3rd European Forum
on Ethics and Science for the Environment
October 12 - 14, 2008, Toruń Poland
III Forum nt. Etyki i Nauki na rzecz Środowiska
12 - 14 października 2008, Toruń
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Referring to the activity initiated by Prof. Hartmut Frank (Bayreuth, Germany) and Prof. Francesco Dondi (Ferrara, Italy) and Prof. Michele Martin (Paris, France) we intend to organize 3rd European Forum Ethics and Science for the Environment – EsforE on October 12-14, 2008 in Toruń.
This way we would like to propose an worldwide discussion concerning relation between the different disciplines of science and the impact of the environment on the human activity and the civilization development. The aim of this Forum is also a stimulation of young people especially from last grades of secondary schools and also students to active participation in the discussion on the actual questions of present-day world. The delivered lectures should allow to an open discussion between the old and young generation and between people of politics, science, culture and religion so that the conception of renaissance people e.g. Leonardo, Kopernik, Gallileo, Keppler or Alexander von Humboldt was a model of the interdisciplinary interpretation of that what we meet every day.
The language of the Forum will be English.
Bogusław Buszewski, Chairman of the Forum
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Forum on Ethics and Science for the Environment ESforE initiative
Modern science and technology constitute the foundations of today’s industrial structure and enable the high standards of living in the wealthy countries, giving their citizens the extra energy to attain levels of personal freedom unprecedented in historical terms. Rooted in the philosophical principle of the Cartesian subjective skepticism - Cogito ergo sum - the powerful methodology of scientific exploration led to the vastly expanded understanding of the material aspects of us, of our body, of the world. However, it has also entailed the misunderstanding that scientific findings are objective truths although cutting-edge research, especially in physics and biology, is revealing that cognition under this paradigm is necessarily limited and subjective. The disregard of transcendent aspects has led to over-individualization, over-emphasis of competition, and fading perspectives of the young generation and disadvantaged members of society. Looming depletion of resources, aggravation of struggle for superiority at all levels of society, and a progressive deterioration of the human environment are the consequence. In spite of these warnings, there is the danger that a growing imbalance eventually may lead into violent confrontations of different cultural groups and nations, as already taking place in the war zones of the globe. The continued materialistic one-sidedness leads to a growing split, both within individuals and society as a whole; it also precipitates all kinds of esoteric movements, even of terrorist sects.
A new paradigm including its educational principles (Edgar Morin: Les sept savoirs necessaires a l’education du futur, 2000) needs to be developed, exploring man’s being in a holistic way, in harmony with her/himself, with affection to others around, to the other creatures, to the whole nature. Integration of individual subjective positions to approach objectivity, recognition of the common ethical foundation of all major cultures, and bridge-building between the well-researched scientific-material world and the neglected metaphysical super-structure are needed. Economists emphasize the need of expansion towards the next level of cognition, as a pre-requisite for a new life cycle of economic growth (e.g. Nefiodow, The Sixth Kondratieff, Düsseldorf 2001), since the present system is approaching its limits (D. Meadows et al, Limits of Growth – The Thirty Year Update, 2004). To avoid misunderstandings: it is not meant to say that the material aspect is less important than the spiritual one but recognition of both realities will relieve our full potential, integrating intellectual and intuitive ways of cognition. The Latin saying, emphasising the unity of body and spirit, is still valid: Mens sana in corpore sano. The change of paradigm - Amo ergo sum - can be realized by education. This requires patience: (I) Most teachers and students have received their formation under the traditional negligence of the spiritual aspect of the human and other living beings, and (II) the conventional organisational structures have been designed under the old hierarchic premises which tend to reproduce themselves.
ESforE is an INTERDISCIPLINARY PUBLIC FORUM on which scientists of Natural and Life Sciences, Humanities, Economics, Social and Political Sciences share their backgrounds, seeking the dialogue with the general public and political authorities, in order to reach a shared vision and to discover new routes of problem-solving. Ways of advancing the principles of University Education Curricula to include fundamental and applied ethics will be discussed. Specific consideration will be given to the ethical basis of politics and governance of the environment for the European multicultural society.
ESforE is supported by the Universities of Ferrara (IT), Bayreuth (DE), Torun (PL), and Burgos (ES); others are invited to join.
Francesco Dondi, Universita di Ferrara
Hartmunt Frank, Universitat Bayreuth
Salvatore Mazzullo, Basell Polyolefins, Ferrara
Ferrara/Bayreuth, 17 July 2006
