Technikatörténeti szemle 25. (2001-02)

Papers of the Third International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Budapest, 2–4 July, 1999) – First Part - Inczédy János: The role and responsibility of scientists influencing the wordl; past, present and future

Conflict between human activities and the globe The current status of our world Is very bleak: - the polarisation between the poor and rich countries is very high, and still increasing; - the traditional, widely accepted, long established, European scale of values is upset; - the economic instability, and unpredictability is spreading; - selfishness is preferred, and even appreciated; - arrogance, and aggressions are increasing; - number of criminals is increasing; - the pollution of the world became tremendous; - some significant parts of nature are destroyed; - fear of catastrophes is spreading. In the Introduction "moral wisdom" was mentioned, but not explained, as one of the motivating factors behind human activities. Man is strongly embedded in the material world, but he also has spiritual intelligence, and consequently free will. In his privileged position motivations are encoded in his gens, which - in accordance with the natural laws of the universe - are directing his thinking and feeling, giving unambiguously clear sound answer, if a choice between alternatives must be made. The spiritual, intellectual items are superior to any material one. These are the fundamental controlling factors of moral wisdom. The motivations are very deeply encoded in the human spirit, in full accordance with the ideal view of the Universe, and they were manifested in the ten commandments of the Old Testament and in the dogmas and theorems of all great religions. Mankind received freedom in his thinking and in his decisions, but he is strongly responsible for the preservation of the quality of life, obeying to the natural laws, and obeying to the ten commandments, serving and liking benevolently mankind, the existence and future of the traditional human communities (family, nation etc.). The impending real danger of our world can only be avoided in such an intellectual way, in which humble service of nature, fraternal love of all other living creatures are predominant, and in which fundamental truth and justice prevails. "You must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You must love your neighbour as yourself."

11 Conclusions Considering the - efforts done during the history in the past, - present status of the world,