SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY
AND SOCIETY
HUMAN FLOURISHING

◌ Eudaimonia – “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.

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HUMAN FLOURISHING

◌ Aristotle’s human flourishing arises as a result of

different components such as phronesis (practical
wisdom), friendship, wealth and power.
◌ In the Ancient Greek society, they believe that
acquiring these qualities will surely bring the
seekers happiness, which in effect allows them to
partake in the greater notion of what we call the
Good.

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HUMAN FLOURISHING

◌ As times change, elements that comprise human

flourishing changed, which are subject to the
dynamic social history.
◌ People found means to live more comfortably,
explore more places, develop more products, and
make more money, and then repeating the process in
full circle.

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HUMAN FLOURSHING

◌ From simple machines to make hunting and gathering

easier to grander and more sophisticated machines
to aid people’s endeavors that eventually led to
space explorations, medicine innovations and
ventures of life after death.
◌ Our concept of human flourishing today proves to be
different from what Aristotle originally perceived
then – human of today are expected to become a “man
of the world”.
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HUMAN FLOURSHING

◌ Competition as a means of survival has

become passe; coordination is the new trend.
◌ There is a discrepancy between eastern and
western conception regarding society and
human flourishing.

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HUMAN FLOURSHING

◌ Western civilization – more focused on the

individual. The Greek Aristotelian view, aims for
“eudaimonia” as the ultimate good; a person who
have achieved such state want to serve the
community, but that brought upon through
deliberation based on his values rather than his
belief that the state is greater than him, and thus
is only appropriate that he should recognize it as
a higher entity worthy of service.
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HUMAN FLOURSHING

◌ Eastern civilization – more community centric. In

their view, community takes the highest regard that
the individual should sacrifice himself for the
sake of the society. This is apparent in the
Chinese Confusian system or the Japanese Bushido,
both of which view the whole as greater than their
components. The Chinese and the Japanese encourage
studies of literature, sciences, and art, not
entirely for oneself but in service of a greater
cause.
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HUMAN FLOURSHING

◌ Nevertheless, such stereotypes cannot be said to be

true given the current stance of globalization.
Flourishing borders allowed people full access to
cultures that as a result, very few are able to
maintain their original philosophies. It is in this
regard that we would tackle human flourishing – in
a global perspective and as a man of the world.

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HUMAN FLOURSHING

◌ Nevertheless, such stereotypes cannot be said to be

true given the current stance of globalization.
Flourishing borders allowed people full access to
cultures that as a result, very few are able to
maintain their original philosophies. It is in this
regard that we would tackle human flourishing – in
a global perspective and as a man of the world.

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Science, Technology, and Human Flourishing

◌ Human flourishing is deeply intertwined with goal

setting relevant to science and technology.
◌ Technology is a human activity that we excel in as
a result of achieving science.
◌ Goals of bot the science and technology and human
flourishing are related, in that the good is
inherently related to the truth.

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Science as Method and Results

◌ In school, the scientific method is

introduced in the earlier part of
discussions. Even though the number of
steps varies, it presents a general
idea of how to do science.

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Science as Method and Results

◌ 1. Observe and determine if there

are unexplained occurrences
unfolding.
◌ 2. Determine the problem and
identify factors involved.

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Science as Method and Results

◌ 3. Through past knowledge of similar instance,

formulate synthesis that could explain the said
phenomenon. Ideally, the goal is to reject the
null hypothesis and accept the alternative
hypothesis for the study “to count as
significant” (can also be separated into
additional steps such as “to generate
prediction” or “to infer from past
experiments”)
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Science as Method and Results

◌ 4. Conduct Experiment by setting up

dependent and independent variables, and
trying to see how independent ones affect
dependent ones.
◌ 5. Gather and analyze results throughout and
upon culmination of the experiment. Examine
if the data gathered are significant enough
to conclude results.
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Science as Method and Results

◌ 6. Formulate conclusion and provide

recommendation in case others would
want to broaden the study.

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Verification Theory

◌ The earliest criterion that distinguishes

philosophy and science is verification
theory.
◌ The idea that proposes that a discipline is
science if it can be confirmed or
interpreted in the event of an alternative
hypothesis being accepted.

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Verification Theory

◌ Theory gives premium to empiricism and only

takes into account those results which are
measurable and experiments which are
repeatable.

