scholarly journals Projection or encounter? Investigating Hans Jonas’ case for natural teleology

Author(s):  
Sigurd Hverven ◽  
Thomas Netland

AbstractThis article discusses Hans Jonas’ argument for teleology in living organisms, in light of recently raised concerns over enactivism’s “Jonasian turn.” Drawing on textual resources rarely discussed in contemporary enactivist literature on Jonas’ philosophy, we reconstruct five core ideas of his thinking: 1) That natural science’s rejection of teleology is methodological rather than ontological, and thus not a proof of its non-existence; 2) that denial of the reality of teleology amounts to a performative self-contradiction; 3) that the fact of evolution makes it implausible that only humans actualize purpose; 4) that the concept of metabolism delimits and gestures towards beings performing purposive activity; and 5) that concrete encounters with living organisms are indispensable for the judgment that they are purposive. Lastly, we draw attention to how Jonas’ understanding of teleology and inwardness in nonhuman life in terms of degrees of identity with human life poses a problem for his view. In this way, we hope to clarify what Jonas, as an important source of inspiration for the enactivist project, is proposing.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 1098-1101
Author(s):  
Aditi Vinay Chandak ◽  
Surekha Dubey Godbole ◽  
Tanvi Rajesh Balwani ◽  
Tanuj Sunil Patil

Ecosystem, which consists of the physical environment and all the living organisms, on which we all depend, is declining rapidly because of its destruction caused by humans. It’s a two-way relationship between the humans and mother nature. If we destroy the natural environment around us, human life will be seriously affected, and the life of next generation will be endangered unless serious steps are taken. One such effect of human overexploitations has come in the form of coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus, a contagious disease of 2019 known as Covid-19, is the latest swiftly spreading global infection. The aetiology of Covid-19 is different from SARS-CoV which has the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it has the same host receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The novel coronavirus which is zoonotic (spreading from an animal to a human) and mainly found in the bats and pangolins is a single stranded ribonucleic acid virus of Coronaviridae family. 1 The typical structure of 2019-nCoV possessed ‘spike protein’ in the membrane envelope, also expressed various polyproteins, nucleoproteins and membrane protein. The S protein binds to the receptor cell of host to facilitate the entry of virus in the host. Currently four genera for coronavirus are found α-CoV, ßCoV, γ-CoV, δ-CoV. SARS-CoV first originated in Wuhan, China and has spread across the globe. World Health Organization (WHO) and public health emergency of international concern declared it as 2019 - 2020 pandemic disease.2 According to WHO report, (7th April 2020) update on this pandemic coronavirus disease, there have been more than 13,65,004 confirmed cases and 76,507 deaths across the world and these figures are rapidly increasing. Therefore, actions for proper recognition, management and its prevention must be prompted for relevant alleviation of its outspread.3 Health care professionals are mainly indulged in the national crises and are working diligently around-the-clock, small ratio of the health care workers have become affected and few died tragically. Dentists are most often the first ones to be affected because they work with patients in close proximity. On 15th March 2020, the New York Times published an article titled “The workers who face the greatest Coronavirus risk” described the dentists are highly exposed, than the paramedical staffs and general physicians, to the risk of novel coronavirus disease 19.4


Atmospheric pollutants may damage, directly or indirectly, human life and health, other living organisms and complete ecosystems, human artefacts, and climatic conditions. The development of appropriate policies and methods for control of pollution requires, inter alia , an assessment of the routes taken by pollutants or their precursors through the atmosphere. Consideration of these routes leads to a broad classification on a local, regional or global basis associated mainly, but not exclusively, with the terrestrial boundary layer, with the troposphere and with the stratosphere respectively. This may require in some cases the perspective of total biogeochemical cycles, and in any event of the relative importance of man-made and natural sources of materials to be regarded as pollutants.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz Krause ◽  
Veronica Strang

Human life is both literally and metaphorically unthinkable without water, which permeates and enlivens every form of human activity. Water is equally important for all living organisms, flowing through plants, animals and humans, through places, river systems and ocean currents, and through the entire hydrological cycle, where it constitutes a fundamental aspect of the weather and climate. For many people water epitomizes the connections and integration of living processes: as the life-giving element enabling production and reproduction, and as a substance of community and belonging. However, the fluid qualities that enable water to connect mean that it can also be a major medium for pollution and a threat when overly abundant. And, being essential to all productive processes, it can readily become a means of control and domination. This special issue explores the ways the vitality of water is constituted, negotiated and used strategically in various socio-ecological contexts. How does water figure in experiences, narratives and symbols of living, creativity and healing, or in practices and discourses about pollution and destruction? In what ways can water be used to support or undermine particular power relations? How are ideas about “living water” articulated in property regimes, development projects and conservation strategies?


