Chapter 1 - Early civilizations like Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians

Sumerian Civilization – located in southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia, Meso (middle) located in
the middle of the river, Iraq area. Their achievements is having a high degree of cooperation with one
another and their desire of great things. The Sumerian people are not contented on what they have, they
want to go out in the box that connected with science and technology.
The inventions of the Sumerian people:
1. Cuneiform – a system not a language that utilize word pictures and symbols that carved on the
clay. Cuneiform have a big impact on their everyday life because it helps to keep records.
2. Uruk City – Not only the first true city in the world but also for the way it is erected. By using
mud or clay from the river, mixed of reeds that produce sun-baked bricks. This city built by the
Sumerian people to protect themselves for harsh weather, wild animals, and neighboring raiders.
3. The Great Ziggurat of Ur – it is like a Church which it is known as a mountain of God, and
built during they constructed the City of Uruk. This place served as the sacred place of their chief
god, where only their priest were allowed to enter.
4. Irrigation and Dikes – They built Irrigation and Dikes to prevent scarcity and flooding which
this method was considered as one of the world’s most beneficial engineering works because the
food production was increased and the safety of the Sumerian people.
5. Sailboats – the most common transportation through waterways is Sailboats. By discovering
Sailboats they can accommodate people and products for transporting and trading.
6. Wheel – During Sumerian civilization, first wheels are used for farm work and food processes.
Wheels can produce more food in less time.
7. The Plow – invented to dig the soil in a faster pace.
8. Roads – They invented roads using the same method of sun-baked bricks. They invented roads to
help them travel in easiest way and to prevent the soft and muddy roads.
Babylonian Civilization – emerged at the Mesopotamia. This is near at the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers.
This civilization has a great builders, engineers, and architects.
The inventions of the Babylonian people:
1. Hanging Garden of Babylon – According to legends King nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens
for his wife, Queen Amytis. This garden was contained of several spices of plants, trees, and
veins. However, no physical evidence has been found to prove the existence of the hanging
gardens of Babylon
Egyptian Civilization – It was located at the North African. Infrastructure established by the pharaohs.
aside from engineering technology Egyptians have contributed other practical things that the world now
considers as essential.
The inventions of the Egyptian people:
1. Papyrus/Paper - papyrus was a plant that grew abundantly along the Nile river in Egypt. They
able to process the plant in order to produce thin sheets on which one could write down things.
Since papyrus was lighter and thinner than clay tablets, it was easy to carry and store.
2. Ink – By combining different chemicals to produce inks of different colors. It is helpful to record
history, culture, and codified laws.
 3. Hieroglyphics – A system of writing using symbols. Some say that here hieroglyphics was
adapted from the early writing system established in Mesopotamia as a result of trade between
civilizations they believe that writing system was provided to them by their gods. This form of
writing can still be seen today and remains to be as famous as the pyramids where they were
found.
4. Cosmetics – They invented to function both of their health and aesthetic reasons. They wore
Hold around the eyes to prevent and even cure eye diseases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or
malachite with mineral galena. Egyptians also believed that a person wearing makeup was
protected from evil and that beauty was a sign of holiness.
5. Wig – during ancient egyptians times, wigs were worn for health and wellness rather than for
aesthetic purposes. Wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians from the
harmful rays of the suns and wigs are more cleaner than natural hair because it prevented the
accumulation of head lice.
6. Water clock/Clepsydra - this device utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one
vessel to other. In this process time is measured. the water clock was widely used as time keeping
device during the ancient times.
Greek Civilization – Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe. During Greek
civilization it was known as the birthplace of a western philosophy, some of the major achievements of
the Greeks include in-depth works of philosophy and mathematics, and infrastructure like coliseums and
the Olympics. The Greek civilization has contributed much to the world especially in the fields of science
and technology.
The inventions of the Greek people:
1. Alarm clock - Plato was believed to have utilized an alarm clock to signal the start of this
lecture. His version used for water vessels lined up vertically.
2. Water mill – they used water mill to process the grains which can provide more food and lessen
the time of people in processing the grains.

