Ricerc@Sapienza

It seems undeniable, that in reconstructing the conceptual universe of Hans Jonas's oeuvre a privileged place can, or indeed must, be reserved for his relationship with the classical heritage. Certainly, it is far from easy to provide a clear and detailed outline of this relationship with the ancient philosophical past. Jonas is not the kind of author who peppers his writing with quotes, references, and footnotes. Often his engagement with such a past is a silent one, and only a painstaking approach can reveal the presence of this or that ancient author. In the light of this premiss, I will endeavour to garner some data in a clear and orderly fashion. I believe it may be possible to identify some philosophers and themes particularly dear to Jonas, without making any claim to absolute and systematic completeness (or necessarily establishing a rigorous chronological sequence).