philosophy in an era of techno-scienceby peter takov

8/22/2019 Philosophy in an Era of Techno-scienceby Peter Takov

1/26

I


2/26

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


3/26

Techno-scienceinconceivable become ordinaryde-mystification of realitiesprovides answers and offer solutions toevery human problemMans vocation to conquer the world

being realized (Gen 1: 28)


4/26

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


5/26

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


6/26

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.


7/26

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.


8/26

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


9/26

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


10/26

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


11/26

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


12/26

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


13/26

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


14/26

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.


15/26

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


16/26

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.


17/26

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


18/26

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


19/26

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.


20/26

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


21/26

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


22/26

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


23/26

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)


24/26

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


25/26

CONCLUSION Technology and philosophy, opposed or

complementary???


26/26

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

Fr. PETER TAKOV (Ph.D)

HEAD OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT,

STAMS, BAMBUI

philosophy in an era of techno-scienceby peter takov

Documents