[hopos-g] HISTEPS Seminar 15/01, Silke Körber, Different Shades of ‘Scientific Humanism

[MUR YR SCIPLU]

Dear colleagues, 

The fourth session of the HISTory of Epistemology and Philosophy of Science Working Group (HISTEPS), will take place online tomorrow, Thursday 15 January 2026, (16.00-17.30 Venice Time, CET)

 

Silke Körber (independent), Different Shades of ‘Scientific Humanism

Abstract:  In the 1920s and 1930s, a left-wing or liberal-minded elite – embedded in various groups at the time, and in the context of an internationalist movement – increasingly advocated the combination of strong, comprehensive humanism and scientific-rational thinking. This was based on an open-minded, humane reasoning that could be traced back at least to the Enlightenment. Nevertheless, 20th century humanist thought was primarily associated with the founding of co-operative institutions such as the United Nations, and with the advances of contemporary science as a guide to modern life. The idea of a ‘new’ or ‘scientific humanism’ was propagated by the Belgian-American pioneer of the history of science, George Sarton in The History of Science and the New Humanism, for example. But ‘scientific humanism’ was also a common frame of reference within the Vienna Circle. Otto Neurath in particular was involved early on in humanist and internationalist projects and approaches also in collaboration with the British analytic philosopher L. Susan Stebbing. At a time of crisis and war in Europe, they agreed that the role of philosophy, science and scientific expertise needed to be reconsidered and the formation of modern democracies and an egalitarian global society actively promoted, e. g. by establishing informal connections or as part of the international Unity of Science movement. After 1945, those ideas found their way into the programme of UNESCO under its first Director-General, Julian Huxley. Against the backdrop of current crises and conflicts, pluralistic, progressive ideas about science and standards of rationality today are again being questioned and debated as the basis for sound and ethical decisions in politics and administration, as well as for civil society. In this paper, I will attempt to highlight some general tendencies in the formulation of a ‘new’ or ‘scientific humanism’ by identifying similarities and differences in the scientific ‘styles’ or ‘attitudes’ discussed in this context, focusing on ideas and practices of rational ‘critical’ thinking and collective well-being.

The seminar will be held online. To receive the Zoom link, please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/MzMbmkHh65dWnPTa7

For more info about the HISTEPS WG and the full 2025/2026 programme: https://pric.unive.it/projects/sciplu/home

HISTEPS is part of the project SCIPLU and is jointly coordinated by Dr. Matteo Vagelli at the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and Professor Roberto Gronda at the Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge, University of Pisa.

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