EAM 406 Responsible Use of Technology
In the context of accelerating technological advancement, characterized as the Industrial Revolution 4.0, human capabilities are currently greatly expanded by cyber networks. Nonetheless, many experience new technology as an enslavement that erodes social interactions constitutive of human flourishing. This course integrates classical virtue theory, positive epidemiology (human flourishing), neuroscience, and spirituality expressed by the great saints of the Catholic tradition to offer guidelines and practices to escape the dominant paradigm of the egoistic hedonic imperative in order to grow in self-mastery and to establish the Kingdom of Christ in our hearts and in our communities. The Busch School of Business's experience educating how to effectively use social media is integrated within the practices of the virtues of leadership.
While technology fasts can be an effective approach to temporarily detox from vicious cycles of dopamine peaks and valleys, the techniques for understanding diligent discipline, holy purity, and self-mastery as a commitment of love expressed by real choices, facilitate use of technology, with conscious awareness of the need to build virtue by reframing and mindfully embracing the challenge. Participants will gain an understanding of how to intentionally counteract the design for addiction perniciously promoted by many web sites so as to increase screen time and instrumentalize users as products of their dehumanizing business models.
The capacity for delayed self-gratification will be developed within a context of supernatural reliance upon Christian hope, along with a presentation of the new paradigm of will-power, in accord with the Tradition's emphasis upon virtuous right reason and reliance upon grace for personal sanctification.
The virtues of self-mastery serve as a foundation for those virtues of leadership required for the business manager, school principle, or pastor to steward an organization by advancing their mission, the ideal and common good that defines its very purpose.
The course will implement an asynchronous e-learning format (2 credit hours) and will conclude with an in-person workshop with presentations of personalized research projects (1 credit hour) that integrate components studied during the course.
Cross Listed Courses
EAM 406 &
EAM 506