UNIT 4: STS AND

THE HUMAN
CONDITION
LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.Analyze the human condition in order to deeply
reflect and express philosophical ramifications that
are meaningful to the student as a part of society
 2. Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress
of science and technology so that the student can
define for himself/herself the meaning of the good
life

Four Developments in the Human
Condition

The four revolutionary

developments in the human
condition that I have in mind
are the emergence of new
ways of thinking
1. Image & Symbols The pre-
historic emergence of language,
art, literature, and religion.
Thinking was mainly through
image and symbols.


2. Universal Order & Theory The
emergence of philosophy and monotheistic
religions in 800- 200 BC. Thinking now asks
about the order of the entire universe,
created and divine, and it develops beliefs
and theories that focus on truth.

3. Experiment & Plausibility The
emergence of modern science in
the 1600s. Thinking now includes
views that focus on the most
plausible explanations of data.

 4. Praxis & Human Studies The
emergence in the late 1900s of a “praxis”
that take a critical standpoint toward any
developments and corresponding changes
in human studies. Thinking now includes
views that focus on the best available
critiques of error and standards for better
living
 Two Developments in Technology Besides these
developments in how we think, there are two revolutionary
developments in technology:
 1. Finding a base in modern science.
 2. Becoming fully integrated with the political-economic order.
In what follows, I will weave these two developments in
technology in with the four developments in our human
condition.

Deductive Thinking
 The goal is to reach certainty. And certain
knowledge occurs when we know the causes of
things. To get a flavor of how deeply logical
Aristotle’s science is, consider this passage from
his Physics: When the objects of an inquiry, in any
department, have principles, conditions, or
elements, it is through acquaintance with these
that scientific knowledge is attained
Technology
Aristotle’s science has had no
direct effects on technology. It
was still practical know-how that
produced these more prominent
technological developments
Enchantment with Science

The flood of discoveries in

science and inventions in
technology that followed on
Bacon’s views led many to think
that history itself might be
automatically progressive
Disenchantment with the Political
Economy
Today, the test of history shows that
benefits of technology come to the few
while the risks are borne by the many.
The sad fact of our human condition is
that the well-being of a minority is paid
for by the poverty and drudgery of the
majority.
Praxis and Human Studies

As a new way of thinking, praxis today

is in position to improve all human
studies. Just as the natural sciences
take their stand on the data of sense,
human studies take their stand also on
the data of human consciousness
Technology and Praxis
 There is simply no backing away from the two
transformative developments in technology—its
foundation in modern science and its
implementation through a political economy.
Currently, the greatest danger that technology
presents to our human condition lies in the
combination of unregulated economies and
political loyalism.
 Praxis today also meets inductive thinking on its own ground by relying, not only
on observable data, but also on the data of our consciousness—data that
validates the self-transcending nature of humans everywhere. We can cite three
recent philosophers who pioneered this work somewhat independently of one
another: Paul Ricoeur (d. 2005), in his studies of Freud, aimed to expose
unquestioned assumptions and agenda while preserving what is authentic and
reliable.Eric Voegelin (d. 1985), in his five-volume work, Order in History,
outlined all historical developments as evidence of a transcendent search for
order.Bernard Lonergan (d. 1984) proposed that all human studies begin from
examining what we do when we learn, make decisions, and love. He also
proposed a theory of a political economy that is based on acknowledgement of
our common dignity in a transcendent nature
 The term “political economy” refers to the
fact that decisions about the flows of money
are highly affected by the political order.
Political economies govern technology
because they open and close the gates of
money that technology depends on for both
research and sales
ASSESSMENT

What is the goal of
.

“deductive” science?
 What are the four main
developments in how we
think?
UNIT 5: THE GOOD LIFE

 LEARNING OUTCOMES:
 1.Examine shared concerns that make up
the good life in order to come up with
innovative, creative solutions to
contemporary issues guided by ethical
standards
 NICOMACHEAN ETHICS OF ARISTOTLE
 A philosophical inquiry that discusses good life for a human being.
 Nichomachean Ethics of Aristotle Book VI

The soul is divided into a rational and an irrational part.
 Rational
 Contemplative- truths of science and mathematics
 Calculative- practical intellect.
 5 intellectual virtues (hexis or stable dispositions)
1. Intellect (nous)-Scientific knowledge arrives at eternal truths by means
of deduction and induction.
 5 intellectual virtues (hexis or stable dispositions)

1. Intellect (nous)-Scientific knowledge arrives at eternal truths by means of deduction and induction.


1. Art (Techne)-Art or technical skill involves production according to proper reasoning.



1. Practical Judgement (Phronesis)-Prudence or practical wisdom helps us to pursue the good life
generally.


1. Knowledge (Episteme) -Intuition helps us to grasp first principles from which we derive scientific truths.


1. Wisdom (Sophia) -Wisdom is a combination of scientific knowledge and intuition, which helps us arrive at
the highest truths of all.
 ASSESSMENT 8: Aristotle on Good Life Direction:
 Read each statement below carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct but if it's
FALSE if incorrect. (20 points)

1. An adequate translation of eudamonia is "happiness.

2. 2. A human being's eudamonia is having a good spirit or living well and doing well in the
affairs of the world.
3. 3. Practical reason, experience, and self-esteem are necessary conditions for
eudaemonia.
4. 4. The good of a thing is its purpose (that to which it aims) according to Aristotle.
5. 5. According to Aristotle, people never voluntarily do anything bad.
6. 6. Aristotle claims that the human good is pleasure.
7. In Aristotle's view, for a thing to perform its function well is to achieve what is good
for it.
8. Aristotle characterizes virtue as a state of character disposing one to choose the
mean between extremes.
9. According to Aristotle, the function of human life is rational activity.
10. Aristotle claims that the virtues are innate.
 11. According to Aristotle, happiness is an activity, not a state.
 12. Aristotle argues that we are morally responsible for whether we
are virtuous or vicious.
 13. Emotions are irrelevant to eudaimonia or happiness because they
are non-rational.
 14. In Aristotle’s view, anyone who is virtuous is guaranteed to be
happy.
 15. Aristotle claims that the human good is pleasure.
 16. In Aristotle’s view, the virtues are acquired through habit.
 17. Aristotle divides the virtues into moral virtues and intellectual
virtues. 18. In Aristotle's view, people sometimes perform bad actions
voluntarily.
 19. Open-mindedness is an intellectual virtue.
 20. Intellectual virtue is a state by which one will most hit the truth
Watch this: Village of the
Watermills Akira Kurosawa
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=aK4mtPQ_THM
 Guide Questions to Reflect on “Village of the Watermills”

 1. According to the old man, why have they chosen not to use
electricity?
 2. Is the reason he gives still apparent today with other forms of
modern technology?
 3. Is the film critical of scientists - if so, in what way? Based on the
film, is S&T really necessary to attain "the good life"?