Week 4
Week 4
Week 4
Institute of Education
Sta. Maria, Romblon
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“Equal Opportunity of Quality Education for All through Flexible Learning Strategies.”
Romblon State University
Institute of Education
Sta. Maria, Romblon
Lesson 2
Lesson 2 Technology as a Way of Revealing
Lesson objectives:
At the end of the lessons, the students should be able to:
1. Explain the concept of human condition before science technology;
2. Identify the change that happened in human conditions after science and
technology;
3. Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the
human being.
Introduction
Comparing the lives of the people before and now will make anyone realize the
changes that happened in society not just in terms of culture, language, or rights but more
importantly, changes in people’s way of life due to the existence of science technology.
The terms ‘’generation gap’’ is attributed mainly to the changes brought about by
technology. Although the original idea is for technology to help everyone, it cannot be
denied that until today, not everyone is comfortable in using the different kinds of
technologies. Mostly those who belong to the older generation think that these
technologies. Mostly those who belong to the older generation think that these technologies
are too complicated to operate. They have been used to the simple living in the past and
these available technological devices, though very appealing, are a difficult puzzle to them.
However, this gap is not something to be worried about. This does not in any make a
technology a villain. Instead it is a challenge for people in the field of science and
technology to make these technological advancements more accessible and less confusing
for people who are not young anymore. This is also a challenge for younger generation to
take the older generation to an exciting journey in science and technology. In this way,
everyone can experience that it is like to live with ease and comfort because of the
availability of modern technology.
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People who lived in the past and people who are living in the present all have
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different views of what it means to flourish, primarily due to the kind of environment and the
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period one is in. peoples ways of life and how the society works also affect how one
construes the concept of human flourishing. The environment need to be assessed in order
to know the human possibility of human flourishing and to what extent it is possible. Since
there have been drastic changes in people’s way of life, it can be inferred that there have
been drastic changes not only in the conception of human flourishing but to people’s actual
human condition. These changes were brought about by the interplay of different factors
but essentially, it was brought about by the interplay of different factors but essentially, it
was brought by science and technology.
Content Exploration
The Human Condition before Common Era
Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved way for the invention of several
developments. Gifted with brains more advance than other creatures, humans are able to
utilize abundant materials for their own ease and comfort. As it is difficult to pinpoint the
particular period where technology is said to have started, ones can say that at the very
least, the motivation to make things easier have been around since humans are homo
erectus have been using fire to cook, through chipping one flint over the other to produce a
spark, all the while without realizing the laws of friction and heat. Tools from stone and flint
marked the era of Stone Age, during the advent of our very own Homo sapiens, and
humans begun to sharpen stones as one would a knife; an example of this is the simple
machine called wedge.
This particular period proved to be difficult for our ancestors, but in a remarkably
distinct way. There is a little to no written accounts except for several caves drawings and
unearthed artifacts from a various parts of the world that narrate how their culture came to
be. It then proves that there is little capacity for our ancestors to contemplate and perceive
things outside themselves in a more reflective manner. For instance, there are several
excavations in different parts of Europe of miniature statues prevalent during the Paleolithic
period, the so called ‘’Venus’’ figure. It depicts a rudimentary carving of voluptuous woman
out of ivory or stone. The reason behind this is still unknown to archeologist and
anthropologists alike; they can only infer that the humans of yesterday have certain fixation
on the female anatomy. What did this fascination translate to? Lack of conclusive evidence
hinders us from proceeding any further.
Soon enough, people discovered minerals and begun forging metalwork. They
realized that this substance are more durable, malleable, and have more luster than the
previous material. On the other hand, there are some indicators that human in the past
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share the same concern and interests, suggesting that this inclination persist through
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multitudes of generation over several millennia. Fur clothing and animal skin are primarily
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used for comfort against harsh winds our ancestors are able to draw the connection
between their being naked and vulnerable due to some lack of fur or protective covering
which would otherwise allow them to withstand extreme weather conditions. They begin to
cover themselves up out necessity, and gradually, added several more to their garments.
Some of those found at excavation sites are reminiscent of early accessories, suggesting
that our ancestors have been deeply engaged in the concept of beauty. Perhaps, they had
taken a liking to a certain shiny stone, or a perfectly shaped bone, and wanted to wear it as
trophy. What does this tell them and their philosophies? Were they perhaps proud to show
off their hunt and how good of a hunter they were? Were they connected with social
standing and stratification? How about the meaning of life? Were they also curious on
finding explanations to a certain phenomena?