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Falsification Theory

◌ Falsification Theory asserts that as long as an

ideology is not proven to be false and can best
explain a phenomenon over alternative theories, we
should accept the said theories, we should accept
the said ideology.
◌ It does not promote ultimate adoption of one theory
but instead encourages research in order to
determine which among the theories can stand the
test of falsification.
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Falsification Theory

◌ Karl Popper is the known proponent of this view.

◌ There is no known rule as to the number of instance
that a theory is rejected or falsified in order for it
to be set aside.
◌ There is no assurance that observable event or
“evidences” are indeed manifestations of a certain
concept or “theories”.
◌ Theoretically, falsification method is more accepted,
scientists are still not convinced that it should be
regarded as what makes a discipline scientific.
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Science as a Social Endeavor

◌ Sciences cease to belong solely to gown-

wearing, bespectacled scientists at
laboratories.
◌ The new view perpetuates a dimension which
generally benefits the society.

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Science as a Social Endeavor

◌ For instance, far-off places in South America where

many of the tribes remain uncontacted, do not regard
western science as their science.
◌ Whatever their science is, it can be ascertained that
it is no way inferior to that of globalized people’s
science.
◌ Thus it represents an alternative notion that goes
beyond the boundaries of cold, hard facts science and
instead projects it in a different light, such as a
manifestation of shared experience forging solidarity
over communities. 22
Science and Results

◌ For the most part people who do not understand science

are won over when the discipline is a ble to produce
results.
◌ Science, is not the only discipline which is able to
produce results – religion, luck, and human randomness
are some of its contemporaries in the field.
◌ For some communities without access to science, they
can turn to divination and superstition and still get
the same results.

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Science and Results

◌ Science does not monopolize the claim for

definite results.
◌ Weather reports, for one illustrates
fallibility and limitations of their scope,
as well as their inability to predict
disasters.

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Science as Education

◌ There is no such thing as a singular scientific

method, offering instead a variety of procedures
that scientists can experiment with to get results
and call them science.
◌ In the Philippines, adeptness in science and
mathematics are the primary condition to be
admitted.
◌ Mostly students were oriented to regard science in
a distinct accord.
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How much is too much?

◌ Technology has been a primary instrument in

enabling them to pursue said goal, utilizing
resources, machineries, and labor.
◌ The world’s resources can only provide so much, it
cannot be expected to stretch out for everybody’s
consumption over a long period of time.

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Technology as a Way of Revealing

◌ The term “generation gap” is attributed mainly to

the changes brought about by technology. Although
the idea is for technology to help everyone, it
cannot be denied that until today, not everyone is
comfortable in using the different kinds of
technology.

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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ Our early ancestors’ primal need to

survive paved way for the invention of
several developments.
◌ The motivation to make things easier
has been around since humans are.

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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ 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 – during the advent of Homo sapiens,
tools from stone and flints marked the era of the
Stone Age, and humans began to sharpen stones as
one would a knife; an example of this is the simple
machine called wedge.
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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ 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.

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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ Soon enough, people discovered minerals and began

forging metalwork.
◌ Fur clothing and animal skin are primarily used for
comfort against harsh winds.
◌ They begin to cover themselves up out 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.

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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ Excavations on the latter half of the Stone Age

include several figures thought to be ceremonial,
meaning that perhaps people of that time had
painstakingly wrought and hewed said figures in
honor of some deity.
◌ The 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.
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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ E.g. elephants and mammoths.

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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ mountain god - explain wind currents and ask for

provision.
◌ Water gods – when asking for a good catch.
◌ Sun – one of the generic gods.
◌ They found the need to explain things in a way that
makes sense to them. They realized that there are
events outside their control and attempted to
justify things as being a work of a supernatural
being.
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The Human Condition Before Common Era

◌ Religion remains to be the strongest contender to

science arguably due to its being the most easily
grasped.

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ Driven by 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 megafaunas threatening prospective
hunting spot eventually settling grounds.

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ 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 civilization.

