Abstract

In his proposal of an ethics for the technologic civilization, Hans Jonas criticizes Kant’s ethics whereas incorporates some of its fundamental concepts. This paper intends to scrutinize Jonas’ critique, arguing that the Kantian moral philosophy is justifiable in face of it and also able to overcome certain difficulties that may affect the pillars of Jonas’ ethics of future. Moreover, in a concise way, this work will discuss the matter of a possible conciliation between the material character of Jonas’ ethics and the alleged categorical character of its principle and examine Jonas’ essay to present a metaphysical groundwork to his ethics. As both that groundwork and that conciliation seem to be problematic, a critical return to the groundwork to the Kantian ethics is suggested, once one can find in it valuable heuristic arguments that allow some ground for rethinking the foundations of Jonas’ ethics of future.