ALDERSGATE COLLEGE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

MODULE 3: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN CONDITION

LESSON 2
Technology as a Way of Revealing

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
 explain the concept of human condition BEFORE science technology;
 identify the change that happened in human condition AFTER science and technology; and
 Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about the human being.

INTRODUCTION: (ezi)
 Comparing the lives of the people before and now will make anyone realize the changes that happened in society not just in
terms of culture, language, or rights but more importantly, changes in people’s way of life due to the existence of science and
technology.
 The term “generation gap” is attributed mainly to the changes brought about by technology. Although the original idea is for
technology to help everyone, it cannot be denied that until today, not everyone is comfortable in using the different kinds of
technologies. Mostly those who belong to the older generation think that these technologies are too complicated to operate.
They have been used to the simple living in the past and these available technological devices, though very appealing, are a
difficult puzzle to them.
 However, this gap is not something to be worried about. This does not in any way make technology a villain. Instead, it is a
challenging for people in the field of science and technology to make these technological advancements more accessible and
less confusing for people who are not as young anymore. This is also a challenge for the younger generation to take the older
generation to an exciting journey in science and technology. In this way, everyone can experience what it is like to live with
ease and comfort because of the availability of modern technology.
 Even before, people are already fascinated with science and technology. This fascination led to numerous magnificent
inventions that people in the present are able to enjoy and benefit from. Through science and technology, people get to
experience what it really means to live because it helps people in more ways than one.
 People who lived in the past and people who are living in the present all have views of what it means to flourish, primarily due
to the kind of environment and the period one is in.
 People’s ways of life and how the society works also affect how one construes the concept of human flourishing. The
environment need to be assessed in order to know the possibility of human flourishing and to what extent it is possible.
 Since there have been drastic changes in people’s way of life, it can be inferred that there have been drastic changes not only
in the conception of human flourishing but to people’s actual human condition.
 These changes were brought about by the interplay of different factors but essentially, it was brought about by science and
technology.

The Human Condition before Common Era (zo)

 Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved way for the invention of several developments. Gifted with brains more
advanced than other creatures, humans are able to utilize abundant materials for their own ease and comfort.
 As it is difficult to pinpoint the particular period where technology is said to have started, one can say that at the very least, the
motivation to make things easier has been around since human are.
 Homo erectus have been using fire to cook, through chipping one flint over the other to produce a spark, all the
while without realizing the laws of friction and heat.
 Homo sapiens. Tools from stone and flints marked the era of the Stone Age, during the advent of our very own
Homo Sapiens, and humans began to sharpen stones as one would use a knife; an example of this is the simple
machine called wedge.

