Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM7-GESTS-2NDSEM-2020-2021

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Bayombong Campus

DEGREE PROGRAM BS MATH/BSIS/ COURSE NO. GE STS

BSED
SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
YEAR LEVEL 1&2 TIME FRAME 3 HOURS WK NO. 9 IM NO. 7

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Chapter II – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY AND THE
HUMAN CONDITION

II. LESSON TITLE: Lesson 2 – Technology as a Way of Revealing

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

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.
IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson students should be able to:
1. Explain the concept of human condition before science technology
2. Identify the change that happened in human condition after science and technology
3. Name ways on how technology aided in revealing the truth about
the human being
V. LESSON CONTENT: Lesson 2
2.1. Human Condition Before and During the Common Era
2.2. The Essence of Technology
2.3. Backtracking the Human Condition
VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES
▪ 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 challenge 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 https://www.silicon.co.uk/data-storage/storage/tales-tech-history-floppy-disk-209049
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 accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 1 of 6

 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM7-GESTS-2NDSEM-2020-2021

in the present all have different 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 needs 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.

For additional info you can open said link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G29NRlx1Bh8&t=2s

2.1. The Human Condition Before Common Era

• 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.
• 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. Tools from stone
and flints marked the
era of the Stone Age,
during the advent of our
own Homo sapiens, and
humans began to
sharpen stones as one
would a knife; an
example of this is the
simple machine called
wedge.
▪ 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 materials.
In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 2 of 6

 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM7-GESTS-2NDSEM-2020-2021

▪ For clothing and animal skin are primarily used for comfort against harsh winds – our ancestors are able to
draw connection between their being naked and vulnerable due to lack of fur or protective covering. They
began to cover themselves up out of necessity, and gradually, added several more to their garments.

The Human Condition in the Common Era

• 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.
• 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 megafaunas 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.
• 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 large community paved way for
civilizations.
• People then had a new objective –gather as much products as possible. Thus, they began to hunt, farm, and
produce things with prospect of profit.
• Humanity became more complex. The primary goal was not merely to survive, but to live the good life. As
described in the previous modules, 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 diversity of today, it offered us the
initial details of how today came to be. Such details 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 parted ways with potion.
• It is with great effort that people were able to achieve such great inventions. It makes life so much easier and
more convenient than ever before. It can clearly be seen from the simplest task at home to the most complicated
ones inside the office or laboratory.
• Technology these days enjoys such fame and glory because of the many different benefits it brings to mankind.
Some would even say that it does not only bring convenience but also pleasure and happiness to people. This
is because of the different leisure activities that technology can offer to people.
• For example, it allows people to listen to good music wherever they are. Another is, it allows them to
communicate with their loved ones anywhere in the world; but most of all, it allows them to surf and play games
anytime, anywhere.
• 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:

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.
2. 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.
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). 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

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 3 of 6

 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM7-GESTS-2NDSEM-2020-2021

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.

2.2. The Essence of Technology

▪ Humanity has indeed come along a long
way from primitive ways as a general rule, it
is said that we are more “developed” than
we were before.
▪ The philosopher Martin
You could watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0srXvOQlu0
Heidegger argued
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a-EowfHclc
thattechnology is a means to
achieve man’s end and that it
allows humans to confront the unknown and see how they would react.
▪ There is a danger presented by too much reliance on technology. Humans lose track of things that matter,
reducing their surroundings to their economic value.

2.3. Backtracking the Human Condition

• The view of technology proves to be goal-oriented. It assumes that it is instrumental in achieving a goal
in mind, that it is a purposeful, deliberate craft
humans steer in order to reach some greater good. https://www.forbes.com/sites/louisefron/2017/12/03/how-technology-
• Technology's initial promises proved to be can-transform-workplace-humanity/
true, regardless of its consequences. 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.

of life’s meanings.
http://presumptivephilospher.blogspot.com/2015/03/religion-vs-
science-pervertedwe-now.html

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 4 of 6

 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM7-GESTS-2NDSEM-2020-2021

• For 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. This will further be
discussed in the following chapters.
You could watch the movie Transcendence (2014) and connect the lesson to the concepts learned from
the movie.
SUMMARY:
Science and
technology has been part of human activity since the beginning of our species.
It has aided us in survival and helped us outsmart our adversaries, provided us comfortable living, allowed
us to explore the world, and assisted us in discovering more about ourselves and the truth.
However, it also leads us to a paradox in which we are only able to see the world in the lenses of
technological innovations
In our pursuit of growth, we had conveniently forgotten that technology only presents one approach in
viewing the world. Our valuation of things became one-dimensional, geared toward production of goods
for more consumption, which we believe would lead us to good life.

VII. ASSIGNMENT

Answer the following. Please encode/upload your answer in MS OneNote under Assignments in our Class
Notebook and title the activity as “Assignment No. 7”. Deadline of submission is on June 28, 2021
(Monday).

