At the Crossroads of a new Knowledge Commons
September 14, 2006
Type/Items(s): Opening & Closing
Contributors: Raad Abdulaziz (ICVolunteers), Randy Schmieder (MCART) |
A sustainable and informed dialogue between natural and social scientists is an imperative for the future of humanity. This was the message delivered by the European Union Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, Jan Figel at the start of the opening symposium of the World Knowledge Dialogue. Addressing about 300 delegates in the Swiss Alpine Resort of Crans-Montana, the Commissioner challenged natural scientists and their counterparts in the humanities to interact in a "constructive manner".
The World Knowledge Dialogue is an ambitious project funded by the Swiss government with the aim of bridging the gap between the natural and the human/social sciences starting from new, revolutionary discoveries that are conducive to paradigmatic changes. The Crans-Montana Symposium brings together under one roof some of the world's most brilliant minds from various disciplines with the express aim of finding common ground between the different languages used by natural and social scientists.
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| The challenge this Symposium faces is how to create a dialogue between two fields of knowledge which lend themselves to different interpretations of the realities faced by humanity; two lines of pursuit which have developed distinct divisions over the last centuries. |
According to Jan Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Miltilingualsim, in as much as dialogue is needed between and within societies, it is imperative that the social and natural science disciplines must also move from a monologue towards a dialogue; one which is not self-serving, but contributes to the advancement of humanity. The Commissioner also noted that careful planning must be done if the dialogue is to succeed.
Judging from the introductory speeches, there is much goodwill among the gathered intellectuals, and we have much to look forward to. Among the first speakers was Swiss Federal Counsellor, Pascal Couchepin, who gave his own perspective as a politician. He focused on the rule of democracy as a type of dialogue between science and intellect and he invoked the Swiss system, through its direct democracy, as a good example. Citing Switzerland's 1998 and 2004 referendums on genetic engineering and the use of stem cells for research purposes, M. Couchepin told delegates that citizens were "able to grasp complex issues" and that these should be discussed publicly. He insisted that science and technology alone never gave meanings to humanity without freedom of speech and this is what the government must achieve through democracy.
If indeed, dialogue is to be achieved for the common good, then it seems evident that the scientists gathered here must understand that the knowledge they possess --and the results of the research they conduct-- have an impact beyond the hallowed halls of academia and multimillion dollar research laboratories.
Society has a stake and is affected by this body of knowledge and we can only conclude that this symposium marks the start of, as Andre Hurst, former Rector of the University of Geneva, puts it, "a new tradition in knowledge that must be kept open to all". Although Hurst laments the fact that sciences and humanities have, over the years, failed to sit down and find common ground, he remains optimistic that this symposium will encourage the generation of methodologies to bridge these gaps and make knowledge a "common treasure".
If science and humanities share a common heritage, they must be presented in a manner that better informs society of their place in the World of Knowledge. By acknowledging that this shared heritage matters to society and is vital to its everyday decision-making, this symposium, indeed, heralds a new era of the Knowledge Commons.
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