Module 2:

Science, Technology, and Society and the Human Condition

LESSON 2
TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the module, you must be able to;
a. Explain the concept of human condition before science technology;
b. Identify the change that happened in human condition after science and technology; and
c. 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 and technology.

The term "generation gap" is attributed mainly to the change 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 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 in any way make
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 as young anymore. This is also a challenge for the younger
generation to take the older generation to an exciting journey in science and technology. In
this way, everyone can experience what it is like to live with ease and comfort bec ause
of the availability of modern technology.

Even before, people are already fascinated with science and technology. This fascination led
to numerous magnificent inventions that people in the present are able to enjoy and benefit
from. Through science and technology, people get to experience what it really means to live
because it helps people in more ways than one.

People who lived in the past and people who are living in the present all have different
views of what it means to flourish, primarily due to the kind of environment and the period
one is in. People's 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
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 science and technology.

Let’s Dig Deeper

The Human Condition Before Common Era

Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved way for the invention or several developments.
Gifted with brains more advanced than other creatures, humans are able to utilize abundant
materials for their own case and comfort. As it is difficult to pinpoint the particular period where
technology is said to have started, one can say that at the very least, the motivation to make things
easier has 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 flints marked the era of the Stone Age, during the advent of
our very own Homo sapiens, and humans began 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 little to no written accounts except for several cave drawings and unearthed artifacts from
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 a voluptuous woman out of ivory or stone. The reason behind this is still
unknown to archaeologists and anthropologists alike; they can only infer that the humans of
yesterday have a 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 began forging metalwork. They realized that these
substances are more durable, malleable, and have more cluster than the previous material. On the
other hand, there are some indicators that humans in the past share the same concerns and
interests, suggesting that these inclinations persist through multitudes of generation over several
millennia. Fur clothing and animal skin are primarily 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 of 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 engage in the concept of beauty.
Perhaps, they had taken a liking to a set in shiny stone, or a perfectly shaped bone, and wanted to
wear it as trophy. What does this tell of them and their philosophies? Were they are proud to show
off their hunt and how good of a hunter they were? Were they concerned with social standing and
stratificati on? How about the meaning of life? Were they also curious on finding explanations to
certain phenomena?
At least tor the last question, it seems that they have found their answer in the person of religion.
Excavations on 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 hewe d said figures
in 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 initial 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 blessings in their hunting ground. On the contrary, they might have hunted the
mammoths for their woolly coat and meat, taking down the animal for the entire community to eat.
In windy places near mountains, they might have had a mountain god to exp lain wind currents
and ask for provisions. On the other hand, those who were near coastal areas or bodies of water
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 ancestors also found the
need to explain things in a way that makes sense to them. 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 the 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 acknowledged early on that
they could only do and understand as much, that perhaps other powers at play also existed
alongside them. This notion effectively humbled and perhaps grounded them, with their constant
befuddlement serving as an early reminder that they were way behind several larger, more
powerful forces in nature in terms of order of things.

The Human Condition in the Common Era

For a long time, humans were content with their relationship with nature. Earliest case of man
- made extinction occurred over 12,000 years ago, possibly brought upon by hunting and territorial
disputes The Holocene extinction, also called the sixth extinction or more aptly Anthropogenic
extinction, occurred from as early as between 100,000 to 200,000 years up to the 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 mega faunas threatening a
prospective hunting spot and eventually, settling grounds. Growing population also necessitated
finding additional resources, leading to overhunting and overfishing common prey, some of which
were endemic to the area. Hunting, coupled with a changing terrain that the humans began
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 community paved way for civilizations. Even as a
community, the people realized that though they were at 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 some 5,000 years ago that engaging in a peaceful negotiation was also a 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 in theirs. It is in this process that de emerged, leading
to cross-town and eventually cross-cultural interact as more products were exchanged and the
initial needs extended to wants.
People then had a new objective-gather as much products possible. They have turned to wealth as
one of their goals s human ultimately as civilizations, for they perceived that those who have many,
live comfortably and thus are generally happier than those who do not have sufficient wealth. Thus,
they began to hunt, farm, and produce things with prospect of profit. A nuclear community which is
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
community’s needs. Products of every kind were exchanged, ranging from necessary ones such as
crops, cattle, poultry, others 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 got compensated for it -bringing forth
a specialized group of artisans. Humanity became more complex. The primary g0al was not merely
to survive, but to live the 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 us the initial intricacies of how today came to be. Such intricacies are also evident
in the machines created and causes endeavoured by the people of long ago. They perceive death as,
at the very least, unpleasant and concocted potions to ward evil off from their kinsmen, often
appealing to their gods for blessings. 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 mixtures of substances 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, was Were
always being waged, leading communities to allocate resources to then 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 there 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 or today are much better off Red to humans several centuries ag0.
Advancements in medicine health, and education ushered in humanity’s best yet, and show of
stopping. Below are some or the notable comparisons then and now:

1. Mortality Rate. Due to technology. Lesser women and children die during birth, assuring
robust p0pulation 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 live s
by
 enhancing living status and discovering different remedies to most diseases. Distribution of
medicines is also made easier and faster.