At least for the last question, it seems that they have found their answer in the
person of religion. Excavations of the latter half of the Stone Age include several figures
thought to be ceremonial, meaning, that perhaps people of the time had also painstakingly
wrought and hewed said figures and honor of some deity. This notion, as it was then and
as it is now, is often people’s resort to make sense of events happening outside their
control. The initials roster of primitive gods includes objects they encounter through their
day to day lives, so it is not surprising that different tribes may have different gods. Those
who might have lived alongside majestic creatures, such as elephants and mammoths,
might have been awed by their size and worshiped them as the owner of the land, asking
for blessing in their hunting ground. On the contrary they might have, hunted the
mammoths for their woolly coat and meat, taking down the animal fir the entire community
to eat. In windy places Ear Mountains, they might have had water gods they referred to
when asking for a good catch. However, it might be also the case that people of prior
civilizations shared several generic gods, such as the sun.
Nevertheless, it can be positively inferred that like the people of today, our ancestor
also found the need to explain things in way that makes sense to the. They quickly realized
that there are events outside of their control and attempted to justify things as being a work
of a supernatural being. Throughout the course of history, religion remains to be the
strongest contender to science arguably due to its being most easily grasped. Admittedly,
once people stop connecting the dots between cause and effect, they turn to something
that could possibly explain their inadequacies in making sense of the world. The people of
yesterday appeared to have acknowledge early on that they could only do and understand
as much, that perhaps other powers at paly also existed alongside them. This notion
effectively humbled and perhaps grounded them, with their constant befuddlement serving
as an early reminder that they were behind several larger, more powerful forces in nature in
terms of order of things.
The Human Condition in the Common Era
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For a long time, human were content with their relationship with nature. Earliest case
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of man-made extinction occurred over 12,000 years ago, possibly brought upon by hunting
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and territorial disputes. The Holocene extinction, also called the six extinction or more aptly
Anthropocene extinction, occurred from as early as between 100,000 to 200,000 years up
to present. It pertains to the ongoing extinction of several species -both flora and fauna-
due to human activity. Driven by their primal need to survive and gaining the upper hand in
terms of development and adaptability, humans were quick to find ways to drive off other
megafaunas threatening prospective hunting spot and eventually, settling grounds.
Growing population also necessitated finding additional resources, leading to overhunting
and overfishing common prey, some of which are endemic to the area. Hunting, coupled
with a changing terrain that the human begun cultivating when agriculture emerged some
9,000 years ago, caused several species to lose competition in territory and food
resources. Formation of communities caused humans to expand more in territory and more
people to feed; large, separate communities hailing from the same ancestors and residing
in the same large communities paved way for civilizations. Even as community, the people
realized that though they were a most self-sufficient, they were in constant need of
resources. Albeit waging wars with other tribes seemed to be the early solution, they were
able to find out 5,000 years ago that engaging in a peaceful negotiation was also possible
and less bloody method. They realized that they could get hold of things not present in their
towns by offering something of same value present on theirs. It is in this process that trade
emerged, leading to cross-town and eventually cross-cultural interaction as more products
were exchanged and the initial needs extended to wants.
People then have a new objective- gathered as much products as possible. They
have turned to wealth as one of their goals as humans and ultimately as civilizations, for
they perceived that those who have many, lived comfortably and thus are generally happier
than those who do not have sufficient wealth. Thus, they begun to hunt, farm, and produce
things with prospect of profit. A nuclear community which is in in initially self-sufficient has
to accommodate their growing population with depleting resources, leading them to be
reliant to other communities’ produce which keeps them surviving. In return, these
communities have to make use of their current resources twice as much to provide for other
communities’ needs. Products of every kind were exchanged, ranging from necessary ones
such as crops, cattle, poultry, other of kind, and clothing materials, up to metals,
accessories, weapons, spices, literature and entertainment. They were able to find and
create niches for interests. When they could not sell products, they used their skills and get
compensated for it bringing forth a specialized group of artisans. Humanity became more
complex. The primary goal was not merely to survive, but to live a good life.