Roman Civilization – It was known the strongest political and social entity in the west. The other
civilizations looked up the Roman Empire as their model in terms of legislation and codified laws.
The inventions of the Roman people:
1. News Paper – it was known as gazettes, contained announcements of the Roman Empire to the
people. It was made before the invention of paper, these gazettes were engraved in metal or some
stone tablets and then publicly displayed.
2. Bound books or Codex – record-keeping was much easier since paper did not easily break, was
lightweight, and did not occupy much space. The literature of Romans changed from clay tablets
to parchment of paper.
Julius Caesar started the tradition of stacking up papyrus to form pages of a book. They made
cover made in was but replaced by animal skin to protect the papyrus.
3. Roman Architecture – The Roman government supports the field of engineering and
architecture to implement major projects such as large churches (basilica, cathedrals, aqueduct
coliseums, amphitheaters, and even residential houses).
4. Roman Numerals – they developed roman numerals to address the need for a standard counting
method that would their increasing communication and trade concerns.
Chinese Civilization – far east of Asia or known as the middle Kingdom, the China. It was known
because of their silk trade. Oldest civilization in Asia.
The inventions of the Chinese people:
1. Silk – naturally produced by silk worms. The silk trade opened China to the outside world,
making way for cultural, economic, and scientific exchanges. It bridged the gap between the
western world and the middle kingdom
2. Tea production - it was believed that the first tea beverage was drunk by Chinese emperor.
Today Chinese may have result in making tea as one of the most popular beverages in the world.
3. Great wall of China - it is the largest and the most extensive infrastructure that the nation or the
China built. The reason that was built because to keep out foreign invaders and control the
borders of China.
4. Gunpowder - gunpowder is a mixture of charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate but instead of
creating an elixir of life they accidentally invented black powder that could generate large
amounts of heat and gas in an instant. It was developed by Chinese alchemist who aimed to
achieve immortality gunpowder is widely used to propel bullets from guns and cannon which
caused countless death.
Medieval/Middle Ages – known for it’s a lot of war because of massive invasions and migrations. Trade
and commerce among nations increased which resulted in greater demands for transportation technology.
Some of the innovative minds came from this period.
The inventions of the Medieval people:
1. Printing Pres – Johann Gutenberg was able to invent the printing press. The printing press was
invented to address the need for publishing books that would spread information to many people
at a faster rate. This invention also made works accessible to individuals who could not even
write.
2. Microscope – Zacharias Janseen was able to develop the first compound microscope. with this
device people were able to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the naked eye. The
microscope was the key in discovering new means in preventing and curing various illness.
3. Telescope - together with the telescope the invention of the compass, oars and the rudders made
sea traveling easier and safer. It was helpful for navigators during middle ages was also known as
the age of exploration.
4. War Weapons - people develop cross bows and low bow and iron body armors to protect
themselves and to attack their enemies at long ranges. However, body armors were heavy and
limited their movements so they invented a chainmail.
Modern Times – the booming world population during the 19th century onwards demand that more
goods be produced at a faster rate. People need that efficient means of transportation to trade goods and
cover a larger distance. Machines that required animals to operate must thus be upgraded. Faster and
easier means to communicate and compute should be developed to established connections between and
among nations. All these needs resulted in the development of industries. However, due to massive
industrialization the modern times again faced more complicated problems. Food processing and
medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since health was of great concern.
The inventions of the Modern people:
 1. Pasteurization – A French biologist, microbiologist, and a chemist “Louise Pasteur”, invented
pasteurization, the process of heating diary products to kill the harmful bacteria that allow them
to spool faster. Other contribution of Pasteur science, technology and medicine included his
work on molecular asymmetry, fragmentation, and vaccination.
2. Petroleum Refinery – Samel M. Keir was bale to invent kerosene or referred as the “illuminating
oil”. The purpose is to provide lights, heat, and powering factories, automobiles, and power
plants, among others.
3. Telephone – Alexander Graham Bell invented telephone to make the communication easier and
faster way.
4. Calculator – Calculator had already been developed, but in modern times they developed
calculator in a faster way to compute more complicated equations.
Philippines Inventions – It contributes the advancement of science and technology. Philippines is know to
be one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of natural disasters. Many discoveries and inventions
made by the Filipinos created to adapt the harsh tropical environment.
The inventions of the Filipino people:
1. Salamander Amphibious Tricycle – H20 Technologies headed by Dominic N. Ching, and
Lamberto Aramada, together with Chief Designer Victor “Atoy” Llave, was able to invent the
Salamander. This tricycle can across flooded streets, rivers and lakes.
2. SALt Lamp – Aisa Mijeno invented a lightning system that utilizes a material abundant in the
Philippines saltwater. Sustainable Alternative Lightning (SALt) lamp is an environmentally-
friendly light source that runs on saltwater.
3. Medical Incubator – Dr. Del Mundo invented to maintain the conditions suitable for a newborn,
usually pre-term baby.
4. Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System – In 2010, the department of science and technology-
industrial technology development institute (DOST-ITDI) produce OL trap to prevent mosquitos
to the humans and the environment.
5. Ejeepney - jeepney is the primary mode of transportation of the Filipinos. EJeepney are the
modern type of transportation utilized electricity that is why it is environmentally friendly since it
does not emit any smoke and noise.
6 Filipino Latest Inventions To Know 

