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.