3. Literacy Rate. Access to education provided to more individuals 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

Humanity 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 as species, and there are no signs of stopping. Modern humans are reliant on
technology in their search for the good life. We see ways and means from nature to utilize and
achieve growth-a goal that we believe would bring forth betterment.
In retrospect, this view of technology proves to be global-oriented assumes that it is instrumental in
achieving a goal in mind, that is purposeful, deliberate craft humans steer in order to a goal in mind,
that it is a greater good. In the advent postmodernism, however, the u deterministic view the
history of technology brought purposeful choices for man in his research from its purpose. One
philosopher by the name of Martin Heidegger argued that its essence, or purpose, and being are
different from each other. He was able to expound on this point upon identifying the technology can
either be perceived as first, a means to achieve man’s end second, that which cons titutes
human activity. The second perspective paints technology n being. A characteristic design, or flaw,
unfolds based on the repercussions brought upon by immersing ourselves with a piece of new
technology. In effect, through technology, a myriad of new questions begins to mount. Rather than
thinking that humans have a clear idea of what to expect in a good life, it can be stated that
technology allows humans to confront the unknown and see how they would react.
This is not a good thing altogether though, for technological revelation is but one of the many ways
to perceive the world. However, as long as humans are invested in growth and development, we
cannot distance ourselves from this perspective. In the name of growth, we view the world as a field
of resources, vent on attributing monetary value on seemingly priceless entities. We begin to
categorize nature as renewable and non-renewable instead of seeing it as it is. Humans are reduced
into the amount of productivity they are able to render during their lifetime, and our current mind-
set is geared toward which would utilize our own skills. A good life is one which is practical in
essence; a life which makes use of our labour and which we get compensated fairly upon. It is no
Wonder that the sciences are one of the most sought after courses, for the opportunities are plenty
and the resources are bountiful. Since humans appear not to really seeking for, the search
continues. It is a looming fear, however, that the path we are treading will not take us to the right
direction, leading s however, that are in endless circles instead in our pursuit of the good life.
This is the danger presented by too much reliance on technology. Humans lose track of things that
matter, reducing their surroundings to their economic value. As this presents strong backing by the
sciences whose reverence is also brought upon by our deluded enchantment with technology, it will
prove to be a herculean task to distance ourselves from this perspective and consider alternatives.
After all, it was science and technology that gave us explanations, which worked for us and
benefited us. Rejecting a working, tried-and-tested process seems foolish, more so, knowing that
there are no options of equal value. It will be absurd to venture the dar k and the unknown, but
it should be done in order for us to retrace our steps to be able to achieve the Good.

Backtracking the Human Condition

Technology's initial promises proved to be true, regardless of its ramifications. All in all the human
condition improved, only if by improving we measure the level of comfort, 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 are 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 wage 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. For those who have ceased to do so, they have turned their worships to
reverence of science. Whether science or religion, these people are still bent on trying to make
sense of the events happening in the world on the basis of either of these two pa radigms. They
are still trying to discover and rediscover things would give meaning to their lives -whether it be
honor, strength, or merit. People are still trying to make sense of their existence in the world, and
technology does little to aid them in their pursuit of life’s meaning.
It seems that the human condition, although more sophisticated, is nothing but a rehashed version
of its former self. Nothing much is 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, whi
ch corresponds to the Good, such as Aristotle's conception of human flourishing. His notion
entertains the idea of holistic of a person situated in his society. A notable distinction on Aristotle's
idea is his subscription on evaluative concepts called virtues and their role in achieving the good
life. Technological advancements are seemingly occurring in a rapid pace that our immortality
cannot quite keep up; no such consideration was given in d approach in achieving the good life.
This will further be discussed in the following modules.

You have now reached the end of Module 2 Lesson 2.

Congratulations! Did you enjoy studying this module? Did
you learn a lot from it? 