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ Even as a community the people realized that though

they were at most self-sufficient, they were in
constant need of resources.
◌ They realized that they could get hold of things
not present in their towns by offering something of
same value present in theirs.
◌ It is in this process that trade emerged, leading
to cross-town and eventually cross-cultural
interaction as more products were exchanged and the
initial needs extended to wants.
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The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ People then had a new objective –gather as much as

possible. They have turned to wealth as on 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.
◌

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ Nuclear community – is initially self-sufficient

has to accommodate their growing population with
depleting resources, leading them to be reliant to
other communities’ produce which keep them
surviving.
◌ Humanity became more complex. The primary goal was
not merely to survive, but to live the good life.

42
The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ 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.

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The Human Condition in the Common Era

◌ 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:
1. 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.
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The Human Condition in the Common Era

2. Average lifespan. Science is able to prolong lives

by enhancing living status and discovering different
remedies to most diseases.
3. Literacy rate. Access to education provided to more
individuals generally creates a more informed public
that could determine a more just society.
4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is often used to
determine the value of the country’s goods and
services produced within the territory given a certain
time period.
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The Essence of Technology

◌ Modern humans are reliant on technology in their

search for the good life.
◌ Martin Heidegger argued that its essence, or
purpose, and being are different from each other.
◌ Technology can either be:
◌ A means to achieve man’s end;
◌ Constitutes human activity

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The Essence of Technology

◌ The danger presented by too much reliance on

technology:
◌ Humans lose track of things that matter,
reducing their surroundings to their economic
value.

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Backtracking the Human Condition

◌ People 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.

48
The Good Life

◌ In Ancient Greece, long before the word “science”

has been coined, the need to understand the world
and reality was bound with the need to understand
the self and the good life. \
◌ For Plato, the task of understanding the things in
the world runs parallel with the job of truly
getting into what will make the soul flourish.

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The Good Life

◌ It was Aristotle who gave a definitive distinction

between the theoretical and practical sciences.
◌ Theoretical Disciplines:
◌ Logic
◌ Biology
◌ Physics
◌ Metaphysics
◌ Practical Disciplines
◌ Ethics
◌ Politics
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The Good Life

◌ Truth – the aim of the theoretical sciences.

◌ Good – the end goal of the practical sciences.

◌ Every attempt to know is connected in some way in

an attempt to find the “good” or as said in the
previous lesson, the attainment of human
flourishing.
◌ One must find the truth about what the good is
before one can even try to locate that which is
good. 51
The Good Life

◌ We have seen how a misplaced or an erroneous idea

of human flourishing can turn tables for all of us,
make the sciences work against us rather than for
us, and draw a chasm between the search for truth
and for the good.
Questions:
◌ What does it really mean to live a good life?
◌ What qualifies as a good existence?

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Aristotle and How We all Aspire for a Good Life

◌ For Plato, change is so perplexing that it can only

make sense if there are two realities: the world of
forms and the world of matter.

◌ Plato recognized change as a process and as a

phenomenon that happens in the world, that in fact,
it is constant.

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Aristotle and How We all Aspire for a Good Life

◌ World of Matter – things are changing and

impermanent.
◌ World of forms – the entities are only copies of
the ideal and the models, and the forms are the
only real entities.
◌ Things are red in this world because they
participate in what it means to be red in the
world of forms.

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Aristotle and How We all Aspire for a Good Life

◌ Aristotle, for his part, disagreed with his

teacher’s position and forwarded the idea that
there is no reality over and above what the senses
can perceive.
◌ Change is a process that is inherent in things.
◌ We, along with all other entities in the world,
start as potentialities and move toward
actualities.

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Aristotle and How We all Aspire for a Good Life

◌ Every human being moves according to some end.

◌ Every action that emanates from a human person is a
function of the purpose (telos) that the person
has.
◌ Every human person, according to Aristotle, aspires
for an end. This end, we have learned from the
previous chapters, is happiness or human
flourishing.

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Aristotle and How We all Aspire for a Good Life

◌ Every human being moves according to some end.

◌ Every action that emanates from a human person is a
function of the purpose (telos) that the person
has.
◌ Every human person, according to Aristotle, aspires
for an end. This end, we have learned from the
previous chapters, is happiness or human
flourishing.

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Aristotle and How We all Aspire for a Good Life

◌ Aristotle actually means is human flourishing, is a

kind of contentment in knowing that one is getting
the best out of life.

