The Influence of Hans Jonas’ Principle of Responsibility

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Hans Jonas was a German philosopher who questioned the way man uses scientific knowledge and technology. His philosophical analysis culminated in the work 'The Responsibility Principle, an essay in ethics for technological civilisation' (1979), in which he addresses three main themes: criticism of traditional ethics, the use of technology and scientific knowledge, and the heuristic of fear. The discussion presents the principle of responsibility in the form of a new imperative: 'act in such a way that the effects of your action are compatible with the permanence of authentic human life on Earth'. The global environmental crisis, unbridled consumption and the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources make Jonah's presuppositions relevant and topical, and they have been recognised in various areas. In this work we seek to identify the influence and importance of Jonas' thinking in order to highlight the urgency of building new behaviours (in individual actions) and new paradigms (in collective actions), so that the biosphere is treated with dignity, and so that those to come have the right to enjoy it as the current generation does.