Petice zahraničních spolupracovníků Filosofického ústavu Akademie věd ČR 

V těchto dnech podepisují zahraniční filosofové a humanitní vědci petici na podporu svých kolegů z Filosofického ústavu AV ČR (znění petice naleznete ZDE). V této chvíli se na ni (přes probíhající dovolené) shromáždilo již 202 podpisů (seznam signatářů naleznete ZDE). Nejde o pouhý výraz sympatií nebo profesionální solidarity, ale o stanovisko založené na úspěšné, často mnohaleté odborné spolupráci s jednotlivými pracovišti a týmy ústavu. Zahraniční vědci, mezi nimi čelní představitelé oboru, oceňují v petici i v doprovodných dopisech úroveň této spolupráce, výzkum realizovaný ve Filosofickém ústavu, jeho postavení v mezinárodním kontextu a jeho význam pro naplňování společenských funkcí humanitních disciplin. Vyjadřují názor, že tato práce zasluhuje nejen respekt, ale i reálnou podporu odpovědných orgánů. 

Některá z písemných stanovisek

- Prof. Barry C Smith (Velká Británie), ředitel Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London - 22. července 2009

- Prof. Michele Di Francesco, prezident European Society for Analytic Philosophy (ESAP) - 21. července 2009

Z osobních vyjádření signatářů petice

Prof. Anthony C. Grayling, Birkbeck College, University of London:
The Institute of Philosophy of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic is an internationally significant institution, which in the last two decades has been a centre of major co-operation between leading philosophers across Europe and North America through the medium of conferences and colloquia organised by the Institute. Members of the Institute have co-published a number of leading volumes of research ranging from philosophy of language and philosophical logic to theory of translation, research which has practical as well as theoretical dimensions, and which has been of the highest international standard. Under the auspices of the Institute of Philosophy, the Czech Republic has been host to the world's leading contemporary philosophers, who, with the colleagues from many countries who have attended the conferences and colloquia organised by the Institute, regard the focus provided by the Czech philosophers as extremely valuable. Much as the Czech Republic itself lies at the heart of Europe, so the Institute has made itself a central location in the international scholarly exchanges in its fields of endeavour, and has promoted lively cutting-edge debate and research thereby. It would be a great loss if the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences were to be any less active in its role.

Prof. Roberto Casati, CNRS, Institut Jean Nicod, Paris:
Pure reserach is under threath in many countries. Governments tend to fund applied research under the belief that its short term output is more easily understandable by citizens and measurable by funding agencies. However, history teaches us that even in the field of applied research the combination of short term vision, popular understandability and bureaucratic measurability is not the best mix. The case of the Bell labs prove it: they funded a huge mumber of creative, "crazy" project, with no restrictions on content and no short term accountability, knowing that most projects would have been a waste of money, but that those that worked would have an immense potential, both economic and for society. And indeed, they produced, among other things, Unix, the personal computer, and the laser!

Prof. Sten Lindström, Umea University, Sweden, member of the steering committee of The European Society for Analytical Philosophy:
Thank you very much for informing me about the serious situation facing basic research in the Czech Republic and the Academy of Sciences, in particular. The idea of transferring public funds from basic research into applied research--directly connected with private business--is of course very shortsighted and would (if implemented) in the long run prove to be counterproductive. The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic has an extremely strong reputation internationally and I cannot believe that the Czech government would decide to implement policies that threaten the very existence of such a great scientific institution. That would be a disgrace. The work that you and your colleagues are doing at the Institute of Philosophy of the Academy of Sciences is extremely impressive and of the highest international standard. It is tremendously important from the point of view of international scientific cooperation that you and your colleagues will be able to continue your research and organisational activities. I wish that you will be successful in your struggle to avert this threat.

Prof. Peter Simons FBA MAE, Chair and Head of Department of Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin:
I'm very sorry to hear of this situation. I shall of course sign myself, and will do what I can to get official support at some level from the representative bodies with whom I have contacts (British Academy, Academia Europaea, Royal Irish Academy). Good luck with the efforts to avert this crisis.

