1979

Jonas — Greater power of action expands responsibility for the future

When effects are global, long-term, and irreversible, is an ethics designed for nearby contemporaries sufficient?

Hans Jonas The Imperative of Responsibility

Evidence-backed account

Jonas argues that modern technology changes the scale and temporal reach of action, making nature and the continued existence of humanity objects of ethical responsibility.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

Philosophy of Technology
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: §3.3 Ethical and Political Critiques of Technology; Jonas and responsibility
Open source

His imperative requires present technological action to remain compatible with continued genuine human life and gives prevention special weight under catastrophic uncertainty.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

Philosophy of Technology
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: §3.3, The Imperative of Responsibility and future-oriented ethics
Open source

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