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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ In the 18th century, John Stuart Mill declared the

Greatest Happiness Principle by saying that an
action is right as far as it maximizes the
attainment of happiness for the greatest number of
people.
◌ Mill said that individual happiness of each
individual should be prioritized and collectively
dictates the kind of action that should be
endorsed.
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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ The ethical is, of course, meant to lead us to the

good and happy life.
◌ Man has constantly struggled with the external
world in order to reach human flourishing.
◌ History has given birth to different schools of
thought, all of which aim for the good and happy
life.

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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Materialism
◌ Democritus and Leucippus led a school whose
primary belief is that the world is made up of
and is controlled by the tiny indivisible units
in the world called atomos or seeds.
◌ For Democritus and his disciples the world,
including human beings, is made up of matter.
◌ Atomos simply comes together randomly to form
the things in the world.
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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Materialism
◌ As such, only material entities, matter.
◌ In terms of human flourishing, matter is what
makes us attain happiness.
◌ We see this at work with most people who are
clinging on to material wealth as the primary
source of the meaning of their existence.

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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Hedonism
◌ The hedonists, for their part, see the end goal of life in
acquiring pleasure.
◌ Pleasure has always been the priority of hedonists.
◌ For them, life is about obtaining and indulging in
pleasure because life is limited.
◌ The mantra of this school of thought is the famous, “Eat,
drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”
◌ Led by Epicurus, this school of thought also does not buy
any notion of afterlife just like the materialists.

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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Stoicism
◌ Another school of thought led by Epicurus,
the stoics espoused the idea that to generate
happiness, one must learn to distance oneself
and be apathetic.
◌ The original term, apatheia, precisely means
to be indifferent.
◌ For the stoics, happiness can only be
attained by a careful practice apathy.
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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Stoicism
◌ We should, in this worldview, adopt the fact
that some things are not within our control.
◌ The sooner we realize this, the happier we
can become.

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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Theism
◌ Most people find the meaning of their lives
using God as the fulcrum of their existence.
◌ The ultimate basis of happiness for theists
is the communion with God.
◌ The world where we are in is only just a
temporary reality where we have to maneuver
around while waiting for the ultimate return
to the hands of God.
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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Humanism
◌ Espouses the freedom of man to carve his own destiny
and to legislate his own laws, free from the shackles
of a God that monitors and controls.
◌ For humanists, man is literally the captain of his own
ship.
◌ Humanists see themselves not merely as stewards of the
creation but as individuals who are in control of
themselves and the world outside them.

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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Humanism
◌ This is the spirit of most scientists who
thought that the world is a place and space
for freely unearthing the world in seeking
for ways on how to improve the lives of its
inhabitants.
◌ Scientists of today meanwhile are ready to
confront more sophisticated attempts at
altering the world for the benefit of
humanity.
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Happiness as the Goal of a Good Life

◌ Humanism
◌ Some people now are willing to tamper with
time and space in the name of technology.

◌ Whether or not we agrre with these

technological advancements, these are all
undertaken in the hopes of attaining the good
life.
◌ The balance, however, between the good life,
ethics, and technology
69 has to be attained.
Activities

Good Life Collage.

◌ Cut out pictures in magazines or newspapers that
demonstrates how technology has made the man’s
desire for a happy life more realizable. You may
also opt to print out pictures from websites and
other sources. Explain how these technological
advancements have made the campaign for the
attainment of good life easier or otherwise.
Present it in class.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

◌ The ever-growing society has made people see

technology as form of necessity.
◌ The word “technology” came from the Greek words
techne which means art and logos – word/study.
Taking the two words together, technology means
a discourse on arts. (Buchanan, 2010)
◌ The fact cannot be denied that technology is
already an inevitable part of the society.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

◌ Technology brings many different benefits to mankind.

◌ It does not bring convenience but also pleasure and
happiness to people.
◌ In general, technology keeps on progressing due to
not only the changing times and environment but also
the ever-progressing mind of mankind.
◌ It would not be possible for all these technological
advancements to exist if it were not for the
brilliance, creativeness, and power of the mind.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

◌ However, it is also important to note that

anything too much is bad.
◌ The same problem is faced by technology.
Although it has been very helpful to people, it
is still not immune to criticisms and blacklash.
◌ Various ethical dilemmas have been identified
throughout time involving the use of different
technological devices and its effects to
humanity.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Television Sets, Mobile Phones, Computers, and

Humanity.