These inventors have proven that science and technology continue to thrive in the Philippines. With
support and recognition, their brilliant ideas could help alleviate many of the country’s problems.
1. Solar Window by Carvey Ehren Maigue – it was made from waste crop that converts UV light
into renewable energy.
2. Locally-Developed COVID-19 Test Kits by Dr Raul Destura's team – It was called as Panamax is
to enhance, accelerate, and scale up the institution response to the pandemic through COVID-19
testing.
3. The AGAPAY project by Dr Nilo Bugtai's team - it was developed a robotic device to provide
accessible health care options to all Filipinos
4. Covid-19 budget Tracker App by Ken Abante – to help filipinos how to track their budget in an
effective way
5. Ginhawa Ventilator by Dr Abundio Balgos' team - the targets are the hospital clinics and
ambulance services which can be used by both children and adults
6. Pili Seal by Mark Kennedy Bantugo - a sustainable aviation sealant made from the waste of
material particularly the Pili tree Resin. It is a sealing material used to avoid fuel leakages.

KEY POINTS


The science and the technology is very dynamic since human civilization started on the planet

Every ancient civilization had a huge contribution to the development of science & technology

Every ancient civilization had unique tools being used in their daily lives which some of them no
longer being used, upgraded, or modified and some still being used up to these days.
 Advancement in science and technology helps the well-being of global populations and advances
in different fields lead to faster recovery from the crisis, address other global challenges, such as
poverty, inequality, and climate change.
 Science explores for the purpose of knowing.
 Technology explores for the purpose of making something useful from that knowledge.