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ALDERSGATE COLLEGE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
 This particular period proved to be difficult for our ancestors, but in a remarkably distinct way. There is little to no written
accounts except for several cave drawings and unearthed artifacts from various parts of the world that narrate how their
culture came to be. It then proves that there is little capacity for our ancestors to contemplate and perceive thing outside
themselves in a more reflective manner.
 For instance, there are several excavations in different parts of Europe of miniature statues prevalent during the
Paleolithic period, the so-called “Venus” figure. It depicts a rudimentary carving of a voluptuous woman out of ivory or
stone.
 The reason behind this is still unknown to archaeologists and anthropologists alike; they can only infer that the
humans of yesterday have a certain fixation on the female anatomy. What did this fascination translate to? Lack of
conclusive evidence hinders us from proceeding any further.
 Soon enough, people discovered minerals and began forging metalwork. They realized that these substances are more
durable, malleable and have more luster than the previous material. On the other hand, there are some indicators that humans
in the past share the same concerns and interests, suggesting that these inclinations persist through multitudes of generation
over several millennia.
 Fur clothing and animal skin are primarily used for comfort against harsh winds – our ancestors are able to draw the
connection between their being naked and vulnerable due to some lack of fur or protective covering which would
otherwise allow them to withstand extreme weather conditions.
 They begin to cover themselves up us of necessity, and gradually, added several more to their garments. Some of
those found at excavation sites are reminiscent of early accessories, suggesting that our ancestors have been deeply
engaged in the concept of beauty.
 Perhaps, they had taken a liking to a certain shiny stone, or a perfectly shaped bone, and wanted to wear it as
trophy. What does this tell of them and their philosophies? Were they proud to show off their hunt and how good of a
hunter they were? Were they concerned with social standing and stratification? How about the meaning of life? Were
they also curious on finding explanations to certain phenomena?
 At least for the last question, it seems that they have found their answer in the person of religion. Excavations on the latter half
of the Stone Age include several figures thought to be ceremonial, meaning, that perhaps people of the time had also
painstakingly wrought and hewed said figures in honor of some deity.
 This notion, as it was then and as it is now, is often people’s resort to make sense of events happening outside their
control. This initial roster of primitive gods includes objects they encounter through their day-to-day lives, so it is not
surprising that different tribes may have different gods.
 Those who have lived alongside majestic creatures, such as elephants and mammoths, might have been awed by
their size and worshipped them as the owner of the land, asking for blessings in their hunting ground.
 On the contrary, they might have hunted the mammoths for their woolly coat and meat, taking down the animal for
the entire community to eat. In windy places near mountains, they might have had a mountain god to explain wind
currents and ask for provisions.
 On the other hand, those who were near coastal areas or bodies of water might have had water gods they referred to
when asking for a good catch. However, it might be also the case that people of prior civilizations shared several
generic gods, such as the sun.
 Nevertheless, it can be positively inferred that like the people of today, our ancestors also found the need to explain things in a
way that makes sense to them. They quickly realized that there are events outside of their control and attempted to justify
things as being a work of a supernatural being.
 Throughout the course of history, religion remains to be the strongest contender to science arguably due to its being the most
easily grasped. Admittedly, once people stop connecting the dots between cause and effect, they turn to something that could
possibly explain in their inadequacies in making sense of the world.
 The people of yesterday appeared to have acknowledged early on that they could only do and understand as much, that
perhaps other powers at play also existed alongside them.
 This notion effectively humbled and perhaps grounded them, with their constant befuddlement serving as an early reminder
that they were way behind several larger, more powerful forces in nature in terms of order of things.

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ALDERSGATE COLLEGE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

The Human Condition in the Common Era (elle Sophia)

