For creativity lies outside the tasks of responsibility...

For creativity lies outside the tasks of responsibility, which extends no further than to making it possible, that is, to keeping intact its ontological premise, the being of man is such. This is its more modest, but more stringent duty.’[^78] On the other hand, Hans Jonas’ responsibility ethic is totally realistic, seeking its basis in the object, which will be the object of responsibility, in the good that resides in being (‘an ontic paradigm’[^79] ).

It seeks an objective basis in the demands for care and respect, an objective basis even for the subjective feeling of responsibility. We feel responsibility towards living things and this feeling is correct insofar as such living things have a value in themselves, inasmuch as they are objectively valuable and would be even without our recognition of that value and without our feeling of responsibility. ‘What matters,’ he states, ‘are things rather than states of my will.’[^80] Which is…