Chapter 2: Intellectual Revolutions

 These are the people who greatly contributed in the changes of the perceptions of the people in
the society.
Intellectual Revolution – this is an event that affects the perceptions and belief of the people because of
the advancement of science and technology. These are the period events of Intellectual Revolutions:
1. Copernican Revolution – Claudius Ptolemy, the famous philosopher and astronomer. He believed
that the sun and the moon move in a circular motion around the earth, and the earth was at the
center a concept known as geocentrism, this concept is called Ptolemy’s geocentric model or
Ptolemaic Model of Ptolemy. However, Nicolaus Copernicus in 16th century challenged the
Ptolemaic model, where he believed that the center of the solar system is the sun, and this concept
is called heliocentrism or Heliocentric Model of Copernicus. Copernicus model rejected first
because people believe in Ptolemy’s model. Copernicus was even persecuted as a heretic because
his teachings were against what was widely accepted by religion. After sometime, the
heliocentrism model accepted by the people in the period which was called the “birth of modern
astronomy”. In this period, Copernicus was correct and, in this era, began what was known as the
scientific revolution which resulted in the transformation of society’s thoughts and beliefs.
2. Darwinian Revolution – The book entitled On the Origin of Species written by an English
naturalist, biologist, and geologist, Charles Darwin. We introduce the theory of evolution where
the population pass in the process of natural selection in which only the fittest would survive. He
stated that that the Organism have the ability to adapt to their environment and would gradually
change into something that would be more competitive to survive, a process is known as
evolution. However, this theory became controversial because it contradicts the teachings of the
church. Because of this conflict, the people were divided some believed that the theory explained
the origin of life but the religious and the faithful strongly refuted it. This theory became a
 massive debate between science and religion. After some time, people came to understand that
Darwin's theory of evolution as not in fact against the teaching of the church and both co-exist.
3. Freudian Revolution – In the past, psychology was under in philosophy where it was considered
more of an art rather than a science. However, in the late 19 th century, Sigmund Freud change the
perception of people that Psychology is science, his revolutionary theory of Psychoanalysis. The
revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis is the study that explains human behavior. He argued that
there is unconscious and conscious factors that can influence behavior and emotions. There is
three conflicting elements: id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality). People believed
that Psychoanalysis do not belong in science because it is more in philosophical and supernatural,
and there is no scientific basis as no empirical or experimental data could support this theory.
However, Freud proved them wrong and psychoanalysis is science because it can help in a
clinical method in treating some mental disorders.
Key points:

 Intellectual revolution is a period where human shifts more on scientific beliefs.

 Nicolaus Copernicus, Charles Darwin, and Sigmund Freud are some of the intellectual
revolutionists.
 Theory of evolution, Copernican Model, and Psychoanalysis are some of the theories that
replaced the old and unscientific knowledge of society.       

Chapter 3: Science, Technology, and Nation-Building

Science and Technology have a significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or
attributed to Filipinos. This chapter tackles how the development of science and technology affect the
development of Philippines as a nation.

Pre-Colonial Period

 Before Spaniards came, early Filipino settlers were already using certain plants and herbs as
medicine. Systems of farming and animal raising were also implemented. Moreover, during pre-
colonial period they also developed different modes of transportation, whether terrestrial or
maritime.
 A complicated engineering feat was achieved by natives that built by hand, the Rice terraces of
the Cordilleras where people able to cultivate crops on the mountainsides in cold temperatures,
and incorporated an irrigation system that uses water from the forests and mountain tops to
achieve an elaborate farming system.

Colonial Period

 During the colonization of the Spaniards. Spaniards developed the Philippines into a modern
constructions such as walls, roads, bridges, and other large infrastructures using some of the
engineering skills and tools brought by the Spaniards. In addition, the Spanish government
developed health and educational systems that were enjoyed by the principalia class.
  During Colonial period, American occupations modernizes almost all aspects of life in the
Philippines. They established a government agency, the Bureau of science, for the sole purpose of
nurturing development in the field of science and technology.
Post-Colonial Period

 After the Philippines achieve independence, there are different administrations continued to
pursue the programs in science and technology. Each leaders had its own science and technology
agenda.
AGENDA OF THE PRESIDENT:
1. Former President Ferdinand Marcos established and strengthened the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in place of the abolished
Weather Bureau.
2. Former president Ferdinand Marcos established the National Academy of science and
technology (NAST) in 1958 as the National Science and Development Board and now known
as the department of science and technology. Marcos and other former presidents saw that the
key to nation building is the continued development of science and technology.
Key points:

 The Philippines underwent in a period of pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial, which has a
great influence in the development of science and technology in the country.
 Even before the arrival of the colonizers the ancient Filipinos already had a unique practices,
tools and beliefs.
 The Spanish, American and even the Japanese colonizers had a great influence to the
development of science and technology in the Philippines.
 Post-colonial Period aside that Philippines gained independence the science and technology
continue to foster as a priority concerns of some Philippine presidents.

