I

Post-modernism: no delimiting boundaries Era of great scientific strides and unprecedented

technological progress An era of techno-science Science: systematized, researched, body of knowledge, methodology, technological know-how, tested and provable, given conclusion. Theoretical: systematic provable explanations ex: sociology Practical: physical, changeable units, substances, processes, explanations, practical manipulations, can be repeated ex: chemistry, Biology, Physics, etc Technology: reduction of science only to technology techno-science

Techno-science
inconceivable become ordinary de-mystification of realities provides answers and offer solutions to every human problem Mans vocation to conquer the world being realized (Gen 1: 28)

History of technological bloom

Ancient Cosmologists 20th Century Positivism: Bacon, Comte, Carnap, etc Empiricism: Hume
Culture of techno-science: dehumanizing and

epistemologically damaging systems ex: Scientism, Pragmatism, Historicism, etc Arrogance of techno-science: deny the Value of genuine philosophy

Goal of techno-science
To eliminate every constraint that prevents us from

doing as we please. Life must be cosy No place for philosophical thinking Thought is useless when it fails to provide any practical utilitarian ends Philosophy relegated to the analysis of language only

Such situation, such questions

Is it possible to go along with the view that philosophy is no

longer of any value in the world today? Is science with all its technological strides capable of answering all the questions which have ever since rent the human mind and heart?
Mans search for meaning not limited to the confines of

technological knowledge and manipulations Need to seek those deepest causes and reasons of things which eventually boarder around questions of mans origin and destiny, answers which completely elude the grasp of techno-science.

Realm of reality
Chapter One: Philosophical speculations
Chapter Two: Techno-science Beyond chapter Two: the after-world proper to

philosophical speculations leading on to FAITH John Paul II to scientists: I would urge them to continue their efforts without ever abandoning the sapiential horizon within which scientific and technological achievements are wedded to the philosophical and ethical values which are the distinctive and indelible mark of the human person.

II. THE DRAMA OF DISCARDING PHILOSOPHY BY TECHNO-SCIENCE JUST HOW FAR CAN WE GO?
Tendency to discard true philosophy for philosophies

leading to an epistemological schism with the imminent dangers of the utter subjection of man to the manipulations of the very products of his own making This leads to the various forms of rationality

2.1. In the sphere of epistemology

Epistemology: quest for truth
Techno-science: absolutizing false philosophies or

forms of rationality, thus distorting the wholeness of truth These systems of thought include: Scientism, Positivism, Pragmatism, Historicism, Relativism

2.1.1. Scientism and Positivism

Scientism: refuses to admit the validity of forms of knowledge

other than those of the positive sciences; relegates religious, theological, ethical and aesthetic knowledge to the realm of mere fantasy; questions concerning meaning of life as irrational and imaginary. Positivism and neo-positivism: consider metaphysical statements to be meaningless; dismiss values as products of the emotions Reject Christian vision of life and deny every appeal to a metaphysical or moral vision. Truth is only that which science and technology sanctions Science and technology are the only reliable guide to truth

2.1.2. Pragmatism
Go for that which works
William James: the alternative which works better is

true Techno-science is voted as better alternative Abstract philosophical speculations are abandoned Giovanni Papini: pragmatism is less a philosophy than a method of doing without philosophy

2.1.3. Historicism
What may be true in one period may not be true in

another What ultimately becomes true in a given period is that which proves most useful or appealing to that era Truth is sacrificed for relevance All philosophical speculations, moral categories and traditional values are best forgotten to the past

2.1.4. Relativism
Anything goes; man is the measure of all things; there

are no objective standards for truth Anything technology makes possible becomes good, true and to be followed

let philosophy assure its role as queen and mother of all disciplines, probing into the depths and breadths of whatever there is and offering the needed guidance on the path to truth

2.2. In the Sphere of Ethics

Putting aside philosophy produces moral anarchy,

leading to the Culture of Death Hedonism: pleasure is the highest good to be sought after. Do away with anything that stands in the way to attaining the highest amount of pleasure for the highest amount of persons Card. Ratzinger: taking unrestricted pleasure in lifeleads straight to the culture of death. thou shall not kill becomes thou may kill Science without philosophy, that guides and directs it is blind.