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-224
Author(s):  
Abdul Hadi

Advances in science and technology encourage the economic, industrial, and health sectors to develop rapidly through diagnostic and therapeutic treatments. Therapeutic-based health research encourages the advancement of modern biotechnology to answer all medical problems. However, not infrequently, advances in modern biotechnology are often considered contrary to moral, ethical, social, legal, psychological and religious values. The presence of biotechnology is considered to dominate human life and has great power to change the development of living organisms and creates an interesting condition to study and analyze when it is associated with the management of medical biotechnology products that are safe for the environment, people's lives and religion. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of Biology students at X & Y universities regarding the application of genetic engineering biotechnology when viewed from an Islamic perspective and the relationship of knowledge to Biology students' attitudes about genetic engineering using qualitative data research through planning (antecedents), processes (transactions), and results (outcomes). The results of the study of 60 biology students from universities X and Y obtained 8 students X and 7 students Y had knowledge of genetic engineering in an Islamic perspective. Meanwhile, after all students participated in the discussion session and were given articles on genetic engineering in an Islamic perspective, all students agreed that the application of genetic engineering must be based on religious knowledge so that research was carried out in accordance with the rules contained in the MUI fatwa No. 35 of 2013.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-228
Author(s):  
James Salzman ◽  
Genevieve Bennett ◽  
Nathaniel Carroll ◽  
Allie Goldstein ◽  
Michael Jenkins

While we don’t tend to think about it, healthy ecosystems provide a variety of critical benefits. Ecosystem goods, the physical items an ecosystem provides, are obvious. Forests provide timber; coastal marshes provide shellfish. While less visible and generally taken for granted, the services underpinning these goods are equally important. Created by the interactions of living organisms with their environment, ecosystem services provide the conditions and processes that sustain human life.1 If you doubt this, consider how to grow an apple without pollination, pest control, or soil fertility. Once one realizes the importance of ecosystem services, three points quickly emerge: (1) landscapes provide a stream of services ranging from water quality and flood control to climate stability—the economic value of which can be significant; (2) the vast majority of these services are public goods and not exchanged in markets, so landowners have little incentive to provide these positive externalities; and (3) we, therefore, need to think creatively about creating markets for these services so they are not under-provided. This is the basis of the policy approach known as Payments for Ecosystem Services (“PES”).


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 628-645
Author(s):  
Marcel Robischon

AbstractIntangible natural heritage is a concept that has been addressed in several publications and that offers a new and expanded view onto world heritage conservation. However, the difference from intangible cultural heritage has not been clearly defined. One distinction in the categories of world heritage that are established in international conventions appears where “the intangible” is not created by humans but by a nonhuman animal. Living organisms sustain human life materially and provide inspiration to humans, both in their material form and by displaying behaviors, or via observable, yet not tangible, dynamic phenomena and processes. This includes migration patterns, aggregations, vocalizations or the formation of symbiotic and mutualistic inter-species relationships. Given the non-material character of these elements, their transmission by nonhuman living beings, and their importance to human culture, it is proposed that such phenomena are considered as intangible natural heritagesensu strictoin the discourse of world heritage.


