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March 10, 2004
Eudoxa Policy Study #4: Let's Stand Up and Shout!
The Eudoxa Policy Study "Let's Stand Up and Shout!" is a translation of the fourth chapter of Som egenmäktiga gudar. The book takes a comprehensive look at the Swedish debate on biotechnology and its introduction in society.
The study looks at four major cultural trends in the discourse that still exerts a strong influence on the present debate on bioethics, not only in Sweden, but also in other European countries.
The first is the combination of a romantic, but materialistic view on the world: The truth about reality transcends the material world, so we can not have confidence in our ability to perceive the consequences of our actions. Those that control the development of technology control the future of our society.
The second trend is that the emotional connection between "dangerous foods" supercedes the lack of a causal connection.
The third trend is the resistance against "playing God" or "manipulation with life and the proper order of nature" as identified by the Eurobarometer in 1996.
The fourth trend is the "clash of cultures." Scientist communities try to participate in the value driven public discource with their fact driven arguments. This leads to a classic "talking past each other" scenario which undermines the credibility of scientists in the public eye and disenchants scientists and public alike.
Table of Contents
* Table of Contents
* About Eudoxa
* Executive Summary
* Let's Stand Up and Shout!
* The Unholy Cow
* The Source of Resistance
* The Misunderstanding of the Professional Societies
* References
Posted by Waldemar at March 10, 2004 09:43 PM