Unit II: Science, Technology, Society, and Human Conditions

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this unit, the students will be able to:

1. discuss the contribution of science and technology to the development of

humanity;
2. thoroughly examine the roleof modern technology and its role in human
flourishing towards the achievement of the Good Life; and
3. explain the philosophical perspectives of human development and technological
progress.

Chapter 4: The Impact of Science & Technology in Human Development and

Technological Progress

In the beginning, the early inhabitants relied on simple tools to hunt and
gather food easily. Eventually has caused them to develop more sophisticated tools to
aid them in their endeavours. In the passage of time, technology flourishedwith their
explorations, innovations, and experimentations. Every discovery, innovation, and
success contributed to human knowledge. In this regard human flourishing is deeply
intertwined with goal setting relevant to science and technology.Human flourishing is
defined as an effort to achieve self-actualization and the fulfilment within the context of a
larger community of individuals with the right to pursue his/her own effort in a global
perspective as a man of the world. .Martin HeideggeraGerman philosopher stated that
technology is a human activity as a result of achieving science. According to Aristotle,
human flourishing arises as a result of different components such as friendship, wealth,
and power. The Greeks believed that acquiring these qualities will bring happiness
which allowed them to participate in the greater notion of good/goodness in life.
Nevertheless, the concept of human flourishing today is different from that of the
Greeks, who believed thathumans of today are expected to become a “man of the
world”.
 The definition of a man will never change, but the definition of what is modern
man will change. In today’s culture the modern man must be adaptable to change and
never to be a burden upon others in a society. The very core of man regardless of his
socio-economic and political standing in life is the desire to be successful in all aspects
of life. Science, technology, and culture had dictated society on how to better do
things.According to Nathan Sanders, a modern man is well-rounded, skilled, adaptable,
grounded, yet a meek servant leader who is constantly exercising his body, mind, and
spirit for the benefit and for his selfless love for others. A modern man never stops
learning and adapts to new things, technologies, styles, trends, and new skills.

A. Science & Technology and its Impact in Modernity

Science and technology changed the world and human lives are today flourishing
globally in varied ways. They have provided abundant food, clean water, cured
diseases, making use of labour potentials, direct access to communication, and easy
travel across the world. They have expanded knowledge of natural world and the
heavenly bodies. Dreams became realities and lives are now longer, healthier, and
more productive than ever. However, these impacts in modernity which were brought by
technological advances had frightening unintended consequences.

Technological innovation by science displaced labour force from a meaningful

sense of work. The treating of diseases viewed the human body as an object, and the
techniques to increase production output have brought dangerous adverse effects on
human health and environment. The instant communication with others around the
globe has created distance between a person and another person nearby. Though, it
enabled unprecedented mobility, somehow it undermined the stability necessary for
family members to be closer and communities to strive harder.

Undeniably, science and technology provided an ever increasing knowledge and

skills needed for progress, but people reasonably wonder if such knowledge and skills
were being used to make people wiser, and make a better world.Although, science and
technology give meaning to human beings, it is but necessary to reflect and meditate on
the things that truly matter.
 Martin Heidegger described modern technology as the age of switches,
standing reserve, and stockpiling for its own sake. This is manifested by mechanization
and digitalization of many aspects of life from agriculture to communication and
transportation among others. Communication thru information technology is just a click
of a fingertip. Foods are harvested even out of season, and humans are no longer
needed to work with the rhythms of nature since they now have learned to control it.
Modern technology challenged nature and demanded its resources that are most of the
time forcibly extracted for human consumption and storage.

B. The Socio-Cultural, Economic, and Philosophical Perspective in Human

Development and Technological Progress

The changes of society and the lives of people now are attributed to the
existence of science and technology. The appreciation of the contributions of science
and technology must be thoroughly examined not only for their functions and
instrumentality but also their impact on humanity as a whole. Although the primary
purpose is to help make life easy and better, not all are able to adapt comfortably in
using the different kinds of technologies available.

In traditional societies, the way of thinking is formed by customs and myths that
forbid certain kinds of questions that would change their belief system. Modern societies
release the power of questioning against the traditional forms of thought, and they
demand that all customs and institutions justify themselves as useful for humanity.
Under this impact of demand, science and technology become the new basis for belief.
They reshaped the culture gradually and became “rational”. Eventually, technology
became a part of everyday life and technical modes of thought dominated all others.
One can say that scientific-technical rationality has become the new culture.

The Philosophy of Technologyposited that technology is neutral, it has no

preference as between the various possible uses to which it can be useful. It is a kind of
spontaneous product of the civilization, assumed contentedly by most people.
Technology appears as purely instrumental and as a value free. It does not respond to
inherent purpose, but it is simply a means serving subjective goals as human wish.
Technically speaking, the “means” is different from the “ends” and they are independent
from each other. In America, they say that “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.”
Guns are a “means” which is independent of the “ends” brought to them by the user,
whether it is to rob a bank or to enforce the law.