◌ People all over the world use these technologies

every day to accomplish different purposes.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Television Sets
◌ Television plays a great role in the lives of
the people.
◌ Television was a product of different
experiments by various people.
◌ According to Kantar Media, one of the most
trusted television audience measurement
providers, in the Philippines, 92% of urban
homes and 70% of rural homes own at least 1
television set.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Television Sets
◌ Paul Gottlieb Nipkow – a German student, in the
late 1800s was successful in his attempt to send
images through wires with the aid of a rotating
metal disk. This invention was then called the
“electric telescope” that had 18 lines of
resolution.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Television Sets
◌ Allan Archibald Campbell-Swinton (English
scientist)
◌ Boris Rosing (Russian scientist) – created a new
system of television by using the cathode ray
tube in addition to the mechanical scanner
system. This success story gave rise to two
types of television systems – mechanical and
electronic television.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Television Sets

◌ These experiments inspired other scientists to

improve the previous inventions, which led to
the modern television people now have.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Mobile Phones
◌ More than half of the Filipino population own at
least one mobile phone regardless of type.
◌ On April 3, 1973 – Martin Cooper, a senior
engineer at Motorola, made the world’s first
mobile phone call.
◌ The mobile phone used by Cooper weighed 1.1 kg
and measured 228.6 x 44.4 mm. This kind of
device was capable of a 30-minute talk time.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Mobile Phones
◌ However, it took 10 hours to charge.
◌ In 1983, Motorola made their first commercial
mobile phone available to the public, known as
the Motorala DynaTAC 8000X.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Computers and Laptops

◌ There are some Filipino families who own more
than one computer or laptop while some own at
least one computer or laptop.
◌ Most of the profits gained by computer and
laptop manufacturers come form offices,
businesses, or schools where such devices have
become part of their necessities.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Computers and Laptops

◌ In line with the growing number of computer and
laptops sales, there has also been a growing
number of Internet users in the Philippines.
◌ It was Charles Babbage, a 19th century English
Mathematics professor, who designed the
Analytical Engine which was used as the basic
framework of the computers even until the
present time.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

Computers and Laptops

◌ Computers can be classified into three
generations.
◌ The first design of computer was so big that
it could occupy whole floors of building.
◌ The first true portable computer was released
in April 1981. It was called the Osborne 1.

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When Technology and Humanity Cross

◌ A typical household owns at least four of the

following devices:
◌ Mobile phone 89%
◌ Smartphone 53%
◌ Tablet 14%
◌ Desktop 39%
◌ Laptop or netbooks 37%
◌ Smart TV 4%
◌ These data proves the deep-seated fascination of
Filipinos to different technological devices.
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When Technology and Humanity Cross

◌ Here are some facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets
and Internet (Rapler, nd.):
◌ Moblie phone subscription is at 119 million
◌ Filipino spend approximately 3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2
hours on desktop daily.
◌ Currently, The Philippines has one of the highest digital
populations in the world.
◌ There are now 47 million active Facebook accounts in the
Philippines.
◌ The Philippines is the fastest-growing application market
in Southeast Asia.
85
Roles Played by These Technological Advancements

◌ Television sets, mobile phones, and computers or

laptops all have different functions and roles
played in the lives of the people.
◌ These roles have become so essential that
people, more specifically Filipinos, developed a
strong inclination toward technology and its
products.

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Roles Played by These Technological Advancements

◌ Television
◌ Mainly used as a platform for advertisement
and information dissemination.
◌ Serves as a recreational activity and good
stress reliever to most families.
◌ A good platform for different propaganda and
advocacies.
◌ A good way to bond with one’s family members.

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Roles Played by These Technological Advancements

◌ Mobile Phones
◌ Primarily use for communication.
◌ Many additional features included.
◌ It is very portable and convenient because it
can fit into any spaces, may it be inside the
pocket or bag.

