GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No.

MODULE NO. 5

HUMAN FLOURISHING IN PROGRESS AND DE-DEVELOPMENT IN

RELATION TO THE GOOD LIFE
MODULE OVERVIEW

We have learned from previous modules that science and technology progress and these continued
developments affect society. Many of these developments contribute to the flourishing of human lives, while
others may have a negative impact to humanity as what we have seen from the previous module.

One of the oldest philosophical questions is, “What is the good life?” It can be expressed in a variety of ways,
such as: “How should I live?”; “Am I living well?”; and “Do I lead a happy life?”, although they all refer to the
same question. In any case, everyone strives to lead a happy, fulfilling life; nobody wants to lead a miserable
one.

These questions are more complicated than they appear. For individuals and different situations, the definition
of a good life can change and be articulated in various ways. In order to define what a good life is, we shall use
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics in this module's discussion of his philosophy

We will look also into the concept of progress and flourishing of human lives and society, the common notions
on how we view progress, an alternative on how to view human flourishing in the context of continued scientific
and technological development. We will focus on Jason Hickel’s article entitled Forget ‘developing’ poor
countries, it’s time to de-develop rich countries published on September 23, 2015, in The Guardian to examine
an alternative view on the concept of growth and development.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology so that the student can define for
himself/herself the meaning of the Good Life;
2. explain the concept of de-development;
3. examine shared concerns that make up the good life to come up with innovative, creative solutions to
contemporary issues guided by ethical standards1

THE CONCEPT OF DE-DEVELOPMENT

Jason Hickel, an anthropologist at the London School of Economics, also questioned this in the context of
economics. Recent reports show that the gap between developed and developing countries continues to widen.
There is also an unclear way on how to measure these gaps. Many solutions have been put forward to attain
this and to really determine whether we are flourishing. Jason Hickel proposed a solution that is different from
what is usually thought of. In his article Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to de-develop rich countries,
he looked into poverty and how current measures in eradicating this global problem fail and instead the gap
between rich and poor countries are continuing to widen. He questions the need for continuing growth and how
this growth negatively affects countries. He also introduced the concept of de-development as a way of bridging
the gap between countries of different levels of development.

To learn more about his ideas regarding human flourishing and de-development, read the article using this link:
[Link]
countries-de-develop-rich-countries-sdgs .

ARISTOTLE AND HIS PHILISOPHY

Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates were known as the "Big Three of Greek Philosophy." Aristotle was a student of
Plato, who was then a student of Socrates. He was the most important philosopher and scientist of ancient
Greece and lived from 384 to 322 BC.

In contrast to mathematician Plato's rationalism (truth discovered largely by reason), Aristotle was more of an

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GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 5

empiricist (truth discovered primarily by the senses) due to his background in biological topics. Aristotle attended
Plato's academy but later created his own school, the Lyceum.

Aristotle wrote on a remarkable range of topics such as logic, metaphysics, physics, epistemology, astronomy,
meteorology, biology, psychology, ethics, politics, law, and poetics.

We can say that Aristotle influenced more subjects for a longer period of time than any thinker in history. His
scientific theories were accepted as truth for 2000 years, his logic is being applied today, and his impact can
still be seen in many branches of philosophy. For millennia, his ideas in a variety of domains were regarded as
indisputable, and his contributions to politics and ethics continue to have a significant impact today.
He is regarded as one of the finest philosophers in Western philosophy history.

Watch this YouTube video ([Link] DYX4) to learn more about Aristotle
and his various points of view. This will also introduce you to his philosophy of what a good life entails. Taking
down notes is encouraged.

NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS AND THE GOOD LIFE

In the video, it is said that “science must be guided by some ethical basis that is not dictated by science itself.”
The work of Aristotle entitled Nicomachean Ethics may be one of these ethical bases.

Aristotle’s work contains two works that mainly concern ethics: the Nicomachean Ethics (which may refer to one
of his sons named Nicomachus) and the Eudemian Ethics (which may refer to one of his friends, Eudemus of
Rhodes). Some of the Books in the Eudemian Ethics are identical to that of the Nicomachean Ethics, and it was
thought Eudemian Ethics was written first before Nicomachean Ethics. Nicomachean Ethics, however, is the
more popular of these two Aristotelian works.

The Nichomachean Ethics (abbreviated as NE or sometimes EN), is a work that deals with “the nature of moral
life and human happiness based on the unique essence of human nature”. It is concerned with the "end of the
things we pursue in our actions," what he calls the "best good" for a human being (NE I.2.1094a).

These work containing ten books were originally lecture notes that he taught at the Lyceum. The outline of the
said book is as follows:

NE I.1095a-I.1096a. The best good

NE I.1097b-I.1098a. The argument from function
NE I.1102a-II.1109b. Virtue and the soul
NE III.1109b-1115a. Necessary conditions for virtue
NE III.1115a-IV.1128b. Virtues of character
NE V.1129a-1138b. Justice
NE VI.1138b-1145a. Virtues of thought
NE VII.1145a-1154b. Continence, pleasure
NE VIII.1155a-IX.1172a. Friendship
NE X.1172a-1181b. Pleasure, happiness, legislation

To read Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, you may open this link:

[Link] . In the course of this module, you will be repeatedly referred
to this text.

