MALLIG PLAINS COLLEGES
Casili, Mallig, Isabela
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
Academic Year 2021-2022
PRINTED REPORT
TO THE SUBJECT OF
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
SUBMITTED TO THE
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT MALLIG PLAINS COLLEGES, INC.
CASILI, MALLIG, ISABELA.
SUBMITTED BY:
GROUP 4
IGNACIO, HANNA LYN V.
GRACIANO, HANNAH
BSED-II ENGLISH
SUBMITTED TO:
SIR LOUIE FRANADA
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
MALLIG PLAINS COLLEGES
Casili, Mallig, Isabela
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
Academic Year 2021-2022
THE HUMAN PERSON FLOURISHING IN TERMS OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
(TECHNOLOGY AS A MODE OF REVEALING)
HUMAN FLOURISHING
An effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment within the larger the context of a
LARGER COMMUNITY of individuals, each with the right to pursue his or her own
such efforts.
Involves the rational use of one’s individual human potentialities, including talents,
abilities, and virtues in the pursuit of his freely and rationally chosen values and goals.
INTRODUCTION
Technology has always been defined as a means to an end and being a human activity.
It has long filled the word. Everyday routines are marked with technological advances
that reflect what a society is good or known for. Technology has well advanced since the
middle of the 20th Century especially after the end of World War II. It is not expected for
technology to involve question of knowledge which led to its formation as one of the
branches of philosophy. This also led to the furtherance of technology based on how it is
viewed and understood. But there is more to that.
Aristotle, was born 304 B.C. an ancient Greek philosophy scientist and one of the most
significant thinkers and who contributed so much to science, technology, political theory,
and aesthetics world; followed that knowledge of the world begins by looking and
examining that which exists.
SELECTED VIEWS ON TECHNOLOGY
It has been said they there are many views or ways as to how technology is understood.
These philosophies contributed on how technology is understood and utilized by the
society. Some of it will be discussed briefly bellow.
1. ARISTOTELIANISM
This views technology as basically a means to an end. To Aristotle, technology is the
organizing of techniques in order to meet the demand that is being posed by humans. This
may seem that technology is primarily concerned with the product.
2. TECHNOLOGICAL PESSIMISM
This view is extremely supported by French philosopher Jacques Ellul (1912-1994).
Technological Pessimism holds that technology is progressive and beneficial in many
ways, it is also doubtful in many ways. It is said that technology is a means to and end
but this views, technology has become a way of life.
Ellul's pessimistic arguments are:
(1) Technological progress has a price, (2) technological progress creates more problems,
(3) technological progress creates damaging effects, and (4) technological progress
creates unpredictable devastating effects.
Although Ellul has strongly spoken of his arguments, they are still found to be weak and
not true at all times. Like when he said that technological progress can create more
problems than it solves, he seems to have underestimated the objective decisions a
technician, and other technological agencies makes regarding the technology where they
weigh the good and bad effects it can have in the society.
3. TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMISM
This view is strongly supported by technologist an engineer and also by ordinary people
who believe that technology can alleviate all the difficulties and provide solutions for
problems that may come. It holds that even though technological problems may arise,
technology will still be the solutions to it.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
MALLIG PLAINS COLLEGES
Casili, Mallig, Isabela
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
Academic Year 2021-2022
4. EXISTENTIALISM
The main concern of this view is the existence or the mode of being of someone or
something which is governed by the norm of authenticity
Martin Heidegger, a philosopher, one of the most known supporters of this philosophy.
He did not stop defining what technology is but has dealt with its essence.
MARTIN HEIDEGGER
German philosopher and a seminal thinker in the continental tradition of philosophy.
Wwidely acknowledged to be one of the most original and important philosophers of the
20th century.
Every attempt to climb out of technology throws us back in. the only way out for
Heidegger is “THE WILL NOT TO WILL”.
MARTIN HEIDEGGER ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Martin Heidegger (1889-1996), a well-known German philosopher, examined the two
usual definitions of technology; means to an end and a human activity, because he
believed that this is kind of confusing and there is question to it that we easily overlook.
THE INSTRUMENTAL DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY
According to Heidegger, the instrumental definition of technology encourages us to view
technology from different periods of time as not having fundamental differences. But he
claimed that this does not show the true essence of technology. He explained that while
technology is geared towards meeting a human need, still there is a difference between
older handicraft technologies with modern technology. As it is, "a saw mill on a secluded
valley of the Black Forest is a primitive means compared with the hydroelectric plant on
the “Rhine River" (Heidegger,1977).
Another problem Heidegger saw in the instrumental definition of technology is that it
only invites man to a continual desire to master it which unconsciously may be making
technology go out of hand. Heidegger said," Everything depends on our manipulating
technology in the proper manner as a means. We will, as we say, 'get' technology
'spiritually in hand'. We will master it.
