Union Académique Internationale

Scientific practices and human values – A historical approach

George Sarton, one of the founders of the International Academy, proclaimed that the history of science was the basis of a “new humanism” because science generates its own values. Auschwitz and Hiroshima proved him wrong.

The ethical and social responsibility of the scientist in his or her research practice and applications is a burning issue today. But this problem is an old one. It is linked to all religions and all the great philosophies. In history, there have been many cases since the beginning: experimentation on humans, the contribution to war inventions (Nobel), the contribution of scientists to the atomic bomb and their revolt, questions of race and gender, the control of life in its origins and its end, submission to the military-industrial complex, artificial intelligence etc… A historical, transdisciplinary and transcultural approach sheds new light by situating the fundamental questions in the long term.

The Second Athenian Days of the History of Science are co-organised by the National Hellenic Research Foundation and the International Academy of the History of Science with the support of the University of Athens. The Foundation is completing an extensive programme on “Science and Religion” entitled “Science and Orthodoxy around the World”.

The International Academy brings together 350 specialists from all over the world from all religious, philosophical and political backgrounds. The congress is not restricted to members of the Academy who will hold their general assembly there, but is open to all scholars, including doctoral students.

The languages of the congress are the two working languages of the Academy: French and English.