The participating scientists were:
dr. Bertus Beaumont (Evolutionary Genetics and Microbial Ecology, University of Auckland) was present online with a weblog, presenting his reflections on current affairs and answering your questions.
prof. dr. Johan Braeckman (professor of Philosophy at Ghent University (Belgium) and Socrates professor Ethics at the University of Amsterdam) lectured October 1 about cloning.
dr. Bas Defize (biologist) debated 16 September and lectured on therapeutic cloning on 23 September.
prof. dr. José van Dijck (professor Television, Media and Culture, department of Film- and Television sciences, University of Amsterdam) lectured and debated on the ocassion of showing the film Gattaca on October 7.
dr. Annemarie Estor (cultural theorist) participated in research with artist Jennifer Kanary on October 7 and 8, 2005.
prof. dr. Frank Grosveld (professor department Molecular Biology Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam) particpated in the final debate October 15th.
prof. dr. Wiel Hoekstra (micro biologist) debated 23 September.
dr. Bas Haring (philosopher, computer scientist) lectured Ocotber 8th.
prof. dr. Jan Hoeijmakers (professor Moleculair Genetics Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam) lectured 24 September about the research of human repair syndromes with cloned mice.
prof. dr. Marli Huijer (philosopher and medical doctor, University of Maastricht) lectured October 8th about Time and prenatal diagnosis.
dr. Ruud Kaulingfreks (art philosopher, sociologist) debated 23 September.
prof. dr. Jan C. Molenaar (professor emeritus department Pediatric Surgery Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam) particpated in the final debate October 15th.
dr. Miriam van Rijsingen (Art History Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam) lectured during the opening, 16 September.
dr. ir. Martijntje Smits (philosopher, chemical technologist, working on several relevant research programs, Technical Univeristy of Eindhoven) debated September 16 and lectured September 17.
dr. Tsjalling Swierstra (ethicist of technology, University of Twente) lectured on September 17th about the beauty of imperfection.
prof. dr. Aad Tibben (clinical psychologist, professor at the Leiden University Medical Centre) debated on September 17th.
dr. Tjeerd Tijmstra (medical sociologist, University Groningen) lectured on 23 September about the dark side of predicting diseases and genetic tests, the impact it will have on society.
dr. Cor van der Weele (biologist/philosopher) lectured on metaphors in the ethics of transhumanism on October 1.
prof. dr. Robert Zwijnenberg (professor of Art History in relation to Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts and Culture, University Maastricht and Faculty of Arts, University Leiden) debated on October 8 and 15.
context
Can artists contribute to an ethical debate? How is aesthetics related to ethics?
An aesthetical judgement (if something is beautiful for example) can not
be proven empirically. Aesthetic judgements are true nor false. The are
normative statements, about what is desirable and not about what is factual.
Aesthetic statements are like moral statements value judgements. Important
is that these judgements are not misused in each others place. It is possible
to use an artwork to make an ethic statement and to pretend it is an aesthetic
statement. Artists have the relative creative freedom allow them by society,
which gives them a benefit to make statements that seem crazy, against
all rules but make us step out of beaten tracks. And with their visual
images they have a powerful tool to influence the opinions and emotions
of the lay public, much more effective than the numerical results of scientific
research.