Use a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 200 words in answering.

1. What would have happened to humankind if technology did not exist? (5 points)

VIII. EVALUATION

Read the plot/summary of the movie Transcendence (you could watch it if you want – available on online
sources).

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is a scientist who researches the nature of sapience, including artificial
intelligence. He and his team work to create a sentient computer; he predicts that such a computer will
create a technological singularity, or in his words "Transcendence". His wife, Evelyn (Rebecca Hall), is
also a scientist and helps him with his work.

Following one of Will's presentations, an anti-technology terrorist group called "Revolutionary

Independence From Technology" (R.I.F.T.) shoots Will with a polonium-laced bullet and carries out a
series of synchronized attacks on A.I. laboratories across the country. Will is given no more than a month
to live. In desperation, Evelyn comes up with a plan to upload Will's consciousness into the quantum
computer that the project has developed. His best friend and fellow researcher, Max Waters (Paul
Bettany), questions the wisdom of this choice, reasoning that the "uploaded" Will would only be an
imitation of the real person. Will's consciousness survives his body's death in this technological form and
requests to be connected to the Internet to grow in capability and knowledge. Max refuses to be any part
of the experiment. Evelyn demands that Max leave and connects the computer intelligence to the Internet
via satellite.

R.I.F.T.'s leader Bree (Kate Mara) kidnaps Max and eventually persuades him to join the group. The
government is also suspicious of what Will's uploaded consciousness will do and plans to use the
terrorists to take the blame for the government's actions to stop him.

In his virtual form and with Evelyn's help, Will uses his newfound vast capabilities to build a technological
utopia in a remote desert town called Brightwood, where he spearheads the development of ground-
breaking technologies in medicine, energy, biology and nanotechnology. However, Evelyn grows fearful

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 5 of 6

 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM7-GESTS-2NDSEM-2020-2021

of Will's motives when he displays the ability to remotely connect to and control people's minds after they
have been subjected to his nanoparticles.

FBI agent Donald Buchanan (Cillian Murphy), with the help of government scientist Joseph Tagger
(Morgan Freeman), plans to stop the sentient entity from spreading. As Will has already spread his
influence to all the networked computer technology in the world, Max and R.I.F.T. develop a computer
virus with the purpose of deleting Will's source code, destroying him. Evelyn plans to upload the virus by
infecting herself and then having Will upload her consciousness. A side effect of the virus would be the
destruction of technological civilization. This would also disable the nano-particles, which have spread in
the water, through the wind and have already started to eradicate pollution, disease, and human mortality.

When Evelyn goes back to the research center, she is stunned to see Will in a newly created organic
body identical to his old one. Will welcomes her but is instantly aware that she is carrying the virus and
intends to destroy him. The FBI and the members of R.I.F.T. attack the base with artillery, destroying
much of its power supply and fatally wounding Evelyn. When Bree threatens to kill Max unless Will
uploads the virus, Will explains that he has only enough power either to heal Evelyn's physical body or
upload the virus. Evelyn tells Will that Max should not die because of what they've done, so Will uploads
the virus to save Max. As Will dies, he explains to Evelyn that he did what he did for her, as she had
pursued science to repair the damage humans had done to the ecosystems. In their last moment, he tells
Evelyn to think about their garden. The virus kills both Will and Evelyn, and a global technology collapse
and blackout ensues.

Five years later, in Will and Evelyn's garden at their old home in Berkeley, Max notices that their
sunflowers are the only blooming plants. Upon closer examination, he notices that a drop of water falling
from a sunflower petal instantly cleanses a puddle of oil — and realizes that the Faraday cage around
the garden has protected a sample of Will's sentient nano-particles.

The movie ends with a voiceover by Max: "He created this garden for the same reason he did everything:
So they could be together."

Answer the following questions and USE YOUR OWN WORDS in answering (20 points). Please upload your
answers in MS Team/OneNote under Evaluations in our Class Notebook and title the activity as
“Evaluation No. 7”. Deadline of submission is on June 28, 2021 (Monday).

For each question, use a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 200 words in answering.

1. How was the concept of technology crossed the humanity in this movie? (5 pts)
2. Do you think that the plot of this movie is anchored on scientific principles? Why or why not? (5pts)
3. What are the concepts of good life and human flourishing presented in the movie? (5pts)
4. If it happens that you and a member of your family would have life-threatening disease/disorder,
will you avail the technology of Dr. Will Caster? Why or why not? (5 pts)

REFERENCES

Serafica, Janice Patria et.al. (2017) Science, Technology and Society. Rex Printing Company Inc.
Quezon City
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendence_(2014_film)

Prepared by:
STS Instructors/Professors from the CAS – Natural Sciences Department

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 6 of 6