Technique and responsibility: understanding a philosophy of life born in times of war

Abstract

Pandemic days are similar to days of war, where crises multiply in all spheres, affecting people in various ways. Philosopher Hans Jonas experienced the two great wars and, based on his experience, left a legacy through his works, which include deep reflections, such as: the phenomenon of life; the power and impact of the development of technoscience on human life and thought; the need to establish a new ethics, capable of containing the impulse and the unbridled desire for the application of technology that, supported by science, brings us the sensation of being inserted in a process of continuous and unlimited progress, where changes and innovations happen in a fast and surprising way, in time and space. The philosopher's experience and writings prompt us to reflections on technique and responsibility that, in this article, consider the pandemic context.