Chapter 4 – Human Flourishing in in Science and Technology

In this module it tackles about the progress of human civilization and the person flourishes and finds the
meaning of his existence in the midst of technological advancement. In this module, clarifies the concept
of human flourishing, examine science and technology in the purview of Martin Heidegger, and use social
media as a unit of analysis of the impact of science and technology on human flourishing.

Human Flourishing in different perspectives:

Human Flourishing according to Aristotle

Human Flourishing or “Eudaimonia” is a state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous. For Aristotle, the
ultimate purpose of a person is earthly happiness or flourishing. This can be achieved through reason and
acquisition of virtue. Each human being should use abilities to their fullest potential and should take pride
in being excellent at what they do (Younkins, 2003).
Human Flourishing in the Christian Perspective
According to Sallade (n.d.), "a flourishing life will be a life lived in right relationship with God, with
one's environment, with neighbors, and with self".
Human Flourishing in the Socio-Psychological Perspective
Human Flourishing is “a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good.” It includes the five
domains of human life - happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose,
character and virtue, and close social relationships.

Martin Heidegger: The Question Concerning Technology

1. Why is technology a mode of revealing?
- It is revealing because technology is a way to present themselves by their presence, endurance
and connections to others.
2. Differentiate technology as poeisis (bringing forth) from technology as challenging forth.
Give an example of each concept to illustrate your point.
- The difference between poeisis or bringing forth and challenging as technology. Poesis is a given
form to which it exists without disruption and contro. Poesis s a mode of revealing, controlling,
and working of nature. However, according to Heidegger challenging as technology is where
humans control the productive process where it reduces it to something else.
3. When can we say that a person is swallowed by technology?
- The growth of technology is rapidly growing and for me "no". Humans created the technology to
use for easier access, it is created to save time for humans.
4. Why is art a way out of enframing?
- Because it blocks the technology bringing closer to the Poeisis where the sensitivity of Art can
adapt by humans imagination and disrupts the essence of making and appreciating certain things.

The Social Media

Social media is one of the most influential technological applications of this century.  The Philippines
topped the world as a social media user in 2018 (Camus, 2018). Social Media Statistics in the
Philippines shows that of the total population of 107.3 million, 71% (76 million) are active social media
users. Of these users, 52.7% falls within the age ranges of 18-24 years old with an average time spent of
four hours and twelve minutes.  
 
These are interesting facts, so let us learn more about social media from the given sites below:
 1.  What is Social Media? How does it work?  What are the types of social media?  What is Social
Media
 
2. The truth about Social Media
Want to know the real truth about social media? Listen to Sean Parker, founder of Napster and
former president of Facebook at Sean Parker: Facebook was designed to exploit human
"vulnerability"
 

3. Hence, even though the intention was good, there are unintended consequences on the use of
social media.  What is there to do to protect users? Weston said "tame the social media
monster.  Read details at Tame the Social Media Monster
- Internet is an encyclopedia of easily accessible information. - Social media involves private
concerns such as address, contact number, and other personal things.
- The World Wide Web, social media and the devices that make it all possible are changing how
we spend our time, how we communicate and how we relate with one another.

Key Points

 Every person seeks happiness (and flourish).

 Science and Technology can be an instrument to attain human flourishing.
 Humans should be reflective and question rather than submit to the promises of technology
because the unintended consequences may be irreversible before revealing comes.

