SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
SUBJECT CODE: GEC 007
TOPIC OR LESSON: HUMAN FLOURISHING
WEEK: 5
SUB-TOPIC/S: NONE
OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC
This lesson discusses the different conceptions of human flourishing and its
relationship to the progress of science and technology.
Are you ready? Prepare your pen and paper and be ready to explore your journey
in learning!
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
After going through this module, you are expected to:
a. critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology
so that you can define for himself/herself the meaning of the good life
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
a. identify different conceptions of human flourishing;
b. determine the development of the scientific method and validity of
science; and
c. critic human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology to
be able to define for himself/herself the meaning of the good life
ENGAGE
Direction: Solve the puzzle by using the clues given below.
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Down:
1. Information collected during an experiment.
3. A conclusion based on your existing knowledge
5. A test that is done to determine if a hypothesis is correct or not
Across:
2. Data dealing with descriptions
4. Something that can be changed
6. Outcome of an experiment
7. Your proposed answer to the question or solution to the problem
8. Watch something carefully 9. Reach a decision based on the analysis of data
10. Examine data collected in an experiment to determine what it means
11. Data which can be measured
EXPLORE
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Applying the Scientific Method
Observe what is happening to the environment at 8:00 in the morning. Write
your answers on the data sheet below. For the data analysis, assume that you
performed the test and were able to prove that your hypothesis is an answer to
the problem.
Location of Observation:
I. Making Observations and stating the Problem
II. Formulating Hypothesis
III. Testing the Hypothesis with an experiment
IV. Stating the Conclusion
EXPLAIN
As we continue the lesson, let us discuss what human flourishing means.
Human Flourishing
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Greek philosopher Aristotle (385-323 BC) coined the term “eudaimonia” which
literally means “good spirited” to describe the pinnacle of happiness that is
attainable by humans. In literature, this is often translated into “human
flourishing”, which likens humans to flowers achieving their full bloom. In Ancient
Greek society, they believe that acquiring qualities such as phronesis, friendship,
wealth, and power will surely bring the seekers happiness.
However, as time changes, the elements that comprise human flourishing also
changed. People found means to live more comfortably, explore more places,
develop more products, and make more money.
Principles that Promote Human Flourishing
Human flourishing is a particular concern for most religious traditions; that is
certainly true of Christianity, and the Catholic tradition has considered this in a
particular way, developing a body of material known as Catholic Social Teaching
(CST). This places human flourishing and developing flourishing communities at
the center of Church concerns.
Dignity of the human person – innate personal values or rights which
demands respect for all people, regardless of race, social class, wealth,
etc.
Common good – sacrificing self-interest to provide for the basic human
needs of everyone to make the whole community flourish
Preferential option for the poor – when decisions are made by first
considering the poor
Subsidiarity – when all those affected by the decision are involved in
making it
Universal Purpose of Goods – the Earth’s resources serve every person’s
needs, regardless of who “owns” them
Stewardship of creation – duty to care for the Earth as a God-given gift is a
personal responsibility for the common good.
Promotion of peace – everyone has the duty to respect and collaborate in
personal relationships, and at national and global levels
Participation – everyone has the right and the duty to take part in the life
of a society (economic, political, cultural, religious)
Global Solidarity – recognition that we are all interconnected, part of one
human family
Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing
In the previous lessons, it was established that every discovery, innovation, and
success contribute to the pool of human knowledge. Human flourishing is deeply
intertwined with goal setting relevant to science and technology.
Technological Pessimism – a view that is extremely supported by French
philosopher Jacques Ellul (1912-1994); it holds that technology is progressive
and beneficial in many ways but also doubtful in many ways. This view sees
technology as a way of life instead of a means to an end. Ellul’s pessimistic
arguments are: technological progress has a price, technological progress
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creates more problems, technological progress creates damaging effects, and
technological progress creates unpredictable devastating effects.
Technological Optimism – this view is strongly supported by technologists and
engineers and also by ordinary people who believe that technology can alleviate
all the difficulties and provide solutions for problems that may come. The
extreme version of this philosophy is called “technocratism” which holds as the
supreme authority on everything.
