course unit session 8- human flourishing

Science, Technology and Society

COURSE MODULE

COURSE UNIT

Session

6

2

3

Human Flourishing

  • Read course and unit objectives

  • Read study guide prior to class attendance

  • Read required learning resources; refer to unit

terminologies for jargons

  • Proactively participate in classroom discussions

  • Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)

  • Answer and submit course unit tasks

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

1. Identify different concepts of human flourishing.

2. Relate human flourishing to the progress of science and technology.

3. Critique human flourishing vis-a vis the progress of science and technology.

Hickel, J. 2015). Forget ‘developing rich countries, it’s time to de-develop ‘rich countries. http://www.the guardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/sep/23/ developing-poor-countries-de-develop-rich countries-sdgs

Human flourishing is defined as an endeavor to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment within the context of a larger community of individuals. This also means access to the pleasant life, the engaged or good life and the meaningful life.

(Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson, 2005), stated that human flourishing requires the development of attributes and social and personal levels that exhibit character strengths and virtues that are commonly agreed across different cultures.

According to Aristotle, there is an end of all the actions that we perform which we desire for itself. Flourishing is the greatest good of human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim. The good is what is good for purposeful and goal-directed entities. He presented the various popular conceptions of the best life for human beings; (1) a philosophical life, (2).life of pleasure and (3) a life of political activity.

Eudamonia means good spirit is a property of one’s life when considered as a whole. It is formally egoistic in that a person’s normative reason for choosing particular actions stems from the idea that he must pursue his own good or flourishing. It also implies a divine state of being that humanity is able to strive toward and possibly reach.

Happiness is “doing well” and” living well”. It is a pleasant state of mind.

Verbally there is a very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement say that is ( Eudaimonia), and identify living well and faring well with being happy; but with regard to what ( Eudaimonia) is they differ, and the many do not give the same account as the wise… (Nicomachean Ethics 1095a17).

Epicurus identifies that the eudaimon life is the life of pleasure maintains that life of pleasure coincides with the life of virtue. He understands Eudaimonia as a more or less continuous experience of pleasure and, also freedom from pain and distress. Virtue is only instrumentally related to happiness.

Socrates believed that virtues such as self-control, justice, courage, wisdom, piety and related qualities of mind and soul are absolutely crucial if a person is to lead a good and happy life. Virtues guarantee a happy life Eudaimonia

For Plato, Eudaimonia depends on virtue (arête) which is depicted as the most crucial and the dominant constituent of euddaimonia.

Pyrrho, founder of Pyrrhonism, a school of philosophical skepticism that places the attainment of ataraxia (a state of equanimity) as a way to achieve Eudaimonia. Pyrrhonist practice is for the purpose of achieving epoch.

Dasein” which literally means “being there” focuses on the “mode of existence”

Eudemonia is consists of Greek words “eu” which means “good” and “daemon” which means “spirit”.

Dayrit, F. (2011). Sustainable Development: An Evolving Paradigm for the 21st Century. Stellar Origins, Human Ways.

Study Questions

After Reading the article “Forget ‘developing rich countries, it’s time to de-develop ‘rich countries” by Jason Hickel. Answer the following questions;

  1. What is the standard response to eradicating poverty?

  2. According to the majority of people in middle-and high-income countries, what puts the planet and society at risk?

  3. What are the two indicators of the quality of life given in the article?

  4. According to Hickel, what must be done instead of urging poor countries to “catch up with rich ones?

Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics.1095a17.

Eudaimonia- Wikipedia. en.m.wikipedia.org.

McNamara, DJ., VAlverde VM, Beleno III, R. Science, technology and Society.C&E Publishing Inc. 2018. Chapter 7 pp. 78-80. ISBN: 978-971-98-0935-7