Lessons on STS and the Human Condition: Science and Technology

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on science, technology, and the human condition, focusing on philosophical insights and the role of technology in human flourishing.

What does St. Augustine suggest about human beings in relation to God?

Human beings were created by God, the Supreme Good, who has endowed them with intellect and the freedom to choose what is good.

What is the essence of human flourishing according to Aristotle?

Human flourishing requires a life with other people and involves acquiring virtues through practice.

What does Eudaimonia mean?

Eudaimonia combines the Greek words for 'good' and 'spirit', defining happiness as the pursuit of becoming a better person.

What are Aristotle's Four Causes?

1. Material Cause: the substance something is made of. 2. Formal Cause: the shape or form. 3. Final Cause: the purpose for which it exists. 4. Efficient Cause: the agent that brings it into existence.

What does Heidegger mean by enframing in technology?

Enframing is a mode of revealing that challenges nature and requires man's active engagement to uncover hidden potentials.

What are the principles of human flourishing?

1. Dignity of the human person 2. Common good 3. Preferential option for the poor 4. Subsidiarity 5. Universal purpose of goods 6. Stewardship of creation 7. Promotion of peace 8. Participation 9. Global solidarity.

How do technological pessimism and optimism differ?

Pessimism views technology as potentially harmful and a means to an end, while optimism sees it as a solution to human problems and the ultimate authority.

What is the danger of the nonstop revealing in modern technology according to Heidegger?

As technology reveals certain aspects of reality, it may conceal others, leading to a one-dimensional understanding of existence.

What role does happiness play in psychology and philosophy?

In psychology, happiness is defined as emotional well-being; in philosophy, particularly in hedonism, it is pursued as the absence of pain and the presence of pleasure.

How can the relationship between man and technology be improved according to Heidegger?

By allowing nature to reveal itself while maintaining a free relationship with technology, rather than being controlling or manipulative.