한국윤리교육학회

Hans Jonas proposes responsibility ethics as a new ethics to overcome the crisis in the era of science and technology. Responsibility ethics can be applied to various practical problems in our lives. A case in point is biotechnology. According to Jonas, it is the stage of biotechnology that waits for us at the end of the technological development process. Due to the excessive development of biotechnology, the idea of transforming human genetic structures or planning our descendants is no longer an illusion. By reaching the final stage of technological development, humans have finally become objects of science and technology itself. Jonas’ position on biotechnology research, such as the problem of genetic manipulation, is concise and determined. Only prevention of misfortune is allowed, and no attempt for a new kind of happiness should be allowed. In this study, this was called the principle of preventing unfortunate consequences and attempted to propose it as a tentative ethical principle applied to the problem of biotechnology as an application of responsibility ethics. The implications of Jonas’ discussion on biotechnology criticism are as follows. First, we must be wary of human means by science and technology. Second, a reflective attitude toward science and technology and ethics is needed.