HUMAN FLOURISHING
❑1. Understand the concept of
human flourishing;
❑2. Analyze human flourishing
UNIT
LEARNING
OUTCOMES in relation to the progress of
: science and technology; and
❑3.Conceptualize own
views on human flourishing.
Science and technology
has changed human
landscape.
Man tends to show
unlimited
contentment-eager to
seek better replacement
for anything that
performs the functions
of man.
Robots,
machines and
other
technologies
are intended to
enhance
human
condition, or in
the future,
replace the
human
functions in
the society.
HUMAN BEING
This designates that
Biologists describe human being is a
human as having the complex matter
attributes of living capable of
organisms-including
performing life-
plants and animals.
sustaining
processes.
Human being the
highest form of
these living
organisms, is said
to have
characteristics
which cannot be
substantiated
through mere
science.
Smith (2012) shared that, we can’t turn
to science for an answer because in the
first place, science identified human
with varied opinion and limited
evidence.
Blakemore and Greenfield ( 1987; as cited in Bernaldez, 2001)
recognized that the possession of intellect distinguishes a human
being from another creature.
This intellect supports self-consciousness and awareness sufficient
for the achievement of human’s function, discovery of truth, and
development and mankind.
What is the meaning of human-being
According to
Heidegger,
it was originally the
fundamental question of
philosophy, which was
pursued by the ancient
Greek philosophers but
later on neglected, if not
forgotten, in Western
philosophy
According to
Heidegger,
Furthermore, he argued that asking for
the meaning of the term “being” doesn’t
suggest that the “inquirer” has no idea
about it because in the first place, the
meaning of “being” is associated with the
concept of existence, which means that
the “inquirer” already has the idea on the
term “however vague or incomplete”.
The “inquirer” obviously refers to “man”
as “being”, focuses to the “what” of
human existence.
According to
Heidegger,
This somehow justifies
human being’s
adaptability to
environmental changes
and ability to manipulate
environment in the
interest of survival
Heidegger
used the term
“dasein”
which literally
means “being
there”
focuses on
the “mode of
existence” or
the “who” of
“Dasein”
The “modes of
existence” is
fundamentally
established by two
things:
1.Dasein exist in a
world
2.Dasein has a self
that it defines as it
exist in such world.
(Mabaquiao, n.d)
-Hence this
support
human being’s
capacity to
decide on what
is good or bad
for them
Understanding
Human
Flourishing
Understanding Human Flourishing
It has been
discussed that
human being is
endowed with
innate abilities and
characteristics that
let him sustain his
function and to
survive in the given
environment.
Aristotle’s teachings suggest that each
man’s life has a purpose and that the
function of one’s life is to attain that
purpose.
For Aristotle, happiness
(earthly) is the highest desire
and ambition of all human
beings.
-And to achieve it, one must
cultivate the highest virtues
within oneself.
Aristotle believed that human beings have
a natural desire and capacity to know and
understand the truth, to pursue moral
excellence, and to instantiate their ideals in
the world through action.
-Furthermore, these actions are
geared towards one’s proper
and desired end-flourishing,
happiness or eudemonia.
Etymologically speaking, eudemonia is
consists of Greek words “eu” which means
“good” and “daemon” which means “spirit”.
-meaning “the state of having
good indwelling spirit; a
good genius”.
(also known as Eudaemonism) is a
Greek word, which refers to state of
having a good indwelling spirit of
being in a contented state of being
healthy, happy and prosperous.
In moral philosophy,
eudaimonia is used to refer to
the right actions as those
that result in the well-being
of an individual.
Epicurus (born 341 B.C) was a
Greek philosopher who
contradicted the
metaphysical philosophers. -
he believed that balance and
temperature were created
space for happiness. .
His view is not more of
how happiness can be
defined but more on
theory about the real
source to experience it.
Friedrich Nietzche (1844-1900) was
a German philosopher and cultural
critic who published intensively in
the 1870s and 1880s.
He is known for his criticisms on
psychological analyses that
resulted to opposing ideas on the
people’s received ideas.
Nietzche viewed happiness in
a different way.
For him happiness is an “ideal
state of laziness”.
-Laziness for him is described
as to not have any worries or
or distress in life.
Philosophers’ views are the
evidence of objective sense of how
it means to flourish.
-It accepts that man’s ultimate
Science
desire technology
of living is to flourishand
and human
to
flourishing
experience a life of well-being (life
that goes well for him).
Advances and continuous technological growth are the results of intensified a
application of scientific knowledge to deliver progress in the society.
Scientific applications continuously provide convenience to human lives.
But also because of scientific applications progress become problematic, ethic
even legal concerns.
Flourishing can either be based on the state of mind
(e.g mental habit) or a kind of value (e.g insights,
outlook).
