The Phenomenon of Life: Toward a Philosophical Biology

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Northwestern University Press, 2001 - Philosophy - 303 pages
A classic of phenomenology and existentialism, The Phenomenon of Life sets forth a systematic and comprehensive philosophy--an existential interpretation of biological facts laid out in support of his claim that the mind is prefigured throughout organic existence. Hans Jonas shows how life-forms present themselves on an ascending scale of perception and freedom of action, a scale reaching its apex in a human being's capacity for thought and morally responsible behavior.
 

Selected pages

Contents

First Essay Life Death and the Body in the Theory of Being
7
Second Essay Philosophical Aspects of Darwinism
38
Third Essay Is God a Mathematician? The Meaning
64
On the Animal Soul
99
A Critique
108
A Study in the
135
Seventh Essay Imagemaking and the Freedom of Man
157
Transition From Philosophy of the Organism to the
183
Ninth Essay Gnosticism Existentialism and Nihilism
211
Tenth Essay Heidegger and Theology
235
Eleventh Essay Immortality and the Modern Temper
262
Epilogue Nature and Ethics
282
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The Phenomenon of Life: Toward a Philosophical Biology
Hans Jonas
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Common terms and phrases

acosmic action analysis animal anthropomorphism Aristotle aspect basic become behavior body Cartesian dualism causal cause concept condition continuous cosmic cybernetics death demiurge Descartes distinction divine doctrine dualism dynamics emergence entity environment epiphenomenon Essay essence essential existence existential existentialist experience external fact freedom function gnostic Hans Jonas Heidegger Heidegger's human idea ideal identity immortality intrinsic involved inwardness Jonas Jonas's kind knowledge living machine man's material mathematical matter means mechanical mediacy metabolism metaphysical mind mode modern monism moral motility motion nature necessity nihilism object ontological organism original pattern perception phenomenology philosophy physical Plato possible present primal thinking principle purpose question reality realm reason relation representation res extensa result scientific sense sentience sequence servomechanism sight situation soul speak symbols teleological behavior teleology temporal theologian theology theoretical theory things thought tion transcendence truth universe vision visual whole

References to this book

About the author (2001)

HANS JONAS (1903-1993) was a German Jew, pupil of Heidegger and Bultmann, lifelong friend and colleague of Hannah Arendt at the New School for Social Research, and one of the most prominent thinkers of his generation. The range of his topics never obscures their unifying thread: that our mortality is at the root of our moral responsibility to safeguard humanity's future. Mortality and Morality both consummates and demonstrates the basic thrust of Jonas's thought: the inseparability of ethics and metaphysics, the reality of values at the center of being.

Bibliographic information

TitleThe Phenomenon of Life: Toward a Philosophical Biology
Northwestern University studies in phenomenology & existential philosophy
Studies in Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
AuthorHans Jonas
Editionreprint
PublisherNorthwestern University Press, 2001
ISBN0810117495, 9780810117495
Length303 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Philosophy / Movements / Existentialism
Philosophy / Movements / Phenomenology
Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects
  
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