HUMAN FLOURISHING SCIENCE AS METHOD AND RESULTS

o Eudaimonia, literally “good spirited” is a term used by

renowned Greek philosopher Aristotle to describe the 1. Observe and determine if there are unexplained occurrences
pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans. It is unfolding.
often translated as “Human Flourishing” in Literature. 2. Determine the problem and identify factors involved.
Comparably, human to flower in its full bloom.
o It is said that human flourishing arises as a result of 3. Through past knowledge of similar instance, formulate
different components such as friendship, wealth and hypothesis that could explain the said phenomenon. Ideally, the
power. In the ancient Greek society, they believe that goal is to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative
acquiring these qualities will surely bring happiness to hypothesis for the study “to count as significant”.
the seeker.
o As times change, elements that comprise human 4. Conduct experiment by setting up dependent and
independent variables, and trying to see how independent ones
flourishing change. People found means to live more
affect dependent ones.
comfortably, explore more places, develop more
products and make more money. 5. Gather and analyze results throughout and upon culmination
o There exists a discrepancy between eastern and western of the experiment.
conception regarding society and human flourishing. It
has been observed that western civilization tends to be 6. Formulate conclusion and provide recommendation in case
more focused on the individual. others would want to broaden the study.
o Nevertheless, such stereotypes cannot be said to be true
VERIFICATION THEORY
given the current stance of globalization.
o The earliest criterion that distinguishes philosophy and
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN
science - Proposes that a discipline is science if it can
FLOURISHING
be confirmed or interpreted in the event of an
o One of the most prevalent themes is human’s perpetual alternative hypothesis being accepted
need to locate himself in the world by finding proofs to o Gives premium to empiricism and only takes into
trace evolution. account those results which are measurable and
o Human Flourishing is deeply intertwined with goal experiments which are repeatable Vienna Circle
setting relevant to science and technology. o Group of scholars who believed that only those which
o Heideger’s Statement: technology is a human activity can be observed should be regarded as meaningful and
that we excel in as a result of achieving science. reject those which cannot be directly assessed as
o End goals of both science and technology and human meaningless Cons of Verification Theory
flourishing are related, in that the good is inherently o The theory completely fails to weed out bogus
related to the truth. arguments that explain things coincidentally, e.g.
astrology Thomas Kuhn
o An american philosopher who warned against bridging
the gap between evidence and theory by attempting to
interpret the former

o according to our own biases, that is, whether or not we SCIENCE AS A SOCIAL ENDEAVOR
subscribe to the theory
Several Philosophers such as Paul Thagard, Imre
FALSIFICATION THEORY Lakatos, Helen Longino, David Bloor, and Richard Rort,
among others, presented an alternative demarcation that
o Asserts that as long as an ideology is not proven to be explores the social dimension of science and effectively,
false and can best explain in phenomenon over technology.
alteenative theories.
o Karl Popper is the known proponent of this view The new view perpetuates a dimension which generally
benefits the society.
SCIENCE AND RESULTS o Some places in the world are still battling for their daily
survival—diseases, tribe wars, lack of habitable
o For some communities, without access to science, they territories, and competitions on resources are several
can turn to divination and superstition and still get the factors contributing to such.
same results. Science is not entirely foolproof, such that o A lot of people still subscribe to religion in explaining
it is correct 100% of the time. things that they do not know. They have turned their
worships to reverence of science.
SCIENCE AS EDUCATION
o Human condition, although more sophisticated, is
o There is no such thing as a singular scientific method, nothing but a rehashed version of its former self.
offering instead a variety of procedures that scientist o While it is true that technology offered us one
can experiment with to get result and call them science. compelling notion of the truth and the good, we should
be staunch in our resolve if we want to know the real
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? one.
o Aristotle’s conception of human flourishing. His notion
o In 2000, world leaders signed the Millennium
entertains the idea of holistic enrichment of a person
Development Goals (MDG) that targets eight concerns,
situated in his society.
one of which states that they should be able to forge a
global partnership for development
o Economists believe that growth is the primary THE HUMAN CONDITION IN THE COMMON
indicator of development, as both go hand in hand, and ERA
has put forth their resources in trying to achieve such - o For a long time, humans were content with their
What is missing in this equation is that growth presents relationship with nature. Earliest case of man-made
an illusory notion of sustainability—the world's extinction occurred over 12,000 years ago, possibly
resources can only provide so much, it can not be brought upon by hunting and territorial disputes.
expected to stretch out for everybody's consumption o The Holocene extinction, occurred from as early as
over a long period of time between 100,000 to 200,000 years up to present. It
o Growth is not infinite—there is no preordained ceiling pertains to the ongoing extinction of several species
once the ball starts rolling Joseph Hickel - suggests that both flora and fauna due to human activity. Driven their
developed countries should not push forth more growth primal need to survive and gaining the upper hand in
but instead adopt "de-development" policies or else, terms of development and adaptability .
everybody loses because the rapid race of technological o People then have a new objective, gather as much
growth allows no room for nature to recuperate, product as possible. It turned out that these days,
resulting in exploitation and irreversible damages to wealth is one of their goals as humans and ultimately as
nature civilizations. Which is perceived that those who have
many, lives comfortably and thus generally happier
TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING than those who do not have.
o Technology has been instrumental in all of these
o Comparing the lives of the people before and now will
because in searching for the good life, people were able
make anyone realize the changes that happened in to come up with creations that would make life easier,
society not just in culture, language or rights but more more comfortable and more enriching.
importantly, changes in people’s way of life due to
science and technology.
o Generation gap

BACKTRACKING THE HUMAN CONDITION

o All in the human condition improved, only if by

improving we measure the level of comfort, various
scientific breakthroughs, and improve lifestyles of
those who had the luxury to afford to do so.