On the other hand, technological advancement and economic growth are related
to each other. The level of technology is important to determine the economic growth.
Technological progress keeps the economy growing.

Martin Heideggerencouraged people to question and see beyond the common

understanding of technology. There are two definitions of technology; 1) it is a means to
an end, 2) it is a human activity. It simply means that technology is a means of human
activity. He urged people to envision technology as a mode of revealing as it shows so
much more about humans and the world. Whatever truth is uncovered, it will be
something more meaningful and significant than the superficial or practical use of
technology because it discloses or reveals the truth.

Human beings allow themselves to be swallowed by modern technology and thus

lose the essence of being humans in this world. They are constantly plugged on line
wherever they are and thus no longer have the capacity for authentic personal
encounters. They cannot let go of their conveniences and exorbitant profits of business
industries that damaged the environment resulting to climate change, global warming,
and pollution.

According to Aristotle, technology means “the making or producing something

for a purpose”. The manufacturing and utilization of equipment, tools, and machines
belong to the concept of technology.

The various gadgets, machines, computers, appliances, and vehicles are tools
making human lives easier. They serve as a means to an end. Human condition has
improved in the level of comfort. Nevertheless, too much reliance on technology is
dangerous. Humans lose track of the things that really matter, deduce the things around
to their economic value, and becomeunmindful to the needs of others. It appears that
there are things that really did not become better. There are some places in the world
that are still battling for daily survival. People are still trying to make sense of their
existence, and technology does little aid in their pursuit of the meaning of life.

In September 2000, the world leaders signed the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG’s) that target eight major concerns: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,
2) To achieve universal primary education, 3)To promote gender equality and empower
women, 4) To reduce child mortality, 5) To improve maternal health, 6) To combat
HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and
8) To develop a global partnership for development.

Economists used growth as the primary indicator, technology as the primary

instrument, and the equation is the sustainability. But the problem is that the world’s
resources can only provide just enough. It cannot be expected to stretch out for
everybody’s consumption for a long period of time. Growth is not infinite and the rapid
pace of technological growth allows no room for nature to recover resulting from
exploitation and irreversible damages to nature.

In September 2015, in New York, USA, the UN signed the new Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG’s). The main purpose is to eradicate poverty globally by
2030. The main strategy for eradicating poverty is the same, “growth”. For the past 70
years such strategy did not work. Since 1980, the global economy has grown by 380%
but the number of people living in poverty has increased by more than 1.1 billion.
Although progressive economists insisted to shift from more growth from the richer
sectors of the population to the poorer ones, such approach is still inadequate because
the current levels of average global consumption is overshooting the planet’s bio-
capacity by more than 50% every year. There is a need for the rich countries to justify
their excesses. The global economic growth is already grown too much and growth is
not an option anymore. Scientist are now telling the world that population is blowing
past planetary boundaries at breakneck speed and the hard truth is that this global crisis
is due almost entirely to overconsumption among rich countries. Instead of pushing poor
countries to “catch up” with the rich ones, the rich countries had to “catch down” with the
poor ones. (The Guardian, 2015)
 Peter Edward an economist argued that instead of pushing poorer countries to
“catch up” with rich ones, the UN should be thinking of ways to get rich countries to
“catch down” to have more appropriate levels of development. They should look at the
societies where people live long and happy lives at relatively low level of income
withconsumption habits not wasteful and extravagant, but as exemplars of efficient
living known as “appropriately developed societies”.

The idea of the Anthropologist,Jason Hickelof “de-developing” of the rich

countries might prove to be a strong rallying cry in the global south; it will be tricky, but
not impossible. According to the recent consumer research, 70% of the people in the
middle and high-income countries believed that overconsumption is putting the planet
and society at risk. A similar majority also believed that they should strive to buy and
own less, and in doing so would not also compromise their happiness. Since, there is
something wrong with the dominant model of economic progressthe “de-development”
is an alternative model of economic progress in transition. This is technically accurate,
but to some experts such idea is repulsive because it is contrary to the deepest frame
people used to think about human progress, and deviatefrom the purpose of life. It is
like urging people to stop moving positively through life, to stop learning, improving, and
growing.

Looking at the world in a global perspective with the development of science and
technological advancement, Heidegger suggested that calculative thinking and
meditative thinking can lead to better lives. Incalculative thinking, one orders and puts
a system to nature so it can be understood better and controlled. This calculative
thinking which perceives nature in a technical and scientific manner is becoming more
important in the modern world. Inmeditative thinking, one lets nature reveal itself to
humans without forcing it. The meditative thinking provides a way for humans to remain
rooted in the essence of who they are. It grounds humans not to let technological
devices affect their real core values and distort their nature.