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THE CULTURAL VALUES of SCIENCE Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:55 Pagina II THE PONTIFICAL Statement on the SCRIPTA ACADEMY OF Cultural Values of the Natural Sciences SCIENCES VARIA At its Plenary Session of 8-11 November 2002, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences discussed the various contri- Scripta Varia THE CULTURAL butions made by scientific activity and education to the cul- ture of humankind. Seeing ‘culture’ as a set of free and 105 responsible learned ways of acting, behaving and taking deci- VALUES OF SCIENCE sions, as opposed to inherited patterns of behaviour and 105 instincts, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences wishes to issue the following Statement. If by science we mean the sophisti- cated arts of mathematics, aesthetics, architecture and met- allurgy, it is possible to describe ancient Egypt, China and Mesopotamia as the first homes of science. The knowledge base built up by studies in the natural sciences beginning with the theoretical practice of the ancient Greeks as a self- T less form of the search for truth, and then developed by the HE method of Galileo and his heirs, constitutes a fundamental dimension of human culture. Since that time, this dimension C has shaped human history and is now an irreversible part of one’s destiny. It is a value in itself which provides both a sci- ULTURAL ence-based view of the world and people and extensive opportunities to improve living conditions through applica- tions in such areas as health, life expectancy, food security, sustainable growth, energy and water resources, information and communication, and the preservation of the environ- ment. (...) Successful scientific research strongly depends on V originality, creativity and invention. These requirements are ALUES OF similar to those of other cultural activities in the various fields of the arts and in the social and human sciences. All of these fields make their specific contributions to the heritage of human culture; they are complementary and cannot replace each other. Today, more than ever before, what is required is a new humanism which takes into account all aspects of human culture, and where human, social and nat- S ural sciences can work together as partners. This will greatly CIENCE contribute to improving the overall knowledge of our world EM and our place in it, to increasing the respect for future gen- AD IA C S erations, to promoting what is human in people, to safe- A C I guarding the environment, and to fostering sustainable A E I N C T growth and development. In this way, science will help to I I F A unite minds and hearts, and encourage dialogue not only I R T V N M between individual researchers and political and cultural O leaders, but also between nations and cultures, making a P priceless contribution to peace and harmony amongst the peoples of the world. Science, so much appreciated in the teaching of John Paul II, when it is in harmony with faith can VATICAN CITY Plenary Session fully participate in this new humanism. The members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences make an appeal to the read- 2003 8-11 November 2002 ers of this Statement to fully recognise the valuable contri- bution made by the natural sciences to human culture. MMIII Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:55 Pagina I THE CULTURAL VALUES OF SCIENCE Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:55 Pagina II Address: THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES CASINA PIO IV, 00120 VATICAN CITY Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:55 Pagina III PONTIFICIAE ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM SCRIPTA VARIA 105 THE CULTURAL VALUES OF SCIENCE 8-11 November 2002 EM AD IA C S A C I A E I N C T I I F A I R T V N M O P EX AEDIBVS ACADEMICIS IN CIVITATE VATICANA MMIII Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:55 Pagina IV The opinions expressed with absolute freedom during the presentation of the papers of this meeting, although published by the Academy, represent only the points of view of the participants and not those of the Academy. ISBN 88-7761-082-4 © Copyright 2003 PONTIFICIA ACADEMIA SCIENTIARUM VATICAN CITY The Participants of the Plenary Session of 8-11 November 2002 The Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Casina Pio IV The Academy or The School of Athens by Raphael, in the Vatican Palace ‘In those people you will have recognised your oldest predecessors in the investigation of both matter and spirit’ (Pius XII, Address to the Plenary Session of the Academy, 3 December 1939) Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:56 Pagina IX CONTENTS Address to the Holy Father – N. Cabibbo .......................................... XIV Address of the Holy Father to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences........................................................................... XVI COMMEMORATIONS OF ACADEMICIANS André Blanc-Lapierre – P. Germain ................................................. XIX Louis Leprince-Ringuet – P. Germain ............................................. XXII Jacques-Louis Lions – P. Germain ................................................... XXVI Minoru Oda – N. Cabibbo ................................................................ XXIX Max F. Perutz – W. Arber.................................................................. XXX Franco Rasetti – N. Cabibbo ............................................................ XXXIV Victor F. Weisskopf – A. Zichichi ..................................................... XXXV SELF-PRESENTATION OF THE NEW MEMBERS Antonio M. Battro.............................................................................. XXXVIII Enrico Berti........................................................................................ XXXIX Thierry Boon-Falleur ......................................................................... XLI Günter Blobel..................................................................................... XLII Pierre J. Léna ..................................................................................... XLIV Carlo Maria Cardinal Martini ........................................................... XLVI Jürgen Mittelstrass............................................................................. XLVII Ryoji Noyori ....................................................................................... XLVIII Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger ................................................................ L AWARD OF THE PIUS XI MEDAL – SELF-PRESENTATIONS Stanislas Dehaene .............................................................................. LIII Juan M. Maldacena ........................................................................... LVI Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:56 Pagina X X CONTENTS Programme.......................................................................................... LX List of Participants ............................................................................. LXIV Preface – W. Arber ............................................................................... LXXIV Presentation – W. Arber ....................................................................... LXXV Introduction – M. Sánchez Sorondo ................................................... LXXVII SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS Science and Culture Maurizio Iaccarino ................................................................................ 1 Discussion............................................................................................... 12 Que la science s’inscrit dans la culture comme “pratique théorique” Paul Ricœur............................................................................................ 14 Discussion............................................................................................... 23 Culture and Science Lourdes Arizpe ....................................................................................... 29 Discussion............................................................................................... 40 Cultural Aspects of the Theory of Molecular Evolution Werner Arber.......................................................................................... 45 Discussion............................................................................................... 55 Science and Dream Paul Germain ......................................................................................... 59 Discussion............................................................................................... 67 The Facts of Life Christian de Duve .................................................................................. 71 Discussion............................................................................................... 92 Modern Cosmology and Life’s Meaning George V. Coyne, S.J.............................................................................. 101 Discussion............................................................................................... 107 Prima Parte 18-07-2003 14:56 Pagina XI CONTENTS XI The Different Paces of Development of Science and Culture: The Considerations of a Demographer Bernardo M. Colombo........................................................................... 110 Discussion............................................................................................... 122 From World Views to Science and Back Stanley L. Jaki........................................................................................ 124 Discussion............................................................................................... 139 ‘Much More is Required’. Science Education in the 21st Century: A Challenge Pierre J. Léna ......................................................................................... 142 Discussion..............................................................................................
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