The Freedom of Science and Its Enemies - Ralf Bergmann

Once upon a time, scientists knew that the better argument counts, regardless of from whom it comes! That has changed radically. Entire areas of science must - supposedly - be “decolonized” and freed from racism. Even mathematics seems to breathe the spirit of “white dominance.” Accordingly, we are told positive discrimination must therefore be used to help minorities. Any lack of equal societal “representation” calls for quotas! Karl Popper (1902-1994), one of the great philosophers of the 20th century, warned against the dominance of ideology and emotion over arguments as a "revolt against reason." Today, pressure comes from various sides: from student unions, Antifa-related groups, or unfair media coverage. Political one-sidedness has increasingly become an instrument of power. However, it is not just pressure from outside; conformity pressure is increasingly coming from within. Advance obedience becomes a pre-filter for what “can be said.” This is particularly difficult for young scientists. However, society needs independent science; otherwise, science degrades to an (expensive) source of justification for politics. Christians are often not as alone in their longing for freedom and truth as they think. There are many more people who think just as sensibly, and together it is easier to make a difference in science, politics, and society. Let's do it, otherwise, at some point, only the enemies of freedom will do it! 

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Ralf Bergmann, born in 1962, is married and has three adult children, two children-in-law and one grandchild. He received his degree in physics and a doctorate from German universities. He is or has been mainly involved in semiconductor physics, photovoltaics and optical technologies at several research institutions in Germany and Australia and has also worked in industrial research. Since 2008 he has been a professor and head of a research institute working on optical technologies and optoelectronics. Beyond his research, he is interested in defending the reasonableness of Christian faith, especially all the joint concerns of physics, philosophy, and theology as well as the relevance of Christian faith for modern western society. In 2019, he wrote the book Gott und die Erklärung der Welt (God and the explanation of the world), see erklaerung-der-welt.de/, and in 2021 he wrote Die freie Gesellschaft und ihre Feinde (The free society and its enemies), see www.professorenforum.de/, in remembrance of Karl Popper's famous book The open society and its enemies.

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