Kulturpreis - Cultural Award 2003


Prof. Dr. Ernst Peter Fischer

  • für sein literarisches Gesamtwerk, vor allem aber für sein Buch "Die andere Bildung ­ was man von den Naturwissenschaften wissen sollte". Professor Fischer hat mit diesem Werk der Diskussion um die angemessene Bildung in Deutschland eine neue Richtung gewiesen.

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  • We appreciate indeed Professor Ernst Peter Fischer's literary work as a whole but the present prize is mainly for his recent book: "The other Culture ­ what you should know from the Natural Sciences". With this volume Professor Fischer has strongly and positively influenced the ongoing debate in Germany about the appropriate strategies in higher education.

    • Curriculum Vitae von Prof. Dr. Ernst Peter Fischer
    18.1.1947 Geboren in Wuppertal.
    1967-72 Studium der Mathematik und Physik an der Universität Köln; Abschluss mit dem Physik-Diplom (Theoretische Physik).
    1972-77 Studium der Biologie am California Institute of Technology in Pasadena (USA); Abschluss mit Promotion bei Max Delbrück.
    1977-82 Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an den Universitäten Freiburg (Biochemie bei H. Holzer) und Konstanz (Biophysik bei P. Läuger).
    1982-87 Als Stipendiat der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Anfertigung einer Biographie von Max Delbrück und Anfertigung einer Habilitationsschrift über "Die Tragweite der Komplementaritätsidee".
    Seit 1987 Selbständige Tätigkeiten und freier Autor: (Auswahl) 1989 Kritik des gesunden Menschenverstandes; 1990 Wissenschaft für den Markt; 1995 Aristoteles, Einstein&Co.; 2000 Leonardo, Heisenberg & Co.; 2000 An den Grenzen des Denkens; 2001 Werner Heisenberg ­ Das selbstvergessene Genie; 2001 Images & Imagination; 2001 Die andere Bildung; 2002 Das Genom; 2003 Am Anfang war die Doppelhelix.
    Auszeichnungen und Ehrungen
    1980 Heinrich-Bechold-Medaille des Umschau Verlags.
    1981 Preis der wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Freiburg/Br.
    2002 Lorenz-Oken-Medaille der Gesellschaft Deutsche Naturforscher und Ärzte.

    "The other Culture ­
    what you should know from the Natural Sciences"

    Professor Fischer is an exceptional person: Physicist by training; Ph. D. in biology, Ca1ifornia Institute of Technology, Supervisor Max Delbrück; habilitation in history of science ­ and writer by passion. We are impressed indeed by his literary work as a whole but the present prize is mainly for his recent book of 2001: "Die andere Bildung ­ was man von den Naturwissenschaften wissen sollte" ("The other Culture ­ what you should know from the Natural Sciences").

    This volume became a bestseller mainly for the reason that Fischer does not describe the major facts and events of science; rather he tells stories about the process of scientific discovery and the persons and topics involved. Even though his style is narrative and his field is wide, his tales are precise, up to the point and correct in essence.

    With his thorough knowledge and his noble diction Fischer has influenced the ongoing debate about the two academic cultures ­ scientific and literary ­ in a decidedly positive way: He avoids deepening the gap between the two cultures; rather, he builds bridges and aims at a synthesis. His essays about the great men in science ­ Aristotle, Leonardo, Kepler, Galileo, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Delbrück... must be read and understood as a homage to the creative mind as such. His remarks on Rilke indicate a deep sympathy for great poetry . Indeed, Fischer does not make a difference between discovery and creation: "Scientists and poets represent in the same way the wondrous heights of our culture".

    We presume that Eduard Rhein imagined people like Peter Fischer when he established his prize. In any case, we believe that Fischer is a highly respectable candidate deserving the prize.
     
    Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. Hans Mohr, 
    Universität Freiburg 

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