2.2.1. Medical Science and Technology

Has led to increase in understanding human life in its

initial stages Are positive and worthy of support when they serve to overcome or correct pathologies and succeed in reestablishing the normal functioning of human procreation Yet, with a host of negative effects on the dignity of man

Negative effects on mans dignity

Embryonic stem cell extraction
Artificial fertilization: In-vitro fertilization Abortion/abortificients

Hi-tech weaponry: weapons technology

Mass media, moral violence and other techno-ills Exploitation of the natural environment

What hope is left? Techno-science left to itself is helpless in the face of this question. We must turn to philosophy.

III. WHO IS MAN IN THE TECHNO-SCIENTIFIC WORLD? CANs and OUGHTs!!!

3.1. Philosophy and its Relevance How scientific is philosophy, how trustworthy are its claims, how verifiable is it? Paul Glenn: Philosophy the science of all things, naturally knowable to mans unaided powers, in so far as these things are studied in their deepest causes and reasons

ANALYSIS OF DEFINITION
Philosophy is a science: systematic, researchable, well

ordered, logical, verifiable methods of inquiry and researched body of knowledge, assent of intellect All things knowable: material object of philosophy is the whole of reality All that man can know by use of his unaided knowingpowers Studies things in their deepest causes and reasons Studies every being in every aspect of being

3.2. Philosophy as Arbitrator

Giving an all-embracing view of the world, giving each

thing its value, placing each category of being where it should be, in the entire universe, putting each science in its place in the total system of human learning 3.2.1. Man know thyself Man as only being for whom his existence is a problem But just who is man? What sort of being is he? Man is Body and Soul: Ramon Lucas, Max Scheler, W. Pannenberg, Battista Mondin etc Task of philosophy to continuously turn man into himself and beyond the changeable variables of this life to some immutable, metaphysical categories, which govern any true system of valuing.

 Will not divorced from reason Freedom not uprooted from responsibility Society not ignore the individual person

Pleasure not be dissociated from conscience

Adversity be faced with virtue K. Jaspers: condemns technology for transforming man into a

mere function in the society H. Marcus: The One Dimensional Man Any talk about development which fails to take into account man in his twofold dimensions of body and soul, matter and form, matter and spirit, is nothing worth the name

Distinction: Development and Mechanization

3.2.2. The Philosophical Foundations of Techno-science

Bertrand Russell: The Value of Philosophy
Principles applicable in techno-science: Identity,

Causality, Non-contradiction etc Metaphysical facts: every created reality must have an Essence, has the power of Becoming etc

IV. PHILOSOPHY AS A CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE

Philosophy is by far necessary in every aspect of

human life such that it should be compulsorily studied by all enrolled in every university worth the name (Fonlon) Field of Medicine Formation of Soldiers

4.1. As Cat. Imp. in University studies

University from Greek: Uni-Versus literally meaning one and in

the direction of, towards, or into. Into one, towards one Connotes a movement or combination of many things into one, resulting in a whole. Newman: university as a Studium Generale Mind formed stamped with the philosophical spirit, the power to embrace the whole range of human knowledge and to distinguish the boundaries and mutual relations of its various domains and methods Always tends towards perfection, seeking true happiness and permitting one not only to live but to live well in the society (Plato and Aristotle) Let no one when young delay to study philosophy or when old grow weary of its studies (Epicurus)

 Philosophy has transcendental dimension Pope Pius XI: education consists essentially in

preparing man for what he must be and for what he must do, in order to attain the sublime end for which he was created. It is clear that there can be no true education which is not directed to mans last end In the present order of providence, there can be no ideally perfect education, which is void of religion. Genuine philosophy equips man and prepares the mind to assimilate the truths of religion and to assent to the supernatural gift of faith

CONCLUSION
Technology and philosophy, opposed or

complementary???

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

Fr. PETER TAKOV (Ph.D) HEAD OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT, STAMS, BAMBUI