A. TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING STANDING RESERVE VS.

OBJECTS

MARTIN HEIDEGGER ○ Things as "standing reserve" are "not objects"

○ Heidegger was one of the most influential ○ Objects are things that "stand against us" as things
philosophers of the 20th century. with autonomy, and are revealed mainly in human
○ Technology was an important element in his work: thinking and do not allow further manipulations.
for Heidegger, technology was the key to ○ Things as standing in reserve are called to come forth
understanding our current time in "challenging and expediting", all of which are
○ He tries to think through the essence of technology reduced into the objectlessness of modern
as a way in which humans encounter entities such as technology.
nature, self, and, indeed, everything. That is to say,
that modern technology is conceived as means to Old Technologies vs. Modern Technologies
achieve ends
○ (Object)- A wooden bridge over a river
Heidegger's understanding of technology was based on ○ (Standing as Reserve)- A hydro power plant
its essence:
According to Heidegger:
1. The essence of technology is not something we ○ "The revealing that rules throughout modern
make; it is a mode of being, or of revealing. technology has the character of a setting-upon, in
2. Technology even holds sway over beings that we do the sense of a chaLLenging-forth. Such chaLLenging
not normally think of as technological, such as gods happens in that the energy concealed in nature is
and history. unLocked, what is unLocked is transformed, what is
3. The essence of technology is primarily a matter of transformed is stored up, what is stored up is in turn
modem and industrial technology. distributed, and what is distributed is switched about
4. Technology is not simply the practical application of ever anew. UnLocking, transforming, storing,
natural science distributing, and switching about are ways of
revealing."
2 Characteristics of Modern Technology as a Revealing
Process B. HUMAN FLOURISHING

1. Modern technology as a revealing process is a ○ Human flourishing is said to be the best translation
"challenging". for the Greek word Eudaimonia, which for both Plato
2. The challenging that brings forth the energy of and Aristotle, means not only good fortune and
nature is an "expediting". material prosperity but a situation achieved through
virtue, knowledge and excellence.
"Challenging" ○ an effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment
○ Things are revealed or brought forth by challenging within the context of a larger community of
or demanding them. It is putting to nature the individuals, each with the right to pursue his or her
unreasonable demand that it should supply energy own such efforts
that can be extracted and stored. could be sharply
contrasted to "Physis" which is the arising of EUDAIMONIA ACCORDING TO PLATO
something from itself, a bringing-forth or poieses.
○ Plato contends that the soul or mind has three (3)
“Expediting" operating parts:
○ In its modern definition, it is to fasten the movement 1. Rational
of something. 2. Spirited or Emotional
○ In its original sense, it is a process of revealing in as 3. Appetitive
much as it "unlocks" and "exposes" something by
challenging it, but what is exposed is still directed ○ According to Plato, Eudaimonia or Human
towards something else; hence, expediting. Flourishing requires an ordering of this tripartite
○ "the maximum yield at the minimum expense" structure of the soul.
EUDAIMONIA ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE
○ According to Aristotle, "a good life is a happy life"
○ Aristotle states that Eudaimonia is constituted not by ○ We value many things because they are a means to
honor, or wealth power, but by rational activity in other things.
accordance with excellence in the virtues of ○ For instance, we value money because it enables us
character to buy things we want; we value leisure because it
gives us time to pursue our interests. But happiness
○ “All humans seek to flourish"- Aristotle is something we value not as a means to some other
end but for its own sake. It has intrinsic value rather
○ Flourishing is the proper and desired end of all of our than instrumental value.
actions. Flourishing, however, is a functional ○ Aristotle agrees with Socrates that to live the good
definition for human beings, and to understand life one must be a morally good person. He also
something's function, you have to understand its agrees with Epicurus that a happy life will involve
nature. many and varied pleasurable experiences.
○ We can't really say someone is living the good life if
Aristotle's 4 Aspects of Human Nature they are often miserable or constantly suffering.

1. Physical Beings- Require nourishment, exercise, rest, THE TEN GOLDEN RULES ON LIVING A GOOD LIFE
and all other things that keep our body functioning (DR. MICHAEL SOUPIOS AND DR. PANOS
2. Emotional Beings- Have wants, desires, urges, and MOURDOUKOUTAS)
reactions
3. Social Beings- Must live and function in a particular 1. Examine life,
society 2. Worry only about the things that are in your control,
4. Rational Beings- are creative, expressive, 3. Treasure Friendship,
knowledge-seeking and able to obey reason. 4. Experience True Pleasure.
5. .Master Yourself.
B. Human Flourishing Science and Technology 6. Avoid Excess. Live life in harmony and balance.
7. Be a Responsible Human Being.
○ As times change, elements that comprise 8. Don't Be a Prosperous Fool.
Eudaimonia also change, which are subject to 9. Don't Do Evil to Others.
dynamic social history as written by the humans. 10. Kindness towards others tends to be rewarded.
○ The various gadgets, machines, appliances, and
vehides are all tools that make human life easier
because they serve as a means to an end.

THE GOOD LIFE ACCORDING TO PLATO

○ In Plato's dialogue Gorgias, Socrates takes this

position to an extreme. He argues that it is much
better to suffer wrong than to do it; that a good man
who has his eyes gouged out and is tortured to death
is more fortunate than a corrupt person who has
used wealth and power dishonorably.

THE GOOD LIFE ACCORDING TO EPICURUS

○ The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus was one of

the first to declare, bluntly, that what makes life
worth living is that we can experience pleasure.
○ The view that pleasure is the good, or, to put I
another way, that pleasure is what makes life worth
living, is known as HEDONISM.
The Good Life according to Aristotle