Von der Freiheit der Forschung und der Verantwortung des Wissenschaftlers

The future of the modern world, which in its structure is a Leonardo world, depends on the future of science. Science solves problems but it creates problems, too. Hence, the conflict over scientific (and technological) progress is normal and talk about a crisis of acceptance is misleading. Freedom of research--within the scientific triangle formed by pure basic research, application-oriented basic research, and applied research for product development--finds its limits in the responsibility of the scientist. The scientific imperative, without which a Leonardo world cannot survive, must be supplemented by an ethical imperative, without which it cannot steer a reasonable course.     

Paradigmenwechsel und Paradigmenstreit in der Neurophysiologie der Motorik

A review is given of the theoretical trends in modern neurophysiology of motor control. Three periods are distinguished to which paradigmatic basic concepts, in the sense of Th. Kuhn, can be assigned. The main exponents of these concepts, their ideological background and their critics are briefly presented. Detailed consideration is given to the present controversial discussions on the basic understanding of the psycho-mental processes in the brain. Here, the old struggle between dualists and monists has awakened to new life. Recently, science itself has discovered fundamental limitations to the epistemological capacities of the human mind, which indicate a "metatheoretical ambiguity" of natural occurrences. This allows for several different (but provisional) interpretations even of human thought and action, which, however, remain ultimately unresolved.