Gerd Folkers - Helmut Milz

a dialogue

Labyrinths – ancient hideaway for the Minotaur or natural habitats for contemporary hybrid scientists?

Daedalus, the ancient scientist, engineer and inventor had created a highly complex labyrinth to hide Minotaur, the son of Pasiphae. Being unable to dwell in either of the worlds, the son of a Cretan princess and a white (divine) bull had to be locked away since he was considered to be a danger for both, mankind and the ancient gods. Theseus, the hero, killed the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, whose thread mastered the complex labyrinth.

Ancient myths may serve as metaphors for the situation of contemporary sciences and point to their inconsistencies. Labyrinths, in contrast to mazes, are characterized by the fact that they have a single pathway to walk through, without branches and loops. They may be perceived as a confusing series of pathways, frustrating those who are inside. Nevertheless there is a simple single solution to solve the complex problem: Ariadne’s thread. Hence, labyrinths may be weak metaphors for describing the situation of a scientist, captured within a complex problem and facing the assumption that there may be more than one answer to more than one question. Labyrinths are hence the positivists view on science. A labyrinth is fun, because the positivists are believers in a master plan, a giant Daedalus construction, which eventually will be conquered by a hero and his simple algorithm. Science has very successfully conquered parts of the maze of nature, which is not a labyrinth, and has declared local problems to be solved by single Ariadne threads, not knowing how far the maze sprawls. Daedalus has fled to distant shores, meanwhile.

In those years of confinement, the Minotaur must have explored his home and may have found his way out, but nothing is reported. So he obviously decided to stay inside, surviving by a horrible diet, waiting for the slaughter. Does this describe the general fate of hybrids? Not belonging to any of the defined systems they are awaiting their unspectacular ends.
Hybrid scientists with origins in both humanities and sciences rarely escape their academic labyrinths, following their careers in either of their limited worlds. Only in disguise they may reach positions of broader responsibility, since rigid monocultures of academic disciplines are still the dominant program, non-reflectiveness the overall attitude and avoidance of interdisciplinary cooperation pervades. Minotaur must have been a sceptic. Lets get acquainted with him.

In our dialogue we will discuss how the interdisciplinary “ETH-Cortona week” may provide the participants with enhanced options to master professional challenges. Their daily exposure to artistic performances can stimulate imagination, different perspectives, flexibility and improve solution finding. Experiences in self-awareness offer skills in contemplation, focusing, participatory sense-making and social intelligence. Scientists must develop personality and leadership to communicate the precise informations acquired during academic studies. They have to be prepared to face complex problems, which go beyond specific facts. Both human search and scientific research are crucial to better cooperate in managing global interdependence.