Module 5 – Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

Growth and development measure progress.  Development is inevitable.  Human has put pressure on the
Earth resources due to it.  Moreover, a cascade of issues and concerns came about.  Responding to these
compelling concerns and issues, members of the United Nations crafted the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) in 2015 that articulated "a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet
and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030." (https://www.undp.org)
UN Sustainable Development Goals

- Unite 193 countries around the world

- Fulfilled by 2030
Village of the Water Mills
 In the advent of progress and development, people struggle to live a good life and improve well-being
(flourish).  Humanity has to make a collective choice and be reflective of their actions, that is, if they
intend to live a good life.

1. Describe village featured in the film. Is there still a place similar to it?
- Watermill Village, where people try to live in a natural way of life such as: using watermill for
their corpse, Candles and Linseed oil for light, Cows and Horses are used to cultivate paddies.
Trees and Cow’s Dung for Fuel. In this film, it disagreed to the Scientists because they have lack
of understanding in nature and prioritize the new invention that could cause unhappy lives. Most
important things is having a clean air and water. Funeral for them is a Happy Funeral because it
shows how the person hard work and thankful for the live that the person had.
- In this film, it describe how the Villagers give importance to the nature where they use
sustainable ways to live and to avoid pollution that cause dirty air and water. Also, it describe the
importance of live.
2. How did the author depict technology in the film?
- By comparing the old and new inventions.

3. How did he regard the scientists? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

- In this film, it disagreed to the Scientists because they have lack of understanding in nature and
prioritize the new invention that could cause unhappy lives.
4. Which aspects of the story shows sustainable living?

- In their natural way of living, by using watermill for their corpse, Candles and Linseed oil for
light, Cows and Horses are used to cultivate paddies. Trees and Cow’s Dung for Fuel.
Hickel’s paradigm of “de-development” and the IDI
The Village of the Watermills is just a dream, yet, the truth remains that the basic needs of human beings
to live well are clean air and water, plants to sustain life, peaceful and sound sleep at night, clean
environment, identity, and belongingness.
 
 Had these basic needs been addressed through growth and development?
 
For an anthropologist, Jason Hickel, the SDGs primary strategy of eradicating poverty is still about
growth.  He believes that this "business as usual" strategy no longer works.  The world has grown so
much, yet poverty escalates.  Hence, for him, what the world needs is an alternative paradigm. He puts
forward his alternative and refers to it as "de-development".  
 
Read on Hickel’s paradigm of de-development and think about these:

1. What does Hickel mean by “de-development”?   

 - It is to develop of growth to reduce the poverty. By the term de-development is where Hickel’s
suggested instead of the poor countries need to “catch up”, the rich countries need to “catch
down” know the happiness living of a poor countries.
2. Why must we change our paradigm of growth and consumption to that of de-development?
- It is an idea of reducing consumption where we need to buy more, and own less because some
people starve to death. Measuring GDP is sophisticated because it accumulate the increasing
amounts of stuff and doesn’t make anyone happy (get rid of GDP).

Further, many countries agree that growth - measured by the country's gross national product and gross
domestic product - is not a sufficient measure for people to rate the economic progress of a nation.  To
address this, The World Economic Forum System Initiative on Shaping the Future of Economic Progress
introduced a new policy framework and performance metric in 2017.   It is known as the Inclusive
Development Index (IDI).
IDI focuses not only on growth but considers the rising issues of inequality and economic insecurity.  It
recognizes the fact that citizens' measure of economic progress using their household's standard of living.
IDI includes performance indicators in growth and development, inclusion, intergenerational equity, and
sustainability.  Learn on the IDI and share your thoughts about it.

What are your thoughts about the Inclusive Development Index?

- It is about the growth and development of each country. It helps to know which country is in
developing country and developed country.
Key Points:

 The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to address the problem of poverty
worldwide that persists despite the so-called progress and development.
 Hickel proposed that instead of pushing the developing countries to catch up, developed countries
should “catch down” on resource consumption so that the Earth can still sustain human needs.
 Growth and development being the measure of progress does not necessarily transform to
happiness and contentment of individuals in a country. Other factors should also be considered
as proposed in the Inclusive Development Index.
 Endeavor to integrate the concept of sustainability in all actions and decisions as we work
towards the good life.

Module 6 – The Good Life

Living a good life is what everyone aims.  A life that satisfies and fulfills where there is joy, happiness
and sense of purpose.   Living a good life is living a happy life.  It is dependent on how we make choices. 
Though everyone had different views on what makes them happy, one should consider that they coexist
with other human beings.   Advancement in Science and Technology could lead to a good life. But we
have to be aware that these progress could also bring about disadvantages when misused.
Presentation Aristotle on Flourishing

1. Based on the video, what is Aristotle’s view of good life? 

2. Elaborate Eudaimonia. 

3. How did Aristotle explain flourishing on his Nicomachean ethics? 

People’s definition of the good life may vary and differ in the particulars (McNamara, D.,et.al.
2018).  A good life is when you are able to take out time for yourself and enjoy the small pleasures of life.
A good life is also when everyday teaches you something new, something that cheers up your soul. Or it
can be when you readily accept criticism and work towards improving
yourself. (https://www.quora.com/What-does-living-a-good-life-mean-Does-a-good-life-mean-getting-
enjoyment-or-something-else).  The good life is a term for the life that one would like to live, or for
happiness(McNamara, D.,et.al. 2018).
Aristotle argued that as we mature, we act less aimlessly and more purposefully. We try to develop a plan
for living that unites all our various purposes. Without a plan for living, we don’t know what we are
trying to do or why we’re trying to do it. Moreover, not just any plan will do—we need the right plan,
which is one that aims at the final or ultimate end. But what is the final end of human life, the end that all
of us ought to aim at?
For Aristotle, the final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good life. All actions should
aim at this end. Of course, in order to live at all we need food, clothing, and shelter, but living is itself the
means to the end of living well. And what is living well a means to? Aristotle says that living well is the
final end for humans; it is not a means to anything else. Aristotle thinks this is obvious because few
people want to live poorly.
 For Aristotle, happiness is a final end/goal that encompasses the totality of one’s life.  It is not something
that can be gained/lost in a few hours like pleasurable sensations.  It is more like the ultimate value of
your life as lived up to this moment measuring how well you have lived up to your full potential as a
human being. Further he explained, for as it is not one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or
a short time that makes a man blessed and happy (Nicomachean Ethics, 1098a18).  This is associated with
Aristotle’s eudaimonia in his Nicomachean Ethics. Eudaimonia is a term that means happiness and is a
central aim of stoic philosophy(retrieved from lectures during the second GE 1 training, May 2017)
Aristotle in his Nicomachean Ethics  stated that “if… we take the characteristic activity of a human being
to be a certain kind of life; and if we take this kind of life to be activity of the soul and actions in
accordance with reason… and a characteristic activity to be accomplished well when it is accomplished in
accordance with the appropriate virtue; then if this is so, human good turns out to be activity of the soul in
accordance with virtue.” (http://www.mcat.com/blog/aristotles-secret-happiness/)
 Happiness is the ultimate end of human action (McNamara, D., et. al., 2018).  Happiness  is consists in
achieving, through the course of a lifetime, all the goods – health, wealth, knowledge, friends, etc. leading
to perfection of human nature and enrichment of human life (http://www.pursuit-of-happiness-
org).  Therefore, happiness defines a good life. (McNamara, D., et. al., 2018).
Happiness Ranking
The World Happiness Report 2018 ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, and 117 countries by the
happiness of their immigrants. The main focus of this year's report, in addition to its usual ranking of the
levels and changes in happiness around the world, is on migration within and between countries. The
overall rankings of country happiness are based on the pooled results from Gallup World Poll surveys
from 2015–2017, and show both change and stability. Four countries have held the top spot in the last
four reports: Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and now Finland. All the top countries tend to have high
values for all six of the key variables that have been found to support well-being: income, healthy life
expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity. Among the top countries, differences are small
enough that year-to-year changes in the rankings are to be expected.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Happiness_Report)
The concept of happiness is the corner stone of the assumption of positive psychology.  Happiness is
characterized by the experience of more frequent positive affect states than negative ones and one is
progressing toward important life goals (Tkach & Lyubomirsky,2006).  Certain kinds of environmental
factors or condition have been found to be associated with happiness and it include the following: 
individual income, labour market status, health, family, social relationships, moral values and many
others (Carr, 2004; Selim,2008; Diener, Oishi & Lucas, 2003). 
Trivia: International day happiness is celebrated  every  March 20 of each year to recognize the
importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.  

Perspective of Happiness

In the pursuit of understanding happiness, there were two main theoretical perspectives focusing on what
makes people feel good and happy, these are eudaimonia and hedonia.  Hedonic wellbeing is based on the
notion of subjective wellbeing that increased pleasure and decreased pain leads to happiness.  It
comprises of an affective component (high positive affect and low negative affect) and cognitive
component (satisfaction with life)(Carruthers & Hood, 2004).  Eudaimonic wellbeing is reliant on
Maslow’s ideas of self -actualization and based on subjective wellbeing.  It emphasizes that people feel
happy if they experience life purpose, challenges and growth.  This adopts self-determination theory
which suggests that happiness is related to fulfilment in the areas of autonomy and competence.

EUDAIMONIA HEDONIA
 Sense of control or autonomy  Seek pleasure and satisfaction
 Feeling of meaning and purpose  Avoid pain and discomfort
 Personal expressiveness  Focus on self present moment
 Feelings of belongingness  Focus on consuming what one needs and
 Social contribution wants
 Competence  Presence of positive mood
 Personal growth  Absence of negative mood
 Self acceptance  Satisfaction with various domains of life
 Global life satisfaction

Virtue and Good Life

Virtue plays a significant role in living and attainment of the  good life (McNamara, D.J.,
et.al.,2018).  There are two kinds of virtue:  intellectual and moral.  Intellectual virtues are habits of
thinking like understanding the nature of things, judging the truth of matters, reasoning from a truth
known from the truth that is not known.  While moral virtues come about as a result of habit (McNamara,
D.J., et.al., 2018).  It is a disposition to behave in the right manner and it learned through habit and
practice rather than reasoning and instruction (https://www.sparknotes.com˃aristotle).  The virtues that
must be practice to achieve happiness (Aristotle) are:  intelligence and scientific knowledge; practical
wisdom ( the ability to deliberate well about what is good and expedient for
oneself); temperance(restraint, usually  with regard to pleasurable activities); generosity and
friendship; courage(the tendency to act in order to achieve some good even when facing the risk of
physical harm) and  contemplation(reflection on eternal truths). Both hedonic and eudaimonic approaches
view happiness in terms of the pleasant life, the good life and the meaningful life (Norrish & Vella-
Brodick, 2008). 
According to positive psychology , there are three pathways to happiness:

1. pleasure - the process of maximizing positive emotion and minimizing negative emotion – this is
referred to as pleasant life. It involves enjoyable and positive experiences.
2. engagement – the process of being immersed and absorbed in the task at hand and is referred to
as good life . It result from individual cultivating and investing strength and virtues into
relationships, work and leisure (Seligman. 2002).  By applying the best of self during challenging
activities results to growth and feeling of competence and satisfaction thus bringing about
happiness.
3. meaning – the process of having a higher purpose in life than ourselves - referred to as
meaningful life. It involves the use of strengths and personal qualities to this higher purpose. The
combination of these three elements suggests that it would contribute to authentic and stable
happiness (Vella-Brodick, Park & Peterson, 2009; Carruthers & Hood. 2004)

Key Points:

 Happiness defines good life.

 Happiness is the ultimate end of human action.
 Virtue play a significant role in the living and attainment of good life.
 According to positive psychology, the three pathways to happiness are pleasure, engagement and
meaning.