the Principle responsibility is the most known work of Hans Jonas (1979).

In particular in Germany, he knew a reception which exceeded the philosophical circle and was even quoted with the German Bundestag.

In this book, Hans Jonas leaves the question “why humanity must exist”. The existence of the humanity whose requirement seems to go from oneself, is not any more a fact ensured nowadays. On the contrary, by his enormous capacity which it has above all thanks to the modern Technique, the man has from now on the capacities of autodétruire in little time - this is why there is here a new question which must enter the field of the considerations ethical S.

While referring to its Philosophie of biology, Hans Jonas founds the requirement which the man must exist, considering it has, like any living being, an absolute value which is inherent for him and which it is consequently a question of protecting no matter what he costs some.

In practice, that means that Technologie must be prohibited all which involves the risk - as improbable as it is - to destroy the Humanité or the particular value in the man who makes that it must exist. Hans Jonas indicates this requirement by the formula in dubio pro malo . That wants to say that if there are several possible effects with a technology, it should be decided as if worst were going to achieve itself: it is the famous Precaution principle.

It is for this regulation that Hans Jonas was often shown as being hostile with the technique and her progress. He however refused this reproach. He even saw a need for making progress the Technique in order to be able to find remedies for the damage already caused by her. He wanted to thus make use of the technique in order to solve the problems arising from this one. But this provided that the Technical and the Recherche are practiced within a well defined framework and under well controlled conditions, in order to prevent that it does not result from it from other negative effects.

See too

Internal bonds

• ethical Social responsibility of the companies
• and Bioethics
• Precaution principle
• Environment
• ecological Biology
• genetic Engineering
• Impressed
• Philosophy of nature

External bonds

• card of reading of the book (pulpit DSO)