 For a long time, humans were content with their relationship with nature. Earliest case of man-made extinction occurred over
12,000 years ago, possibly brought upon by hunting and territorial disputes.
 The Holocene Extinction, also called the sixth extinction or more aptly Anthropocene extinction, occurred from as early as
between 100,000 to 200,000 years up to the present. It pertains to the ongoing extinction of several species – both
flora(plants) and faun(animals) -due to human activity.
 Driven by their primal need to survive and gaining the upper hand in terms of development and adaptability, humans were
quick to find ways to drive off other mega faunas threatening a prospective hunting spot and eventually, settling grounds.
 Growing population also necessitated finding additional resources, leading to overhunting and overfishing common prey, some
of which were endemic to the area. Hunting, coupled with a changing terrain that the humans began cultivating when
agriculture emerged some 9,000 years ago, caused several species to lose competition in territory and food resources.
 Formation of communities caused humans to expand more in territory and more people to feed; large, separate communities
hailing from the same ancestors and residing in the same large community paved way for civilizations. Even as a community,
the people realized that though they were at most self-sufficient, they were in constant need of resources.
 Albeit waging wars with other tribes seemed to be the early solution, they were able to find out some 5,000 years ago that
engaging in a peaceful negotiation was also a possible and less bloody method.
 They realized that they could get hold of things not present in their towns by offering something of same value present in their.
It is in this process that trade emerged, leading to cross-town and eventually cross-natural interaction as more products were
exchanged and the initial needs extended to wants.
 People then had a new objective – gather as much products as possible. They have turned to wealth as one of their goals as
humans and ultimately as civilizations, for they perceived that those who have many, live comfortably and thus are generally
happier than those who do not have sufficient wealth. Thus, they began to hunt, farm and produce things with prospect of
profit.
 A nuclear community which is initially self-sufficient has to accommodate their growing population with depleting resources,
leading them to be reliant to other communities’ produce which keeps them surviving. In return, these communities have to
make use of their current resources twice as much to provide for other communities’ needs.
 Products of every kind were exchanged, ranging from necessary ones such as crops, cattle, poultry, others of kind, and
clothing materials, up to metals, accessories, weapons, spices, literature and entertainment. They were able to find and create
niches for interests. When they could not sell products, they used their skills and got compensated for it – bringing forth a
specialized group of artisans. Humanity became more complex. The primary goal was not merely to survive, but to live the
good life.
 Technology has been instrumental in all of these because in searching for the good life, people were able to come up with
creations that would make life easier, more comfortable, and more enriching.
 Although the good life envisioned before might be pale in comparison to the multifariousness of today, it offered us the initial
intricacies of how today came to be. Such intricacies are also evident in the machines created and causes endeavored by the
people of long ago.
 They perceive death as at the very least, unpleasant and concocted potions to ward evil off from their kinsmen, often
appealing to their gods for blessings. Medicine was thus born, although it would take a considerably long time before it part
ways with potion.
 They became fixated with gold and were adamant in procuring more, trying to use incantations with mixtures of substances to
turn lead into one. This ultimately paved way for the emergence of chemistry in its primitive form, not quite distinct from
alchemy. Due to the differing races, belief, or abundance of resources and/or territory, wars were always being waged, leading
communities to allocate resources to the militia.
 Initially, the early leaders were those who portrayed exceptional strength among their group-this condition carried on for
generations. Physical strength was valued at most, although there appeared to be as many intellectually gifted figures just the
same. These innovators were primarily the ones behind discoveries and triumphs of these civilizations.

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ALDERSGATE COLLEGE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
 Position-wise, the humans of today are much better off compared to humans several centuries ago. Advancements in
medicine, technology, health, and education ushered in humanity’s best yet, and show no sign of stopping.
Below are some of the notable comparisons then and now:
 Mortality Rate. Due to technology, lesser women and children die during birth, assuring robust population and strong
workforce. Medical care for premature infants allows them to survive and develop normally, while proper maternal
care ensures that mothers can fully recover and remain empowered.
 Average Lifespan. Aside from the reason that people engage less in combat and are less likely to die in treatable
diseases now as opposed to then, science is able to prolong lives by enhancing living status and discovering different
remedies to most diseases. Distribution of medicines is also made easier and faster.
 Literacy Rate. Access to education provided to more individuals generally creates a more informed public that could
determine amore just society.
 Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although not an indicator of an average person’s lifestyle in a certain country, it is
often used to determine the value of the country’s goods and services produced within the territory given a certain
time period. Higher country income is brought upon by high productivity, often an indicator of presence of technology.

The Essence of Technology ( mery jennii)

