Jonas's Risk Conceptof "Responsibility Ethics"

Risk concept of "responsibility ethics", summed up in one word, is to avoid risk problems of technological age by responsibility ethics.Jonas believed that the risk in the technological age is different from the risk before technological age; it has obvious characteristics of the times. Modern technology is different from the traditional one. Modern technology is not only human behavior, not just simply tools in the process of human behavior, but a "hidden potential", a "power intention", and a "cumulative process". Mankind destiny residing in technology "mounts" has been under unprecedented threat, not only natural ecosystems are swirled in technical movements, even the continuation of future human races is also risked. In response, Jonas proposed the future existence of mankind is an urgent priority, which must not be taken in the risk of metaphysical laws. And that ethics can no longer be neutral to technology, ethics must say something on the technical events, or technology should be subject to ethical evaluation.This thesis demonstrates the theoretical connotation of Jonas'risk concept of responsibility ethics, discusses why the technological age risk becomes the concern object of ethics, why the traditional ethics has limitations, leads to the ethics of responsibility must be to respond to the technological age risk. Responsibility ethics avoids the risk of technological age by the way of both theoretical principles, methods and application practice, therefore risk concept of responsibility ethics is a systematical risk concept. After that, comparing with other risk concepts represented by Beck theory of risk society, it is demonstrated that the risk concept of responsibility ethics has beyonded Beck's theory. Thus, the risk concept understanding of responsibility ethics is further deepened, furthermore, it is raised objectively that the research value and significance of risk concept of responsibility, providing references for the risk problems of technological age.Finally, combining the two parts of the discussion, risk concept of responsibility ethics is evaluated objectively:it has both positive contribution and deficiency. Generally, however, for Jonas'risk concept of responsibility ethics, its contribution is greater than the deficiency.