2021 ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Diana Indah Kusumawati ◽  
Sarwoko Mangkoedihardjo

Cyanobacteria were considered harmful to other living organisms, due to their microcystin content. In addition, uncontrolled populations of cyanobacteria, also known as algal blooms, occur both naturally and as a result of human activity, leading to the development of more complex problems. These microorganisms are currently receiving a lot of attention, as several investigations have considered successful applications of reducing exposure to nature, causing reduced risks to ecosystems, and providing benefits to human life. This study aims to provide answers to current problems, by providing a different perspective on cyanobacteria. Furthermore, it is for the benefits of cyanobacteria for the environment in accordance with the recommendations in some of the literature on previous research results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 109-123
Author(s):  
Linas Jokubaitis

The aim of the article is to reconstruct Hans Jonas’ vision of ethics for the technological civilization and to highlight the challenges that are faced in the attempt to provide an ontological grounding for such ethics. The attempt to develop the ethics of responsibility is inseparable from the affirmation of paternalistic political positions, which leads towards apologetics of total governmental control. In the face of dangers created by modern technology, Jonas argues that attempts to safeguard the existence of humanity are best served by a government that controls all aspects of life. Jonas maintains that in the face of various dangers created by modern technologies, a relationship with them, which is based on fear, becomes pragmatic and rational. A positive evaluation of fear leads towards reactionary political tendencies. Philosopher’s imperative is based on the duty to protect „genuine” human life, however, his vision of total technocratic government could lead to an absolute dehumanization of humanity. It is therefore concluded that Jonas‘ vision of ethics is incompatible with the political ethics of liberal democracy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Jelson Roberto Oliveira

Pretende-se, no presente artigo, analisar as raízes ontológicas da noção de técnica, demonstrando como ela faz parte do movimento de abertura - e de liberdade, portanto - da vida humana em direção ao futuro. Para isso, analisar-se-á como a técnica toma em suas mãos o destino do homem e da natureza, sob os riscos e os perigos que acompanham essa tarefa, pois onde habita a liberdade também cresce o perigo. Dada tal condição, é preciso ainda perguntar sobre as consequências éticas da manipulação do mundo provocada pela unificação entre teoria e prática (base da técnica moderna), cuja intervenção, dada a magnitude e a ambiguidade, torna tal poder dependente de um controle ético. Mostrar-se-á, assim, como o tema da técnica está no centro de uma proposta que faz da ontologia um fundamento para a ética.   Abstract: It is my intended, in this article, analyze the ontological roots of the concept of technique, demonstrating how it is part of the opening movement - and freedom, so - of human life toward the future. For this, it will be analyzed how the technique takes into their hands the destiny of man and nature, on the risks and dangers that accompany this task, because where freedom dwells also increases the danger. With this condition, we must still ask about the ethical consequences of the manipulation of the world caused by the unification of theory and practice (basis of modern technique), whose intervention, given the magnitude and ambiguity becomes such power dependent on an ethical control. We’ll show, how the theme of the technique is in the center of a proposal that consider the ontological foundation of the ethics.Keywords: Hans Jonas; Technique; Ontology; Ethics.


Author(s):  
Hongwen LI

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.現代生物科技的廣泛應用引發了一系列社會、法律和倫理問題,它帶來的負面效應正如它的正面效果一樣多。現代生物科技的基本邏輯體現在:它採取還原論的思維模式,秉承改善生命的宗旨,以及持有技術樂觀主義的態度。作者運用莊子的哲學思想對現代生物科技展開一般性批評。作者指出,現代生物科技首先表現出強烈的反自然性,它向自然提出過分要求,干擾、阻止事物順其自然、按其本性來展示自己。現代生物科技還表現出異化特徵,主要體現在物質化和資本化兩個方面。物質化將人的活動限制在物的層面,片面追求物的有用性;資本化則導致生物資本主義的發展。用莊子道家的語言,技術的非自然性和異化的直接原因是“道”“技”分離。因此,為了走出現代生物技術的陷阱,應該採取莊子“道技合一”的方式,實現“技不離道”、“以道馭技”、“道法自然”之完美結合。Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses such as engineering, technology, and medical research. This paper highlights the social, legal, and moral issues brought about by modern biotechnology. It is particularly concerned with materialism, capitalism, and commercialism where biotechnological means are explored and exploited without ethical boundaries. The result of biotechnological abuse is that we human beings will become increasingly alienated from our authentic nature and being.Daoism was one of the major philosophical traditions of ancient China, based on the teaching of Laozi and Zhuangzi. This paper focuses on the Daoist view of human life and its relation to the natural world from Zhuangzi’s perspective. It will be contended that we must put “human flourishing” – the Dao – first, before we care about the utility of science and technology – the Ji. According to Daoism, true human self-realization depends on the unity between the Dao and the Ji.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 138 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.


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