 Humanity has indeed come a long way from our primitive ways, and as a general rule, it is said that we are more “developed”
than we were before. Above data are few indicators of the route that we have come to take as species, and there are no signs
of stopping.
 Modern humans are reliant on technology in their search for the good life. We see ways and means from nature to utilize and
achieve growth – a goal that we believe would be bring forth betterment.
 In retrospect, this view of technology proves to be goal-oriented. It assumes that it is instrumental in achieving goal in mind,
that it is a purposeful, deliberate craft humans steer in order to reach some greater good. In the advent of postmodernism,
however, the deterministic view appended to technology crumbled as people began to question if anything is deterministic at
all.
 Apart from its purpose, what is technology? Was the history of technology brought purposeful choices for man in his search for
the ultimate good? Some tried to redefine technology away from its purpose. One philosopher by the name of Martin
Heidegger argued that its essence, or purpose, and being upon identifying that technology can either be perceived as first, a
means to achieve man’s end and second, that which constitutes human activity.
 The second perspectives paints technology in such a way that each period reveals a particular character regarding man’s
being. A characteristic design, or flaw, unfolds based on the repercussions brought upon by immersing ourselves with a piece
of new technology. In effect, through technology, a myriad of new questions begins to mount. Rather than thinking that human
have a clear idea of what to expect in a good life, it can be stated that technology allows humans to confront the unknown and
see how they would react.
 This is not a good thing altogether though, for technological revelation is but one of the many ways to perceive the world.
However, as long as humans are invested in growth and development, we cannot distance ourselves from this perspective. In
the name of growth, we view the world as a field of resources, vent on attributing monetary value on seemingly priceless
entities.
 We begin to categorize nature as renewable and nonrenewable instead of seeing it as it is. Humans are reduced into the
amount of productivity they are able to render during their lifetime, and our current mindset is geared toward which would
utilize our own skills.
 A good life is one which is practical in essence; a life which makes use of our labor and which we get compensated fairly
upon. It is no wonder that the sciences are one of the most sought after courses, for the opportunities are plenty and the
resources are bountiful.
 Since humans appear not to really know what they are seeing for, the search continues. It is a looming fear, however, that the
path we are treading will not take us to the right direction, leading us in endless circles in our pursuit of the good life.
 This is the danger presented by too much reliance on technology. Humans lose track of things that matter, reducing their
surroundings to their economic value. As this presents strong backing by the sciences whose reverence is also brought upon

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ALDERSGATE COLLEGE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
by our deluded enchantment with technology, it will prove to be a herculean task to distance ourselves from this perspective
and consider alternatives.
 After all, it was science and technology that gave us explanations, which worked for us and benefited us. Rejecting a working,
tried-and-tested process seems foolish, more so, knowing that there are no options of equal value. It will be absurd to venture
the dark and the unknown, but it should be done in order for us to retrace our steps to be able to achieve the Good.

Backtracking the Human Condition (ezii)

 Technology’s initial promises proved to be true, regardless of its ramifications. All in all the human condition improved, only if
by improving we measure the level of comfort, various scientific breakthroughs, and improved lifestyles of those who had the
luxury to afford to do so.
 Different machineries aid in prolonging lives—assisting those with disabilities, honing efficiency in industrial workplaces, and
even exploring the universe for places we can thrive once all the Earth’s resources are depleted. As to the initial aims, it
appears that things really did not much differ. Some places in the world are still battling for their daily survival—diseases, tribe
wars, lack of habitable territories, and competitions on resources are several factors contributing to such.
 People still wage wars on the basis of races, beliefs, and abundance of resources and/or territory; except that now, they are
able to inflict such in a global scale. A lot of people still subscribe to religion in explaining things that they do not know. For
those who have ceased to do so, they have turned their worships to reverence of science. Whether science or religion, there
people are still bent on trying to make sense of the events happening in the world on the basis of either of these two
paradigms.
 They are still trying to discover and rediscover things that would give meaning to their lives—whether it be honor,
strength, or merit. People are still trying to make sense of their existence in the world, and technology does little to
aid them in their pursuit of life’s meaning.
 It seems that the human condition, although more sophisticated, is nothing but a rehashed version of its former self. Nothing
much has changed since then, and it appears that nothing will change in the times to come if we fail to shift our view
elsewhere. While it is true that technology offered us one compelling notion of the truth and the good, we should be staunch in
our resolve if we want to know the real one.
 For the starters, we might begin with considering other concepts, which corresponds to the Good, such as Aristotle’s
conception of human flourishing. His notion entertains the idea of holistic enrichment of a person situated in his
society.
 A notable distinction on Aristotle’s idea is his subscription on evaluative concepts called virtues and their role in
achieving the good life.
 Technological advancements are seemingly occurring in a rapid pace that our morality cannot quite keep up; no such
consideration was given in this approach in achieving the good life.

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