Internet or play computer games stay on their laptops,
computers, or mobile phones for more than half a day. These people have the tendency to be
unaware of the time because they are so engrossed with the use of technological device. Also,
there are the same people who are more likely to experience alienation because they no longer
take time to get out their houses and mingle with other people. It is really concerning to know
that there are people who develop different kinds of sickness because of too much use of
technological devices. The agents using the devices are the ones to be blamed for the undesirable
consequences, namely, laziness and unhealthiness. In terms of alienation, it can be concluded
that the people in the scientific-technological world are blameworthy because they tell the people
something that seems positive but when examined closely, brings worse than good.
Another dilemma faced by these technological devices is the moral dilemma. People, especially
the children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding for themselves what is right or wrong,
are freely exposed to different things on television, mobile phones, laptops, or computers.
Because of the availability and easy access to the Internet, they can just easily search the web
and go to different websites without restrictions. This allows them to see, read, or hear things
which are not suitable for their very young age. This makes them very vulnerable to character
change and can greatly affect the way they view the world and the things around them. The
people in the scientific world nor the children are blameworthy because first, the children are not
yet capable of rationally deciding for themselves what is good and what is bad. Second, even if
creators of these technologies went out of their way to inform children of the pros and cons of
these technological contributions, it would still be useless because the children have no capacity
to understand them yet. So, the ones to be blamed are the adults who allowed the children to
have access to such devices in first place without any supervision.
Robotics and Humanity
Another great product of the innovative minds of the people is the robot which are now widely
used. For example, there are so -called service robots that do specific tasks but focus mainly in
assisting their masters in their everyday tasks.
Germany was one of the first countries to develop service robots. As part of the German Federal
Ministry of Education and Research’s “Service Robotics Innovation Lead Initiative,” it
sponsored a collaborative project called
DESIRE (Deutsche Servicerobotik
Initiative-Germany Service Robotics
Initiative) which was launched on October
1, 2005. Some of the expected work to be
performed by DESIRE are the following:
(1) “Clear up the kitchen table” – all
objects on top of the kitchen table will be
moved to where they belong; (2) “Fill the
dishwasher” – the dirty dishes will be
sorted correctly into the dishwasher; and
(3) “Clear up this room” – all objects that
are not in their proper places will be moved to where they belong.
Roles played by Robotics
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. They perform complicated activities which human beings are
incapable of doing. On the other hand, they perform the simplest tasks at home so that their
masters can perform the complex ones without stressing themselves over the simple tasks. There
are also robots which are made for pleasure. To be more specific, these types of robots perform
activities to entertain people. They can usually be found in amusement parks or exhibits. In
addition, there are also some robots which were made to serve as toys. They also perform
different activities but they are usually child-friendly.
Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics
Just like any other technological advancements, robotics also faces different problems and
dilemmas. Although the idea is to help people and make their lives a lot easier than before, it is
still not immune to different ethical dilemmas and possible undesirable outcomes. One of the
dilemmas faced by robots is safety. Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is
compromised by a robot? It is important to know who should be blamed and who should be held
responsible if such thing happens.
Another dilemma is the emotional component. This may seem a little absurd as of the moment,
but looking at how fast technology progresses nowadays, it is not completely impossible for
robots to develop emotions. So here, the questions become, “What if robots become sentient?
Should they be granted robot right? Should they have their own set of rights to be upheld,
respected, and protected by humans?” It is just right for the robots to be given their own set of
rights should they develop the ability to feel different kinds of emotion.
Moral and Ethical Issues in Advanced Technology
Individuals and organizations use technology to enhance their daily operations, be it business,
learning, construction, or medical activities. Advancement in technology does not elicit ethical or
moral issues, but it is the use of technological inventions that raises these issues.
Ethical dilemmas arise when there are competing goods and competing evils. In regard to IT, the
sharing of private information within an organization raises the question of whether the action is
moral or immoral. Information systems enable people to manipulate records within a short
period, thus raising questions on whether the information is genuine or vague.