For Heidegger, this correct definition of technology is insufficient as it does not bring out
its real essence. He said, "in order that we may arrive at this, or at least come close to it,
we must seek the true by way of the correct. We must ask: what is the instrumental itself?
Within what do such things as means and end belong? (1977, p.2).
ARISTOTLE’S FOUR CAUSES
Heidegger further studied Aristotle's Four causes and illustrated it using a silver chalice
which he said owes it make up from the four causes.
1. Causa materialism or the material cause
-Silver chalice was made of silver.
2. Causa Formalism or the formal cause
-The form of the shape that gave the silver chalice its image.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
MALLIG PLAINS COLLEGES
Casili, Mallig, Isabela
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
Academic Year 2021-2022
3. Causa Finalist or the final cause
-Used during the Holy Communion as a vessel for the wine that represent the blood of Christ.
4. Causa Efficient or the Efficient Cause
-Caused for the silver chalice to come about the silversmith.
The silver chalice was bought forth by the silver, by its form, for its purpose, by the silversmith.
External factors have caused for the silver chalice to be brought forth. On the other hand,
something that came about without any external forced, like a flower blooming in the field or a
tree bearing its fruit is termed physics. The flower blossomed and the tree bore fruit even without
external help.
HEIDEGGER’S TECHNOLOGY AS WAY OF REVEALING
Heidegger believed that the genuine substance or the real essence of technology is found
in enflaming. This is the continuous bringing forth into concealment that which is
concealed. This is a non-stop revealing. Heidegger saw technology as a way of revealing
and continues to demand for something to be bought out into the open.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology, according to Heidegger must be understood as “A WAY OF
REVEALING” (Heidegger 1977, 12)
REVEALING
Revealing is his translation of the Greek word ALE’THEUIN, which means ‘TO
DISCOVER’ – to uncover what was covered over. Related to this verb is the dependent
NOUN ALE’THEUIN, which is usually translated as “TRUTH,” though Heidegger
insists that a more adequate translation would be “un-concealment”.
To further illustrate this, he gave some examples through contrasting ancient and modern
technology.
I. First, he talked about the ancient windmill which only relies on the wind blowing and
does not store energy which can be for immediate use and can also be stored up for future
use.
II. Second, was about the peasant planting seeds who only waits for the bringing forth of the
planted seed because there is no challenge set upon soil. Modern technology of
cultivation on the other hand, challenged the field that has caused for agriculture to be
revolutionized.
III. Third, is about the wooden bridge is built to join river for banks for hundreds of years
without challenges being set upon the river. While on the other hand, the hydroelectric
plant that was set on Rhine River dammed the river into the hydroelectric plant so that
electrical energy can be stored and distributed.
Because of this continuous revealing, Heidegger also pointed out the danger that comes
with technology.
THE MODE OF REVEALING IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Heidegger explained that technology as a mode of revealing does not stop and continues
to be seen in modern technology but not in the bringing-forth sense.
A. Unlock and expose. It carries the idea that nature will not reveal itself unless challenge is
set upon it. This is true with the hydroelectric plant set upon the Rhine River which
unlocked the electricity concealed in it.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
MALLIG PLAINS COLLEGES
Casili, Mallig, Isabela
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
Academic Year 2021-2022
B. Stock piles for future use
THE ESSENCE OF TECHNOLOGY
The continuous revealing takes place as man allows himself to be an agent in the setting
upon of challenges to nature but Heidegger (1977) argues that this is not more human
doing.
This gathering of the setting-upon which challenges man to bring the unconcealed to
unconcealment is called enframing with which according to Heidegger, also shows the
essence of modern technology. Enframing is basically putting in order whatever is
presented to the man who sets upon the unconcealed but it is a two-way relationship: man
cannot set himself upon unconcealment without unconcealment's call and the
unconcealed will not go into unconcealment without the man responding to its call
THE DANGER OF THE NONSTOP REVEALING
As said earlier, the mode of revealing does not stop in modern technology. It continually
calls man to respond to what is presented to him or to the demand for a better and
efficient means to an end.
Revealing opens up a relationship between man and the word but an opening up of
something means a closing down of something which means as something is revealed,
another is concealed.
Another danger is when man falls into a misinterpretation of that which is presented to
him. That is when he sees himself in the object before him rather than seeing the object
itself. There is also the tendency for man to be fully engrossed with the enframing that he
fails to weigh the results and consequences of his setting upon an object which maybe
destructive not only to himself but even to the surroundings and other people.
THE SOCIETY IN THE FACE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
When one looks around him now, he will see that man tends to find his happiness in
the works of modern technology.
THE HUMAN CONDITION IS NOT OF WITHOUT HOPE. Heidegger argued that
this can be prevented if man will not allow himself to be overwhelmed with the
enframing that he was set upon, but he pauses for a while and reflect on the value of what
is presented before him.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY