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8/22/2019 Philosophy in an Era of Techno-scienceby Peter Takov
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I
8/22/2019 Philosophy in an Era of Techno-scienceby Peter Takov
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Post-modernism: no delimiting boundariesEra of great scientific strides and unprecedentedtechnological progressAn era of techno-science
Science: systematized, researched, body of knowledge,methodology, technological know-how, tested andprovable, given conclusion.Theoretical: systematic provable explanations ex:sociology
Practical: physical, changeable units, substances,processes, explanations, practical manipulations, can berepeated ex: chemistry, Biology, Physics, etcTechnology: reduction of science only to technology techno-science
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Techno-scienceinconceivable become ordinaryde-mystification of realitiesprovides answers and offer solutions toevery human problemMans vocation to conquer the world
being realized (Gen 1: 28)
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History of technological bloomAncient Cosmologists
20th Century
Positivism: Bacon, Comte, Carnap, etc
Empiricism: Hume
Culture of techno-science: dehumanizing and
epistemologically damaging systems ex: Scientism,Pragmatism, Historicism, etc
Arrogance of techno-science: deny the Value of genuinephilosophy
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Goal of techno-science To eliminate every constraint that prevents us from
doing as we please.
Life must be cosyNo place for philosophical thinking
Thought is useless when it fails to provide anypractical utilitarian ends
Philosophy relegated to the analysis of language only
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Such situation, such questions Is it possible to go along with the view that philosophy is no
longer of any value in the world today?
Is science with all its technological strides capable of
answering all the questions which have ever since rent thehuman mind and heart?
Mans search for meaning not limited to the confines of
technological knowledge and manipulationsNeed to seek those deepest causes and reasons of thingswhich eventually boarder around questions of mans originand destiny, answers which completely elude the grasp oftechno-science.
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Realm of reality Chapter One: Philosophical speculations
Chapter Two: Techno-science
Beyond chapter Two: the after-world proper tophilosophical speculations leading on to FAITH
John Paul II to scientists:
I would urge them to continue their efforts without everabandoning the sapiential horizon within which scientificand technological achievements are wedded to thephilosophical and ethical values which are the distinctiveand indelible mark of the human person.
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II. THE DRAMA OF DISCARDING PHILOSOPHY BY
TECHNO-SCIENCE
JUST HOW FAR CAN WE GO?
Tendency to discard true philosophy for philosophiesleading to an epistemological schism with theimminent dangers of the utter subjection of man tothe manipulations of the very products of his ownmaking
This leads to the various forms ofrationality
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2.1. In the sphere of epistemology Epistemology: quest for truth
Techno-science: absolutizing false philosophies or
forms of rationality, thus distorting the wholeness oftruth
These systems of thought include: Scientism,Positivism, Pragmatism, Historicism, Relativism
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2.1.1. Scientism and Positivism Scientism: refuses to admit the validity of forms of knowledge
other than those of the positive sciences; relegates religious,theological, ethical and aesthetic knowledge to the realm of
mere fantasy; questions concerning meaning of life as irrationaland imaginary.
Positivism and neo-positivism: consider metaphysicalstatements to be meaningless; dismiss values as products of theemotions
Reject Christian vision of life and deny every appeal to ametaphysical or moral vision.
Truth is only that which science and technology sanctions
Science and technology are the only reliable guide to truth
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2.1.2. Pragmatism Go for that which works
William James: the alternative which works better is
true Techno-science is voted as better alternative
Abstract philosophical speculations are abandoned
Giovanni Papini: pragmatism is less a philosophy
than a method of doing without philosophy
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2.1.3. HistoricismWhat may be true in one period may not be true in
another
What ultimately becomes true in a given period is thatwhich proves most useful or appealing to that era
Truth is sacrificed for relevance
All philosophical speculations, moral categories and
traditional values are best forgotten to the past
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2.1.4. RelativismAnything goes; man is the measure of all things; there
are no objective standards for truth
Anything technology makes possible becomes good,true and to be followed
let philosophy assure its role as queen and mother of alldisciplines, probing into the depths and breadths ofwhatever there is and offering the needed guidance onthe path to truth
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2.2. In the Sphere of Ethics Putting aside philosophy produces moral anarchy,
leading to the Culture of Death
Hedonism: pleasure is the highest good to be soughtafter. Do away with anything that stands in the way toattaining the highest amount of pleasure for thehighest amount of persons
Card. Ratzinger: taking unrestricted pleasure inlifeleads straight to the culture of death.
thou shall not kill becomes thou may kill
Science without philosophy, that guides and directs it isblind.
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2.2.1. Medical Science and Technology
Has led to increase in understanding human life in itsinitial stages
Are positive and worthy of support when they serve toovercome or correct pathologies and succeed in re-establishing the normal functioning of humanprocreation
Yet, with a host of negative effects on the dignity ofman
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Negative effects on mans dignity Embryonic stem cell extraction
Artificial fertilization: In-vitro fertilization
Abortion/abortificients Hi-tech weaponry: weapons technology
Mass media, moral violence and other techno-ills
Exploitation of the natural environment
What hope is left? Techno-science left to itselfis helpless in the face of this question. We
must turn to philosophy.
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III. WHO IS MAN IN THE TECHNO-SCIENTIFIC
WORLD? CANs and OUGHTs!!!3.1. Philosophy and its Relevance
How scientific is philosophy, how trustworthy are its
claims, how verifiable is it? Paul Glenn: Philosophy the science of all things,
naturally knowable to mans unaided powers, in so faras these things are studied in their deepest causes and
reasons
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ANALYSIS OF DEFINITION Philosophy is a science: systematic, researchable, well
ordered, logical, verifiable methods of inquiry andresearched body of knowledge, assent of intellect
All things knowable: material object of philosophy isthe whole of reality
All that man can know by use of his unaided knowing-
powers Studies things in their deepest causes and reasons
Studies every being in every aspect of being
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3.2. Philosophy as Arbitrator Giving an all-embracing view of the world, giving each
thing its value, placing each category of being where itshould be, in the entire universe, putting each science in itsplace in the total system of human learning
3.2.1. Man know thyself Man as only being for whom his existence is a problem But just who is man? What sort of being is he? Man is Body and Soul: Ramon Lucas, Max Scheler, W.
Pannenberg, Battista Mondin etc Task of philosophy to continuously turn man into himself
and beyond the changeable variables of this life to someimmutable, metaphysical categories, which govern any truesystem of valuing.
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Willnot divorced from reason
Freedom not uprooted from responsibility
Society not ignore the individual person
Pleasure not be dissociated from conscience
Adversity be faced with virtue
K. Jaspers: condemns technology for transforming man into amere function in the society
H. Marcus: The One Dimensional Man
Any talk about development which fails to take into accountman in his twofold dimensions of body and soul, matter and
form, matter and spirit, is nothing worth the name
Distinction: Development andMechanization
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3.2.2. The Philosophical Foundations of
Techno-science Bertrand Russell: The Value of Philosophy
Principles applicable in techno-science: Identity,Causality, Non-contradiction etc
Metaphysical facts: every created reality must have anEssence, has the power ofBecoming etc
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IV. PHILOSOPHY AS A CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
Philosophy is by far necessary in every aspect ofhuman life such that it should be compulsorily studiedby all enrolled in every university worth the name(Fonlon)
Field of Medicine
Formation of Soldiers
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4.1. As Cat. Imp. in University studies
University from Greek: Uni-Versus literally meaning one and inthe direction of, towards, or into.
Into one, towards one Connotes a movement or combination of many things into one,
resulting in a whole. Newman: university as a Studium Generale Mind formed stamped with the philosophical spirit, the power to
embrace the whole range of human knowledge and to distinguishthe boundaries and mutual relations of its various domains andmethods
Always tends towards perfection, seeking true happiness andpermitting one not only to live but to live well in the society (Platoand Aristotle)
Let no one when young delay to study philosophy or when old growweary of its studies (Epicurus)
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Philosophy has transcendental dimension
Pope Pius XI: education consists essentially inpreparing man for what he must be and for what hemust do, in order to attain the sublime end for which hewas created. It is clear that there can be no true
education which is not directed to mans last end Inthe present order of providence, there can be no ideallyperfect education, which is void of religion.
Genuine philosophy equips man and prepares the
mind to assimilate the truths of religion and to assentto the supernatural gift of faith
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CONCLUSION Technology and philosophy, opposed or
complementary???
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THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION
Fr. PETER TAKOV (Ph.D)
HEAD OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT,
STAMS, BAMBUI