Prof. Stephen Schiffer, New York University:
I'm very sorry to hear of this deplorable situation, and I've already signed and sent the petition. Please don't hesitate to let me know if I can be of any further help. I have benefited greatly from philosophical trips to the Czech Republic.

Prof. Pascal Engel , Universite de Geneve:
I am very sad to learn this news. If it is needed, I can tell in a letter how important was your work and others for the development of philosophy in Europe in the 90s and of analytic philosophy especially.

Prof. Ralph Walker, Magdalen College, Oxford University:
I hope you get a great deal of support, and more importantly I hope it carries the necessary weight. We have similar threats here from the UK Government, but they are not so serious and they haven't gone so far. It's clearly vital that you win on this!

Prof. Herbert Hanreich, I-Shou University, Taiwan:
Of course I am supporting your position, I have just signed the petition. The ongoing ´businessification´of all sectors of life (including the sciences) is indeed a development which is rather problematic. There are more important aspects of knowledge than its direct applicablility for economic purposes. We are losing the human dimension of learning. I have just written two papers against 'applied'-studies at academic institutions including one against the Bologna process - which is also the consequence of the increasing influence of economical considerations on sciences.

Prof. Ann Banfield, University of California, Berkeley:
... what seems clear to me is that the private sector, itself hounded by a kind of necessity, is ever more anxious to devour what remains of the public domain (perhaps also fearing that there will be an eventual recognition of its value and a strong opposition to its dismantling). They recognize its value (if I can use the paranoiac "they")--and, something else, that it works. That's why I think it's important to make a coherent defense of it against the recycling of the now stale and patently false idea that all good comes from an unregulated market.

Prof. Jonathan Berg, University of Haifa:
We have been battling similar kinds of moves in Israel, where many would like to run the universities like factories. I consulted a friend of mine who's been in touch with an Australian group that is concerned with this sort of thing world-wide, so now some more people will know:
http://www.the-funneled-web.com/ . Good luck!

Prof. Greg Ray, University of Florida:
I would be happy to support this initiative -- about which I feel very strongly. I hope your government will not really make such a short-sighted move.

Prof. Stefano Predelli, University of Nottingham:
Very sorry to hear about this! To make matters worse, not so unusual around Europe, including the UK (where more and more researchg funds are
directed towards applied and money-making resources). I've signed the petition, of course.

Prof. Dagfinn Follesdal, Stanford University:
I fear that statements from lots of international researchers will have little effect on politicians and decision makers who have no understanding of the importance of basic research.

Prof. Tadeusz Szubka, Szczecin University:
I have read it with great concern and understanding. Unfortunately, similar unhappy moves are being made currently in Poland. I have signed your petition and on my return to Poland early in August I shall talk to my colleagues about writing more "official" letter. I am afraid, however, it would be difficult to stop the proposed changes.

Prof. John Biro, University of Florida:
Sad, indeed! But no surprise, really -- something like this seems to be happening almost everywhere, even if not in the same degree. Here we have been suffering drastic budget cuts for two years and look to have more coming. And, just as appears to be the case with you, what funding remains is being re-directed by the barbarian bureaucrats who run the university to what they consider the more "productive" disciplines. As president of our faculty union for the last three years, I have been in the thick of a rear-guard action to resist the corporatization of the university, but the forces against us are overwhelming...

Prof. Samuel Guttenplan, Executive Editor of Mind & Language, Birkbeck College, University of London:
I have signed the petition, and I hope that it will make some small contribution to the important goal of saving your Academy.

Prof. Kirk Ludwig, University of Florida:
That is a shocking and astonishing development. I hope there will be a significant show of support from the international academic community and that these foolish, short-sighted decisions will be rescinded.

Prof. Barry C Smith, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, University of London:
This is terrible news. I'me very sorry to hear it, but I imagine that this is the short-sighted measure it is very easy for governments to take in a time of financial cuts.
I've already signed the petition but I am happy to write a letter of support on behalf of the Institute of Philosophy. Awful to have this announcement in the summer when most academics are unavailable. Probably a carefully time announcement. Very much hoping this crisis can be averted!