Exercise 1.
Reading Comprehension Task
Name: Caro, Engelo John Gabriel V. Date Submitted: July 15, 2022
Course/Section: GED104/A3
Instructions: After reading Hickel’s article on the concept of de-development,
answer the following questions in two to three sentences.
1. What is the framework of de-development all about?
The concept of de-development has no concrete definition but rather it is a
group of ideas that aims to achieve true sustainability. According to Hickel,
de-development is not about halting any form of progress, it is about
redirecting that progress and the rate of it towards true environmental
sustainability.
2. How is the de-development framework different from traditional frameworks
of development?
The de-development framework differs from traditional frameworks in the
respect that the de-development framework aims to direct its progress and the
rate of progress to sustainability as supposed to monetary or economical
growth.
3. According to Hickel, how can rich countries de-develop?
The problem pointed by Hickel is that rich countries are preoccupied with
gaining more capital to buy more and more superfluous products and services
to the point that it strains the supply chain and the excess wastes increases
with every passing year. Rich countries can encourage its constituents to give
up some of the “luxuries” that it enjoys without harming the happiness and
fulfillment of its citizens.
4. Why does Hickel frown upon pundits using terms such as de-growth, zero
growth, or de-development in describing an alternative framework?
The terms are cited by Hickel to be entirely counter to the idea that de-
development aims to impart. This is because the terms such as de-growth or
zero growth imply that the alternative framework aims to strip all of the goods
that people indulge in, which is not what Hickel was arguing.
5. Some people think that de-development is about giving things up. How
does Hickel explain this is not the case?
The argument that Hickel raises to counter the argument that de-development
is about giving things up is that its not about that at all, rather it is about
reaching a higher level of understanding of understanding and consciousness
about the role of humanity in the grand scheme of the world and its
environment.
Exercise 2. Personal Consumption Audit
Name: Caro, Engelo John Gabriel V. Date Submitted: July 15, 2022
Course/Section: GED104/A3
Instructions: People believe that the more they are able to purchase things
and avail services, the more ‘developed’ and ‘progressive’ are the lives they
lead. Yet, Hickel maid it clear in his article that huge consumption does not
necessarily equate to long and happy lives. In this sense, is it possible for
people to de-develop their consumption, but still remain happy and
contented? Accomplish the personal consumption audit below and see what
things you can reduce or minimize without sacrificing, or even improving, the
quality of your daily life. For your guidance, the first row has been provided as
an example.
My Personal Consumption Audit
Average daily, Impact of this
No. of hours/day
weekly, or ‘de-developing’
Product/Food I reduce/do
monthly amount on my everyday
away with
consumed living
Example: Eight(8) Seven(7) By minimizing the
Social Media hours/day hours/day hours I spend on
Usage social media, I
can pursue
authentic
personal
interactions. I can
also spend more
time doing
schoolwork or
helping in
household
chores.
1. Playing Video Five(5) hours/day Three(3) By reducing my
Games hours/day hours playing, I
can take on my
other hobbies
and improve my
other skills.
2. Using the Seven(7) Four(4) hours/day Any amount of
Electric Fan hours/day energy that can
be saved will help
reduce the
electric bill and
reduce my overall
electric
consumption.
3. Using a Three(3) hours/ Two(2) By running
Treadmill week hours/week outside instead, I
can engage in
socialization as
well as get a
breath of fresh air
when I run.
4. Paper Three(3) One(1) By reducing the
Rims/month Rim/month amount of paper I
consume, I can
help in reducing
the rate of
deforestation.
5. Meat Products Five(5) kg/week Two(2) kg/week By reducing the
amount of meat I
eat, I can help in
solving the
problems related
to the meat
industry and also
consider healthier
options.
Assignment 6. Documentary Film Analysis
Name: Caro, Engelo John Gabriel V. Date Submitted: July 15, 2022
Course/Section: GED104/A3
Instructions: Watch and take notes on the documentary film, The Magician’s
Twin: C.S Lewis and the Case Against Scientism, available on YouTube
([Link] Then, answer the following questions.
1. Why was C.S Lewis very much a skeptic and critic of scientism? Was he
against science?
The reason for C.S Lewis’s concern is that he bore witness to the atrocities
brought about by the abuse of the scientific method to promote, empower,
and enforce destructive ideologies. He wasn’t against science as he
recognizes its value, rather his true target was scientism which is the abuse of
the scientific method.
2. How did C.S Lewis explain the following:
2.1. Science as a religion
Science gives the sense of a bigger picture and grandeur. It is therefore
can be thought of as a religion because it gives that particular meaning to
the lives and actions of people.
2.2. Science as credulity
Science can be used as a tag that a statement is based on truth, even if
the statement isn’t. As the regular man couldn’t scrutinize deeply as it
requires a lot of prerequisite information, the general population tends to
believe anything for as long it is masked with the idea of science.
2.3. Science as power
Both magic and science are initially conducted in the pursuit of power.
This is evidenced by the various helpful and harmful technologies that
brought power and influence to the party that discovered or acquired the
knowledge to do something.
3. Why did C.S Lewis think that modern science is far more dangerous than
magic?
Science is more dangerous due to the fact that it actually works and can
actually affect the world in which we live in. Whereas magic failed, science
found a way to make it possible, both in a good and bad sense.
4. Why did C.S Lewis become increasingly concerned about the rise of
scientocracy? How does scientocracy relate to scientism?
Scientocracy is a product of scientism, the belief in which the one who holds
the knowledge should be the one to dictate the proper procedure for any
operation in that field with full authority. This results in a dystopic scenario
where the ones with the knowledge is all-powerful and unquestionable
whether or not the knowledge they hold is correct or moral.
5. Based on what you learned in the documentary film, how does scientism
pose a threat to the human person flourishing in science and technology?
Why should science be guided by ethical basis that is not dictated by
science itself?
Scientism has the potential to give rise and give “precedent” to a variety of
very deplorable ideas that can result and has resulted in the suffering and
despair of a great many people. This taints the aim of science to discover the
truth and to serve no one. Therefore science and its practitioners should
consider the ethical considerations of their research to facilitate an
progressive and rapid advancements.