Will man dem Lebenswerk Nietzsches gerecht werden, so ist es unerlässlich, vier Schwerpunkten in Nietzsches Leben besondere Beachtung zu schenken, da sie von außerordentlicher Bedeutung sind, nämlich seinem Elternhaus, d.h. seiner Kindheit und Jugend, seiner Beziehung zum griechischen Altertum im Rahmen seiner Bildung, seiner intensiven Beschäftigung mit dem Werk Schopenhauers und dem Einfluss der progressiven Paralyse als Spätstadium einer acquirierten syphilitischen Erkrankung auf sein Werk, was bisher leider zu wenig kompetente Berücksichtigung erfuhr. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche wurde in Röcken bei Lützen (...) als Sohn eines evangelischen Pfarrers geboren. Bereits 5 Jahre danach starb sein Vater. Der Rest der Familie, bestehend aus seiner noch sehr jungen Mutter, seiner um 2 Jahre jüngeren Schwester, zweier Tanten und der sehr dominanten Großmutter, zog nach Naumburg, wo Nietzsche zunächst die Bürgerschule besuchte. Dort wuchs er in fast ausschließlich weiblicher Umgebung ganz im Geiste tiefer evangelisch - christlicher Frömmigkeit auf Die Bibelkenntnisse des sensiblen, musikalisch und literarisch äußerst begabten Knaben waren mit der Zeit so umfangreich geworden, dass man i hn scherzhaft als den kleinen Pastor bezeichnete. In dieser Zeit sind sicherlich die Wurzeln für seinen späteren Antifeminismus zu suchen sowie seine Abneigung gegenüber dem Christentum, das er nahezu ausschließlich in der Form einer naiven, weiblich geprägten, weichlich-frömmelnden Religionsausübung kennen lernte, die ihm dekadent erscheinen musste. Er hatte so keine Gelegenheit, die eigentliche Stärke und Tiefe des Christentums zu erfahren. (shrink)

Religia jest dla człowieka życiowy i życiodajny sprawy, dlatego namysł nad jej powstaniem, funkcji i istoty jest zawsze na czasie, tym bardziej w okresie postmodernistycznego zagubienia. Jeśli religia jest dla człowieka tak ważną sprawą to jego namysł nad nią nie jest niczym innym, jak myśleniem samego siebie. Jest ona bowiem tą rzeczywistością, która trafia w serce człowieka, w nerw jego życia. Religia, tak jak życie człowieka, jest uwarunkowana historycznie, to znaczy: czasowo, lokalnie, kulturowe, ma okresy wzlotów i upadków. Wydaje się, (...) że dla człowieka nowożytnego, a zwłaszcza człowieka ostatnich dwóch wieków, religia straciła na życiowej i życiodajnej wartości, przestała być jego fundamentalną, wewnętrzną postawy wobec Boga, stała się raczej wyrazem jego kulturowo-społecznego, zewnętrznego funkcjonowania. Początki przemiany tej postawy można dzisiaj dokładnie zanalizować, jej konsekwencje dla współczesnego człowieka można opisać. (shrink)

Those who comment on modern scientific institutions are often quick to praise institutional structures that leave scientists to their own devices. These comments reveal an underlying presumption that scientists do best when left alone—when they operate in what we call the ‘scientific state of nature’. Through computer simulation, we challenge this presumption by illustrating an inefficiency that arises in the scientific state of nature. This inefficiency suggests that one cannot simply presume that science is most efficient when institutional control is (...) absent. In some situations, actively encouraging unpopular, risky science would improve scientific outcomes. 1 Introduction2 Scientists and Bandits3 Choosing an ϵ4 Structure of Communication5 Discussion. (shrink)

In this essay we develop and argue for the adoption of a more comprehensive model of research ethics than is included within current conceptions of responsible conduct of research (RCR). We argue that our model, which we label the ethical dimensions of scientific research (EDSR), is a more comprehensive approach to encouraging ethically responsible scientific research compared to the currently typically adopted approach in RCR training. This essay focuses on developing a pedagogical approach that enables scientists to better understand and (...) appreciate one important component of this model, what we call intrinsic ethics . Intrinsic ethical issues arise when values and ethical assumptions are embedded within scientific findings and analytical methods. Through a close examination of a case study and its application in teaching, namely, evaluation of climate change integrated assessment models, this paper develops a method and case for including intrinsic ethics within research ethics training to provide scientists with a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the critical role of values and ethical choices in the production of research outcomes. (shrink)

Book reviewed in this article: Suffering and the Beneficent Community: Beyond Libertarianism. By Erich H. Loewy. The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Medicine. By Eric J. Cassell.

Historically, scientific and engineering expertise has been key in shaping research and innovation policies, with benefits presumed to accrue to society more broadly over time. But there is persistent and growing concern about whether and how ethical and societal values are integrated into R&I policies and governance, as we confront public disbelief in science and political suspicion toward evidence-based policy-making. Erosion of such a social contract with science limits the ability of democratic societies to deal with challenges presented by new, (...) disruptive technologies, such as synthetic biology, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, automation and robotics, and artificial intelligence. Many policy efforts have emerged in response to such concerns, one prominent example being Europe's Eighth Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, whose focus on “Responsible Research and Innovation” provides a case study for the translation of such normative perspectives into concrete policy action and implementation. Our analysis of this H2020 RRI approach suggests a lack of consistent integration of elements such as ethics, open access, open innovation, and public engagement. On the basis of our evaluation, we suggest possible pathways for strengthening efforts to deliver R&I policies that deepen mutually beneficial science and society relationships. (shrink)

This thought-provoking book discusses the concept of progress in economics and investigates whether any advance has been made in its different spheres of research. The authors look back at the history, successes and failures of their respective fields and thoroughly examine the notion of progress from an epistemological and methodological perspective. The idea of progress is particularly significant as the authors regard it as an essentially contested concept which can be defined in many ways – theoretically or empirically; locally or (...) globally; or as encouraging or impeding the existence of other research traditions. The authors discuss the idea that for progress to make any sense there must be an accumulation of knowledge built up over time rather than the replacement of ideas by each successive generation. Accordingly, they are not concerned with estimating the price of progress, reminiscing in the past, or assessing what has been lost. Instead they apply the complex mechanisms and machinery of the discipline to sub-fields such as normative economics, monetary economics, trade and location theory, Austrian economics and classical economics to critically assess whether progress has been made in these areas of research. -/- Bringing together authoritative and wide-ranging contributions by leading scholars, this book will challenge and engage those interested in philosophy, economic methodology and the history of economic thought. It will also appeal to economists in general who are interested in the advancement of their profession. (shrink)

In this paper, we introduce the Societal Readiness Thinking Tool to aid researchers and innovators in developing research projects with greater responsiveness to societal values, needs, and expectations. The need for societally-focused approaches to research and innovation—complementary to Technology Readiness frameworks—is presented. Insights from responsible research and innovation concepts and practice, organized across critical stages of project-life cycles are discussed with reference to the development of the SR Thinking Tool. The tool is designed to complement not only shortfalls in TR (...) approaches, but also improve upon other efforts to integrate RRI, sustainability, and design thinking in research and innovation cycles. Operationalization and early-stage user tests of the Tool are reported, along with discussion of potential future iterations and applications. (shrink)