Lesson 3: Intellectual Revolutions
Copernican Revolution -Nicolaus Copernicus introduced the concept of Heliocentrism (the Sun is the
center of the Solar System, and not the Earth). This challenged Claudius Ptolemy's Geocentrism (the
Earth is the center).
Darwinian Revolution -Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species, he introduced the Theory of
Evolution (populations pass through a process of natural selection where only the fittest would
survive).
Freudian Revolution -by Sigmund Freud's Theory of Psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is the study that
explains human behavior.
Lesson 4: Science, Technology, and Nation- Building
Pre-Colonial Period -early Filipinos used certain plants and herbs as medicines.
Banaue Rice Terraces was made by hand and primitive tools.
Colonial Period -the Spaniards introduced modern engineering skills and tools. Bureau of Science
was established by the Americans.
Post-Colonial Period -Pres. Marcos established and strengthen several scientific agencies, like PAG-
ASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).
Lesson 5: Human Flourishing
• The human person is both the bearer and beneficiary of science and technology, and he flourishes
and finds meaning in the world he builds. Martin Heidegger -a German philosopher who was a part
of the Continental tradition of philosophy. He focused on Ontology, or the study of 'being,' or dasein
in German. The Essence of Technology
• Science and technology are responsible for the ways of society is continuously being modernized.
• The omnipresence of science and technology must not eclipse the basic tenets of ethics and
morality.
• It should allow the human person to flourish alongside scientific progress and technological
development.
Under Heidegger's "The Question Concerning Technology," there are two definitions of technology:
1. Instrumental -"Technology is a means to an end." Technology is not an end in itself, but a
means to an end. Technology is a tool available to people that desire to make an impact to
society. All in all, technology is an instrument aimed at getting things done.
2. Anthropological -"Technology is a human activity." To achieve an end, and to produce and
use a means to an end is, by itself, a human activity. The production and invention of
technological equipment, tools, machines, devices, etc., and the functions and purpose
these serve are what is defining technology.
• Both definitions are correct but are lacking since it does not tackle the essence of technology.
"Whenever there is an effect, there is a causality."
The Four Causes:
• Martin Heidegger used the metaphor of a silver chalice to present The Four Causes.
1. Causa Materialis -the matter/material used to produce the object (the silver as a raw
material).
2. Causa Formalis -the logos/form/shape the object assumes upon creation (the shape of the
chalice).
3. Causa Efficiens -the person, process, or idea that brought upon the change (the silversmith).
4. Causa Finalis -"Why the object wasmade in the first place?" The final effect of the object
created (the chalice being used for the sacrificial rite).
Technology as a Way of Revealing
• According to Heidegger, the "true" can only be pursued through the "correct." Simply put,
what is correct leads to what is true. Technology is a way of revealing -a mode of "bringing
forth."
Martin Heidegger's Ancient Greek Concepts (technology is a poiesis that reveals the truth):
1. Aletheia -unhiddenness, unclosedneds, truth or disclosure.
2. Poiesis-bringing forth. The act of bringing something out of concealment. By bringing out of
concealment, the truth of such thing is revealed.
• For Heidegger, technology is a form of Poeisis -a way of revealing that unconceals aletheia or
the truth.
3. Techne-root word of technology, meaning skill, art, or craft. Encompasses knowledge and
understanding not only of the craft, but also of other acts of the mind.
Does Modern Technology Bring Forth or Challenge Forth?
• Under Heidegger's concept of the Standing Reserve, it becomes clear that technology is not
directly a poiesis, but as challenging forth (it makes people think how to do things faster, more
effectively, and with less effort).
• Standing Reserve prompts people into dominating and enframing the natural resources of the
planet.
Enframing as Modern Technology's Way of Revealing In the way of enframing (a way of ordering
nature to better manipulate it), there are two ways of looking at the world:
1. Calculative Thinking-humans desire to put an order to nature to better understand and control
it.
2. Meditative Thinking-humans allow nature to reveal itself to them without the use of force or
violence.
•Humans have the constant desire for security, people put all of nature as a Standing Reserve
(Gestell) - always ready for exploitation.
The Dangers of Technology
• The dangers lie on how people let themselves be consumed by technology.
Lesson 6: The Good Life
Eudaimonia - literally "good spirited," a term coined by Aristotle, based on his Nichomachean
Ethics, to describe the pinnacle happiness attainable to humans. From the Greek words eu,
meaning "good" and daimon,meaning "spirit."
Arete -excellence or virtue. Happiness - the ultimate end of human action. It comes from living a
life of virtue (arete), a life of excellence. Types of Virtue:
[Link] -owes its birth and growth to teaching (for which reason it requires experience,
education and time).
[Link]-comes about as a result of habitual practice. As example, moral virtues are courage,
patience, etc.
John Stuart Mill -"The Greatest Happiness Principle"-based on Jeremy Bentham's Felicific
Calculus. It posits that if an action benefits the greatest number of people, it is deemed ethical.
There is no need to attain the happiness of everyone as people have different sources of
happiness.
Schools of Thought which Aim the Good and Happy Life:
1. Materialism-only material things could bring happiness. No need to posit immaterial things
(abstract ideas) as a source of purpose. The Atomists like Democritus and Leucippus proposed
that the world is made up of and is controlled by tiny, indivisible units called atomos, or seeds.
2. Hedonism-the end goal of life is in acquiring pleasure. Life is about obtaining and indulging in
pleasure as life is limited. Their mantra is "eat, drink, and be merry - for tomorrow we die."
3. Stoicism -to generate happiness, one must learn to distance himself and be apathetic (came
from the word apatheia, or indifference). Happiness can only be attained in the careful practice
of apathy. There are things outside of our control (like other peoples' feelings) and the sooner
we realize this, the happier we become.
4. Theism-people find happiness if they use God as the fulcrum of their lives (putting God in the
center of their lives). People base their life goals on beliefs that is hinged on some form of
supernatural reality called Heaven. The ultimate basis of happiness is the communion with God.
5. Humanism -this espouses the freedom of man to carve his own destiny and to legislate his
own laws, free from the shackles of God that monitors and controls. Man is literally the captain
of his own ship.