The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?

The paper assumes that fear presents a certain degree of ambivalence. To say it with Hans Jonas (1903-1993), fear is not only a negative emotion, but may teach us something very important: we recognize what is relevant when we perceive that it is at stake. Under this respect, fear may be assumed as...

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Main Author: Roberto Franzini Tibaldeo
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Adam Mickiewicz University 2015-02-01
Series:Ethics in Progress
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/eip/article/view/9331
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author Roberto Franzini Tibaldeo
author_facet Roberto Franzini Tibaldeo
author_sort Roberto Franzini Tibaldeo
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description The paper assumes that fear presents a certain degree of ambivalence. To say it with Hans Jonas (1903-1993), fear is not only a negative emotion, but may teach us something very important: we recognize what is relevant when we perceive that it is at stake. Under this respect, fear may be assumed as a guide to responsibility, a virtue that is becoming increasingly important, because of the role played by human technology in the current ecological crisis. Secondly, fear and responsibility concern both dimensions of human action: private-individual and public-collective. What the ‘heuristics of fear’ teaches us, is to become aware of a deeper ambivalence, namely the one which characterizes as such human freedom, which may aim to good or bad, to self-preservation or self-destruction. Any public discussion concerning political or economic issues related with human action (at an individual or collective level) ought not to leave this essential idea out of consideration.
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spelling doaj.art-0876ee86c5d14533bcc46ca429fe5c8b2022-12-21T19:04:17ZdeuAdam Mickiewicz UniversityEthics in Progress2084-92572084-92572015-02-01612252388985The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?Roberto Franzini Tibaldeo0University of TurinThe paper assumes that fear presents a certain degree of ambivalence. To say it with Hans Jonas (1903-1993), fear is not only a negative emotion, but may teach us something very important: we recognize what is relevant when we perceive that it is at stake. Under this respect, fear may be assumed as a guide to responsibility, a virtue that is becoming increasingly important, because of the role played by human technology in the current ecological crisis. Secondly, fear and responsibility concern both dimensions of human action: private-individual and public-collective. What the ‘heuristics of fear’ teaches us, is to become aware of a deeper ambivalence, namely the one which characterizes as such human freedom, which may aim to good or bad, to self-preservation or self-destruction. Any public discussion concerning political or economic issues related with human action (at an individual or collective level) ought not to leave this essential idea out of consideration.https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/eip/article/view/9331Fear, Responsibility, Hans Jonas, Heuristics of Fear, Technological Risks.
spellingShingle Roberto Franzini Tibaldeo
The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?
Ethics in Progress
Fear, Responsibility, Hans Jonas, Heuristics of Fear, Technological Risks.
title The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?
title_full The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?
title_fullStr The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?
title_full_unstemmed The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?
title_short The Heuristics of Fear: Can the Ambivalence of Fear Teach Us Anything in the Technological Age?
title_sort heuristics of fear can the ambivalence of fear teach us anything in the technological age
topic Fear, Responsibility, Hans Jonas, Heuristics of Fear, Technological Risks.
url https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/eip/article/view/9331
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