Lesson 1

Human Flourishing

Introduction:

Human flourishing is defined as an effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfilment within the
context of a larger community of individuals, each with the right to pursue his or her own such
efforts.

What is Happiness?

 In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be

defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to
intense joy.
 To behaviourists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do
something good or positive.
 To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in the
brain as a reward for behaviour that prolongs survival.

Aristotle:

Eudaimonia, literally means “good spirited”, is a term coined by renowned Greek philosopher
Aristotle (385-323 BC) to describe the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans. This
has often been translated into “human flourishing” in literature, arguably likening humans to
flowers achieving their full bloom.

 Nicomachean Ethics
o The Nicomachean Ethics is a book written by Aristotle named for Nicomachus
which in keeping with the Greek practice of boys being named after their
grandfathers, was the name of both Aristotle's father and his son.
 Aristotle’s human flourishing arises as a result of different components such as
phronesis(practical virtue), friendship, wealth and power
 As time changes, elements that compromise human flourishing changed.
 People found means to live more comfortably, explore more places, develop more
products, and make more money.
 Humans of today are expected to be “man of the world”
 Competition as a means of survival has become passé.
 Coordination is the new trend.
Eastern vs. Western conception regarding society flourishing:

 Eastern conception
o Focus is community-centric.
o Individual should sacrifice himself for the sake of society.
o Chinese Confucian system.
o Japanese Bushido.
o Encourage studies of literature, sciences, and art for a greater cause.

 Western conception
o More focused on the individual.
o Human flourishing as an end.
o Aristotelian view.
o Aims for Eudaimonia as the ultimate good.

Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing

 Every discovery, innovation, and success contributes to our pool of human knowledge.
 Human’s perpetual need to locate himself in the world by finding proofs to trace
evolution.
 Elicits our idea of self-importance
 Technology is a human activity we excel in as a result of achieving science. (Heidegger)
 Good is inherently related to the truth.

Science as Method and Results

 Science stems from objectivity brought upon by a rigid method.

 Claim to reason and empiricism
o Steps in Scientific Method
1. Observe
2. Determine the problem
3. Formulate hypothesis
4. Conduct experiment
5. Gather and analyse
6. Formulate conclusions and provide recommendation

Verification Theory

 A discipline is science if it can be confirmed or interpreted in the event of an alternative

hypothesis being accepted.
 Premium on empiricism
  Takes into account those results which are measurable and experiments which are
repeatable.
 Vienna Circle
 Group of scholars who believed that
o Only those which can be observed should be regarded as meaningful,
o Reject those which cannot be directly accessed as meaningless.
 Suppose, for instance, this girl, Lea has a theory that her classmate Ian
likes her. Good, she thought, I like him too. But how do I know that he
likes me? She began by observing him and his interactions with her.
Several gestures she noted include his always exchanging pleasantries
with her whenever they bump into each other, his big smile when he sees
her, and him going out of his way to greet her even when riding a
jeepney.
 Through these observations, she was then able to conclude that Ian does
like her because, she thought, why would anyone do something like that
for a person he does not like?
 As it turns out, however, Ian is just generally happy to meet people he
knew. He had known Lea since they were in first year and regards her as
a generally okay person. It is no surprise then that upon learning that Ian
basically does this to everyone, Lea was crushed. She vowed to herself
that she would never assume again.

Falsification Theory

Is a tool that distinguished scientific social psychology from folk social psychology, which does
not use the process of falsification.

 As an ideology
 Not proven to be false
 Phenomenon

Theory character

 Allowed emergence or theories

 Verification theory

Research - To determine which among theories can stand the test of falsification.

Karl Propper

 Upheld amidst various test, while being able to make particularly risky predictions
about the world.
 Notorious for stating that up and coming theories.
 MARKS THEORY - Social theory.
Sigmund Freud
 Psychoanalysis
 Not resettable
 Not falsifiable
 Subsequently questioning
 Their status scientific

ALBERT MAJORITY of scientist POPPERIAN in their beliefs and Independent evidence

Ian – everybody’s friend

 He likes to be around people.

Lea – not like Ian.

 Every time Ian waves at lea. She turns away, and when they are in the same
room. She avoids his glance.
 He began greeting her whenever they pass each other, at corridor, and even
going so far as calling her attention.
 When he was in the Jeepney and saw her walking past her. They had the chance
to talk to each other.
 And Ian found that lea is a shy and is not accustomed to people.
 Ian conclude that her impression of her not liking him and been rejected.

Science as a Social Endeavour

 Science as a social endeavour means the application of science to figuring out how the
world works/exists/originated etc. Another dimension of Science as a social endeavour is
to solve various problems, satisfy various needs and sustainable development of society
with the help of scientific knowledge.
 Due to inconclusiveness of the methodologies previous cited, a new school of thought
on the proper demarcation criterion of science emerged. Several philosophers such as
Paul Thagard. Imre Lakatos, Helen longino David Bloor and Richard Rorty, among
others, presenti al alternative demarcation that explores the social dimension of science
and effectively technology.

Science and Results

For the most part, people who do not understand science are won ever when discipline is able
to produce results. Similar to when Jesus performed miracles and garnered followers, people
are sold over the capacity of science to do stuff. They cannot fully comprehend. In this particular
argument, however, science is not the only discipline which is able to produce results--religions.
Luck and human randomness are some of its contemporaries in the field.