The Philosophy of Hans Jonas : Freedom and Responsibility

Combining biographical insight—based on exclusive interviews with Jonas’s wife Lore—with rigorous philosophical analysis, Michelis situates Jonas’s thought within contemporary debates on sustainability, anthropocentrism, and the moral obligations of humanity.

This book offers a compelling exploration of Hans Jonas’s philosophical legacy, focusing on the intertwined concepts of freedom and responsibility in relation to nature, ethics, and technology. Drawing on Jonas’s post–World War II writings, Angela Michelis traces his intellectual evolution from early studies of Gnosticism to his groundbreaking work in the philosophy of biology and ethics. The book presents Jonas’s dynamic conception of organic life and outlines his principle of responsibility as a planetary ethic for the age of ecological crisis. Combining biographical insight—based on exclusive interviews with Jonas’s wife Lore—with rigorous philosophical analysis, Michelis situates Jonas’s thought within contemporary debates on sustainability, anthropocentrism, and the moral obligations of humanity. This timely volume reaffirms Jonas’s relevance for today’s urgent ethical challenges and serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students in philosophy, environmental studies, and bioethics.