Technology has been instrumental in all of these because in searching for the good
life, people were able to come up with creations that would make life easier, more
comfortable and more enriching. Although the good life envisioned before might be pale in
comparison to the multifariousness of today, it offered as the initial intricacies of how today
came to be. Such intricacies are also evident in the machines created and cause
endeavored by people of long ago. They perceive death as, at the very least, unpleasant
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and concocted potions toward evil off from their kinsmen, often appealing to their gods for
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blessing. Medicine was thus born, although it would take a considerably long time before it
part ways with potion. They became fixated with gold and were adamant in procuring more,
trying to use incantations with mixture of substance to turn lead into one. This ultimately
paved way for the emergence of chemistry in its primitive form, not quite distinct from
alchemy. Due to differing races, belief, or abundance of resources and/or territory, wars
were always being waged. Leading communities to allocate resources to the militia. Initially,
the early leaders were those who portrayed exceptional strength among their group this
condition carried on for generations. Physical strength was valued at most, although their
appeared to be as many intellectually gifted figures just the same. These innovators were
primarily the ones behind discoveries and triumphs of these civilizations.
Position-wise, the humans of today are much better off compared to humans several
centuries ago. Advancement in medicine, technology, health, and education ushered in
humanity’s best yet, and show no sign of stopping. Below are some of the notable
comparisons then and now:
1. Mortality rate. Due to technology, lesser women and children die during birth,
Assuring robust population and strong workforce. Medical care for premature
infants allows them to survive and develop normally, while proper maternal care
ensures that mothers can fully recover and remain empowered.
2. Average lifespan. Aside from the reason that people engage less in combat and
are less likely to die in treatable diseases now as opposed to then, science is
able to prolong lives by enhancing living status and discovering different
remedies to most diseases. Distribution of medicine is also made easier and
faster.
3. Literacy rate. Access to education provided to more individual generally creates
a more informed public that could determine a more just society.
4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although not an indicator of an average
person’s lifestyle in a certain country, it is often used to determine the value of
the country’s goods and services produced within the territory given a certain
time period. Higher country income is brought upon by high productivity, often an
indicator of presence of technology.
The Essence of Technology
Human has indeed come a long way from our primitive ways, and as a general rule,
it is said that we are more ‘’developed’’ than we were before. Above data are few indicators
of the route that we have come to take a species, and there are no signs of stopping.
Modern human are reliant on technology in their search for a good life. We see ways and
means from nature to utilize and achieve growth a goal that we believe would bring a forth
betterment.
In retrospect, this view of technology proves to be goal-oriented. It assumes that it is
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steer in order to reach some greater good. In the advent of postmodernism, however, the
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the human condition improved, only if by improving we measure the level of comfort,
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various scientific breakthroughs, and improved lifestyles of those who had the luxury to
afford to do so. Different machineries aid in prolonging lives assisting those with disabilities,
honing efficiency in industrial workplaces, and even exploring the universe for places we
can thrive once all the earth’s resources are depleted. As to the initial aims, it appears that
things really did not much differ. Some places in the world still battling for their daily survival
diseases, tribe wars, lack of habitable territories, and competitions on resources are several
factors contributing to such. People still stage wars on the basis of races, belief, and
abundance of resources and/or territory; except that now, they are able to inflict such in a
global scale. A lot of people still subscribe to religion in explaining things that they do not
know.
It seems that human condition, although more sophisticated, is nothing but rehashed
version of its former self. Nothing much has changed since then, and it appears that
nothing will change in the times to come if we fail to shift our view elsewhere. While it is
true that technology offered us one compelling notion of the truth and the good, we should
be staunch in our resolve if we want to know the real one. For starters we might begin with
considering other concepts, which corresponds to the good, such as Aristotle’s conception
of human flourishing. His notion entertains the ides of holistic enrichment of a person
situate in his society. A notable distinctions on Aristotle’s idea in his subscriptions on
evaluative concepts called virtues and their role in achieving the good life. Technological
advancement are seemingly occurring in a rapid pace that our mortality cannot quite keep
up; no such consideration was given in this approach in achieving the good life.
Summary
Science technology has been part of human activity since the beginning of our
species. It has aided us in 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 is also lead us to paradox in which we are only
able to see the world in the lenses of technological innovations. In our pursuit of growth, we
had conveniently forgotten the technology only presents one approach in viewing the world.
The forgetfulness lead us to evaluate objects as consumable or not transcending to other
human beings, determining their capacity to be productive. Our valuations of things
became one-dimensional, geared toward production of goods for more consumption, which
we believe would lead us to the good life. This is only one conception of technology, as
Heidegger also proposed that technology is what human do. Advancement in the field
expose us to previously unknown predicaments, effectively helping us to reveal our own
natures and enforcing one perspective in finding the truth. Now that it is acknowledged, we
ca try and divert our search to other approaches.