88
Roles Played by These Technological Advancements

◌ Personal Computers and Laptops

◌ Used to surf the Internet and communicate.
◌ Has a wide keyboard than using a mobile
phone.
◌ Availability of a mouse or a touchpad made
these devices easier to maneuver than mobile
phones.
◌ Allow the young ones to play with comfort and
convenience.
89
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by These Technological
Advancements

◌ While it is true that these technological

devices are useful and beneficial, the fact
remains that there are several dilemmas faced
by these “necessities”.
◌ First, most parents would argue that these
devices make their children lazy and
unhealthy.
◌ People become overly dependent on these
technological devices.
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Ethical Dilemmas Faced by These Technological
Advancements

◌ Another dilemma is the moral dilemma,

children who are not capable yet of
rationally deciding for themselves what is
wrong or right, are freely exposed to
different things on television, mobile
phones, laptops, or computers.
◌ This makes them very vulnerable to character
change and can greatly affect the way they
view the world and the things around them.
91
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by These Technological
Advancements

◌ Some would argue that technology brings

people together, it can also be argued that
this is not always the case in the real world
because it may bring them virtually closer
but not physically or personally.
◌ This just shows that there are things that
technology claims to do but in reality, doe
not.

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Ethical Dilemmas Faced by These Technological
Advancements
◌ It can be said that these reasons make such devices somewhat
unethical because they bring undesirable consequences to
people.
◌ The word “responsibility” in the sense of being accountable
for and accountable to is very appropriate to the ethics of
technology because it makes each and every person in the
scientific-technological development a proxy with reference
to one another.
◌ In other words, each person must indicate the priorities ,
values, norms, and principles that constitute the grounds for
one’s actions and define one’s contribution to the
scientific-technological event.

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Robotics and Humanity

◌ Robots are now widely used.

◌ There are now the so-called SERVICE
ROBOTS.
◌ These particular robots do specific
tasks but focus mainly in assisting
their masters in their everyday tasks.

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Robotics and Humanity

95
Robotics and Humanity

◌ The International Federation of

Robotics (IFR) and United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
made it their task to formulate a
working definition for service robots.

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Robotics and Humanity

◌ A robot is an actuated mechanism

programmable in two or more axes with a
degree of autonomy, moving within its
environment, to perform intended tasks.
Autonomy in this context means the
ability to perform intended tasks based
on current state and sensing without
human intervention.
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Robotics and Humanity

◌ A service robot is a robot that performs

useful tasks for humans or equipment
excluding industrial automation
application.
◌ Note: A robot may be classified according
to its intended application as an
industrial robot or a service robot.

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Robotics and Humanity

99
Robotics and Humanity

◌ A personal service robot or a service

robot for personal use is a service robot
used for a noncommercial task, usually by
laypersons. Examples are domestic servant
robot, automated wheelchair, personal
mobility assist robot, and pet exercising
robot.

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Robotics and Humanity

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Robotics and Humanity

◌ A professional service robot or a service robot for

professional use is a service robot used for a
commercial task, usually operated by a properly
trained operator. Examples are cleaning robot for
public places, delivery robot in offices or
hospitals, fire-fighting robot, rehabilitation robot,
and surgery robot in hospitals. In this context, an
operator is a person designated to start, monitor,
and stop the intended operation of a robot or a robot
system.
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Robotics and Humanity

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Robotics and Humanity

◌ Germany was one of the first countries to develop

service robots. As part of the German Federal
Ministry of Education and Research’s “Service
Robotics Innovation Lead Initiative,” it sponsored a
collaborative project called DESIRE (Deutsche
Servicerobotik Initiative-Germany Service Robotics
Initiative) which was launched on October 1, 2005.
DISERE has the following individual objectives
(DESIRE, 2009):

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Robotics and Humanity

◌ To achieve a technological edge toward ataining key

functions and components that are suited for everyday
use
◌ To create a reference architecture for mobile
manipulation
◌ To promote the convergence of technologies through
integration into a common technology platform
◌ To conduct pre-competition research and development
activities for new products and technology transfer
in start-up enterprises in the field of service
robotics.
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Robotics and Humanity

◌ Just like people living in the society, robots also

have their own set of rules and characteristics that
define what a good robot is. These laws were
formulated by Isaac Asimov back in the 1940s, when he
was thinking of the ethical consequences of robots.
These are the following:
◌ Law One: A robot may not injure a human being or,
through inaction, allow a human being to come to
harm.

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Robotics and Humanity

◌ Law Two: A robot must obey the orders given it by

human beings except where such orders would conflict
with the First Law.
◌ Law Three: A robot must protect its own existence as
long as such protection does not conflict with the
First or Second Law.

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