THE CONCEPT OF EUDAIMONIA

Everyone has their own concept of what characterizes what “good” is. Ancient Greeks believed that good can
be intrinsic (something which is valued for themselves and not for something else) and instrumental (something
which is valued for something else and not for themselves). In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discussed his
concept of what good is, what a good life is, and how to attain it. This concept of eudaimonia (from the Greek
eu meaning good and daimon meaning spirit), which can be translated as the good life, is the subject of Book
1 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.

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To understand the concept of eudaimonia in Aristotle’s work, please read Book 1 of Nicomachean Ethics. In
reading the said book, take note of the following:
a. What good means
b. What happiness means
c. What a good person is
d. What a good life is
e. The difference between humans and other living things

ATTAINING EUDAIMONIA

Now that you have learned the concept of what a good life is, we should now consider how to attain it. Aristotle
argued that the development of a good moral character was the way to bridge the gap between knowing about
the good life and actually living it. This necessitates the formation of good habits. A good habit enables us to
perform certain actions automatically.

Aristotle calls good habits virtues or excellences. Humans have both excellences of intellect (theoretical and
practical reason), a.k.a. intellectual virtue or virtue of thought, and excellences of character, a.k.a moral virtue
or virtue of character.

To understand the concept of virtues and excellences, please read Book 2 of Nicomachean Ethics. In reading
the said book, take note of the following:
a. What virtue and vice means
b. The types of virtues and their characteristics
c. How one can live a life of virtue

SUMMARY

The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:

● Different cultures have different views on human flourishing. Nevertheless, human flourishing has
certain characteristics such as the involvement of practice, sustainment across time, and being involved
in different domains of life.
● Science and technology have certain roles to play in human flourishing. However, letting science be
corrupted may lead to negative impacts with respect to human flourishing.
● Jason Hickel claimed that more growth or shifting growth from developed to developing nations are
inadequate strategies to finally end the problem of poverty. He asserted we have continually going past
our capacity to generate supply of renewable resources and to absorb surplus. Developed countries
are also over-consuming.
● Hickel said that instead of poor countries catching up to grow as much as rich countries, rich countries
could consider reaching more appropriate levels of development. Living long and happy lives, despite
low incomes, could be the target or goal instead of increasing growth. This means that though countries
might have high incomes, this does not equate to a long lives, literate citizens, and generally happy
lives.
● He asserted that countries may consider de-development, a shift of focus from economic growth to life
expectancy and happiness. The idea is for people to aim for having a better value of life instead of
acquiring and producing more: quality over quantity. Though many believe that material gain is not
overly necessary to achieve over-all happiness and many question the current way of thinking about
progress, it is difficult to “sell” the concept of de-development because of the connotations of the
language used by those who promote it, terms such as de-growth, zero growth, de-development, which
implies a backwards way of living. However, the goal is actually becoming appropriately developed.
● According to Hickel, solutions to achieving this goal include banning advertising, a shorter working
week, and a basic income. Hickel warned us that if we insist of too much growth, the environment will
stop us from growing, and that we will up on poverty, something that we aimed to escape from.
● According to Aristotle, every act is aimed at the good and thus the good may be expressed in different
ways. However, the good life is a different thing. He said that the attainment of the ultimate good is
what constitutes the good life.
● Eudaimonia means the good life, which is marked by happiness and excellence. It is a flourishing life
filled with meaningful endeavors that empower the human person to be the best version of
himself/herself.

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● According to Aristotle, man’s “form” comprises a soul, which has a plant-like part, an animal part, and
a rational part.
● Man can only achieve happiness by using all his abilities and capabilities or living a life of virtue.
● Virtue is the excellence of character that empowers one to do good and be good. Its opposite is called
vice.
● According to Aristotle, there are two types of virtue: intellectual and moral.
● Aristotle held that there are three forms of happiness. The first form of happiness is a life of pleasure
and enjoyment. The second form of happiness is a life as a free and responsible citizen. The third form
of happiness is a life as thinker and philosopher. Aristotle then emphasized that all three criteria must
be present at the same time for man to find happiness and fulfillment. He rejected all forms of imbalance.
● Aristotle advocated the “Golden Mean.” The ethics of Aristotle contain echoes of Greek medicine: only
by exercising balance and temperance will I achieve a happy or “harmonious” life.

REFERENCES

● Bandarlipe, M. C. B. et al. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. Bulacan: IPM Publishing. pp. 85
– 87.
● Hickel, J. (2015, September 23) Forget ‘developing’ rich countries, it’s time to ‘de-develop’ rich
countries. The Guardian. Retrieved from [Link]
professionals-network/2015/sep/23/developing-poor-countries-de-develop-rich-countries-sdgs
● Lewis, C. (2012, November 18). The Magician's Twin: C.S. Lewis and the Case against Scientism.
[Video file]. Retrieved from [Link]
● Quinto, Edward Jay M. and Nieva, Aileen D. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. pp. 81 – 94.
Quezon City: C&E Publishing.
● Serafica, J., et al. (2018) Science, technology and society. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore. pp. 50 – 60.
● Casas, J. M. A., Jusayan, P. M., Menor, A. V., & Obanan, S. P. (2020). Science, Technology, and Society. C & E
Publishing, Inc. pp. 146-153.
● McNamara, D. J., Valverde, V. M., & Beleno, R. (2020). Science, Technology, and Society. C & E Publishing, Inc.p.
52.

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