ELABORA
TE
In this activity, you will be asked to choose asked to choose an invention and
make a PowerPoint presentation stating its brief history and its impact to
mankind.
RUBRIC FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
5 4 3 2 COMMENTS
Effectiveness Project includes Project includes Project is missing Project is
all material most material more than two lacking several
needed to gain needed to gain a key key elements
a comfortable comfortable elements. and has
understanding understanding of inaccuracies.
of the topic. the material but is
lacking one or two
key elements.
Sequencing of Information is Most information is Some information There is no
Information organized in a organized in a clear, is logically clear plan for
clear, logical logical way. One sequenced. the
way. It is easy slide or item of An occasional organization
to anticipate the information seems slide or item of of information.
type of material out of place. information
that might be seems out of
on the next place.
slide.
Originality Presentation Presentation shows Presentation Presentation is
shows some originality and shows an attempt a rehash of
considerable inventiveness. The at originality and other people's
originality and content and ideas inventiveness on ideas and/or
inventiveness. are presented in an 1-2 slides. graphics and
The content and interesting way. shows very
ideas are little attempt
presented in a at original
unique and thought.
interesting way.
Spelling and Presentation Presentation has 1- Presentation has Presentation
Grammar has no 2 1-2 grammatical has more than
misspellings or misspellings, but no errors but no 2 grammatical
grammatical grammatical errors. misspellings. and/or
errors. spelling errors.
Use of All graphics are A few graphics are All graphics are Several
Graphics attractive (size not attractive but all attractive but a graphics are
and colors) and support the theme/ few do not seem unattractive
support the content of the to support the AND detract
theme/content presentation. theme/content of from the
of the the presentation. content of the
presentation. presentation.
Organization PowerPoint PowerPoint contains PowerPoint PowerPoint
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contains a a minimum of 10 contains contains fewer
minimum of 10 slides. All parts of fewer than 10 than 10 slides
slides. All parts the task are slides, or some and is missing
of the task are completed slides designed do several parts
completed fully partially and not support the of the task.
and support the support theme/content of Slides
theme/content the theme/content the presentation. designed do
of the of the presentation. not support the
presentation. theme/content
of the
presentation.
Sources All sources Some (information Very few Sources for
(information and graphics) are (information and information
and accurately cited. graphics) are and graphics
graphics) are accurately cited. are not cited.
accurately
cited.
EVALUAT
E
Write a short essay on the topic “How Much is Too Much?” in relation to the
efforts in the developments of science and technology for the pursuit of growth
as mankind.
RUBRIC FOR ESSAY
5 4 3 2 COMMENTS
Focus The topic is The topic is The topic is too The topic is not
focused narrowly focused but lacks broad for the clearly defined.
enough for the direction. scope of this
scope of this assignment.
assignment.
Content The paper The paper The paper The paper does
demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates not
that the author that the author, that the demonstrate
fully understands for the most part, author, to a that the author
and has applied understands and certain extent, has fully
concepts learned has applied understands understood and
in the lesson. concepts learned and has applied
in the lesson. applied concepts
concepts learned in the
learned in the lesson.
lesson.
Structur Ties together For the most part, Sometimes ties Does not tie
e information from ties together together together
all sources. No information from information information.
spelling and all sources. from all Unacceptable
grammar mistake Minimal spelling sources. number of
&/or grammar Noticeable spelling and/or
mistakes. spelling & grammar
grammar mistakes.
mistakes.
Citation Cites all data Cites most data Cites some Does not cite
obtained from obtained from data obtained sources.
other sources other sources. from other
sources.
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REFERENC
ES
Australian Catholic University. (2016). Human Flourishing, Individually and
Together.
Serafica, J. J., Pawilen, G. T., Caslib, B. N., Jr., & Alata, E. P. (2018). Science,
Technology, and Society (1st ed.). Manila: Rex Book Store.
ADDITIONAL
MATERIALS
Additional Reading:
“Analysis within the scientific community”
[Link]
%3E/howscienceworks_14
Prepared By:
EDMUN T. ANDRADE
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