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Institute of Education
Sta. Maria, Romblon
Output
1. What would have happened to the humankind if technology did not exist? 10
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2. Do you agree with Martin Heidegger in his idea that technology should only be seen
as one of the approaches in perceiving truth? What are the possible approaches we
should consider?
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Institute of Education
Sta. Maria, Romblon
Introduction
In the ancient Greece, long before the word ‘’science’’ has been coined, the need to
understand the world and reality was bound with the need to understand the self and the
good life. For Plato, the task of understanding the things in the world runs parallel with the
job of truly getting in to what will make the soul flourish. In an attempt to understand reality
and the external world, man must seek to understand himself, too. It was Aristotle who
gave a definitive distinction between the theoretical and practical sciences. Among the
theoretical disciplines, Aristotle included logic, biology, physics, and metaphysics, among
others. Among the practical ones, Aristotle counted ethics and politics. Whereas ‘’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’’ or as said in the previous lesson, the attainment of human
flourishing. Rightly so, one must find the truth about what the good is before one can even
try to locate that which is good. That motivates him will reveal that happiness is the grand,
motivating force in everything that he does. When Aristotle claims that we want to be
happy, he does not necessarily mean the everyday happiness that we obtain when we win
a competition or we eat our favorites dish in a restaurant. What Aristotle actually means in
human flourishing, a kind of contentment in knowing that one is getting the best out life. A
kind of feeling that one has maxed out his potentials in the world, that he has attained the
crux of his humanity.
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Content Exploration
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Theism
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Most people’s find the meanings of their lives using God as a fulcrum of their
existence. The Philippines, as a predominantly Catholic 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. The world
where we are in is only just a temporary reality where we have to maneuver around while
waiting for the ultimate return to the hands of God.
Humanism
Humanism is another school of thought espouses the freedom of man to carve his
own laws, free from the shackles of a God that monitors and controls. For humanist, man is
literally the captain of his own ship. Inspired by the enlightenment in seventeenth century.
Humanist are see themselves not merely as stewards of the creation but as individuals who
are who are in control of themselves and the world outside them. This is the spirit of most
scientists who thought that the world is a place and space for freely unearthing the world in
seeking for ways on how to improve the lives of its inhabitants.
As a result of the motivation of the humanist current, scientist eventually turned to
technology in order to ease the difficulty of life as illustrated in the previous lessons.
Scientist 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. Social media, is an example, has been so far a very
effective way of employing technology in purging time and space. Not very long ago,
communication between two people from two continents in the planet will involve months of
waiting for a mail to arrive. Seeing each other real time while talking was virtually
impossible. Now, communication between two people wherever they are, is not just
possible but easy. The internet and smart phones made real-time communication possible
not just between two people, but even with multiple people simultaneously.
Technology allowed us to tinker with our sexuality. Biologically male individuals can
now undergo medical operation if they so wish for sexual reassignment. Breast implants
are now available and can be done with relative conveniences if anyone wishes to have
one. Hormones may also be injected in order to alter the sexual chemicals in the body.
Whether or no we agree with these technological advancements, these are all
undertaken in the hopes of attaining the good life. The balance, however, between the
good life, ethics, and technology has to be attained.
Summary
Man in constantly in pursuit of the good life. Every person has his perspective when
it comes to what comprises the good life. Throughout history, man has worked hard in
pointing out what amounts to a good, happy life. Some people like the classical theories
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thought that happiness has to do with the insides of the human person. The soul, as the
seat of humanity, has been the focus of attention of the end goal. The soul has to attain a
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certain balance in order to have a good life, a life of flourishing. It was only until the
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seventeenth century that happiness became the centerpiece in the lives of people, even
becoming a full-blown ethical foundation in John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism. At present we
see multitudes of schools of thought that all promise their own key to finding happiness.
Science and technology has been, for the most part, at the forefront of man’s attempts t
finding this happiness. The only question at the end of the day is whether science is taking
the right part toward attaining what is really means to live a good life.
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“Equal Opportunity of Quality Education for All through Flexible Learning Strategies.”
Romblon State University
Institute of Education
Sta. Maria, Romblon
Output
1. What is the good life? 10
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2. What is the relationship between the good lie and science?
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3. Does technology always lead us to the good life? How and why?
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