In addition, will genetic engineering improve the quality of life or destroy it? These are some of
ethical dilemmas that are yet to be solved. Furthermore, biotechnology raises some moral issues.
It is difficult to justify the use of living organisms during research and other technological
discoveries. For instance, vitro fertilization enables women who are not in a position to have
their own children to undergo the process. Religious groups are opposed to such practices
because their beliefs do not agree with them.
Similarly, the uses of technology have the capability of making many innocent people to suffer;
this is a moral concern. For example, nuclear technology has the potential of killing many
people, and consequently destroying the environment. This raises some health problems. People
affected by nuclear emissions, such as those witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are deemed
to be genetically impaired. Such effects can affect the next generations of affected individuals.
The use of computers also raises health issues. Even though computer makes our work easier, it
is evident that prolonged use of computers results to repetitive stress injuries.
In regard to job displacement, machines have enabled companies to cut down their labor force.
Many companies use technological tools and knowledge, such as robots and computer to run
their business operations. Some people are forced to take different roles other than their
qualification requirements and others are faced with stress related to work difficulties.
The idea that the quest for strong AI would ultimately succeed was long thought of as science
fiction, centuries or more away. However, thanks to recent breakthroughs, many AI milestones,
which experts viewed as decades away merely five years ago, have now been reached, making
many experts take seriously the possibility of super intelligence in our lifetime. Because AI has
the potential to become more intelligent than any human, we have no surefire way of predicting
how it will behave. People now control the planet, not because we’re the strongest, fastest or
biggest, but because we’re the smartest. If we’re no longer the smartest, are we assured to remain
in control?
But there are other examples of potential ethical dilemmas in scientific research and technology.
There are things like genetic engineering, where people worry that we might one day create
super-humans that will outcompete regular humans. There is surveillance technology, making
people wonder how human rights could be violated. People ask questions about whether we're
going where only God should tread, and whether we should do something just because we can.
The implications of many of these technologies are complex and philosophical.
The biggest risk to our future is not that technology will take over but that we will become too
much like technology. Let’s think about where it’s going. Let’s balance the EQ with the IQ. We
should think of technology not as what we seek but rather how we seek – it is a tool we should
embrace, not one we should become.
Summary
While it is true that science equips its knowers some details about the world, its main claim to
objectivity and systematic methodology is at the very least flawed. Science and technology has
aided us in our survival and helped us outsmart our adversaries, provided us comfortable living,
allowed us to explore the world, and assisted us in discovering more about ourselves and the
truth.
However, it also leads us to the paradox in which we are only able to see the world in the lenses
of technological innovations leaving behind other aspects which are deemed important. In our
pursuit of growth, we had conveniently forgotten that technology only presents one approach in
viewing the world, thus leading us to evaluate objects or not.
It is undeniably true that man constantly aims for good life and has worked hard in pointing out
what amounts to be good and what happiness means to them. Science and technology has been at
the forefronts of man’s attempts at finding this happiness and attaining good life for many if not
all of us.
In our modern times, there are different advancements given by science and technology.
However, there are still problems faced by these technological advancements specifically on the
ethical aspects in nature and mankind. It is now impossible for technology and humanity not to
cross paths and it is necessary that ethics be enforced in the field of technology to ensure safety
and morality of these advancements to living things.
References
Blitz, M. (2014). “Understanding Heidegger on Technology,” The New Atlantis, Number 41, Winter, pp 63-
80
Mcnamara et al., (2018). Science, Technology and Society. C & E Publishing, Inc.
Patria, Javier et al. Science, Technology and Society, pp 63-74
Serafica et al., (2018). Science, Technology and Society. Rex Bookstore
Macat Thinking News. (2006) Aristotle’s Secret to Happiness: What will make us happy now? Accessed
February 3, 2017. https://www.macat.com/blog/aristotle’s -secret-happiness
The Basics of Philosophy. (2008). Theism. Accessed February 3,2017.
http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_theism.html.
