1. The Need of New Approaches - Kritische Stimmen zur ...

Chapter 9: The Thought Experiment
the subsequent enquiry by Ms. Lopez. The further development of the correspondence can be found in the postal
dispatch list on pages 140-150 of this chapter.
The “Open Letter” sent to the members of the Bundestag was sent at the same time to 63 editorial staffs of
German-language newspapers and magazines. None of these editorial offices sent a confirmation of receipt or a
response to the research project.
The next “Open Letter” (of 4.2.06) sent to 221 employees on the editorial staffs of FAZ, SPIEGEL, SZ und
TAZ [three German newspapers and one news magazine], as well as to a further 13 journalists of the same editorial
staffs, received, again after a subsequent enquiry by our partner Ms. Lopez, 2 responses. Two journalists confirmed
receipt, but declared themselves not responsible for the matter (scientific freedom). One announced that he would
pass on the letter to the scientific editorial staff of his paper.
The next was our “First Open Letter about the Freedom of Science” (July 2006) sent to 290 addressees in a total
of 11 countries. One of the addressees only, Prof. Robert Park (Maryland), at least reported the receipt of the letter
on his home page in a few sentences, dismissing it as an irrelevant comment by crackpots, the sort he received
continuously.
Receipt of the “Open Letter” on scientific freedom sent to 100 professors of the HU Berlin and 100 professors
of the TU Dresden (6.3.07) was confirmed by one addressee of the HU Berlin, he stating that he was technically not
the correct addressee, though he nevertheless wished us success - a premiere for our project.
The “Open Letter” sent to 200 professors was sent at the same time to 46 media and publicists in the Federal
Republic of Germany, none of these sending a confirmation of receipt.
Receipt of our (previously unpublished) letter sent to the German President was confirmed by the Office of the
Federal President, after subsequent enquiry by Ms. Lopez, though without confirmation that the German President
was informed about the reported violation of the German Constitution. An answer in the matter was also given,
implying that nothing was known of an impairment of the scientific freedom.
The “Open Letter on the Courage for Weird Ideas and the Courage for the Freedom of Science” (of 10.10.07)
sent to the Science Commission of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and their Chairwoman Lochte,
in response to an interview with Ms. Lochte in the TAGESSPIEGEL, was given no confirmation of receipt, even
after a subsequent enquiry by Ms. Lopez.
The “Open Letter” sent to the FAZ in response to an article on anonymous information on scandals (of
21.11.07), sent to 5 employees of the FAZ and 61 German-language print media, was given no confirmation of
receipt. We were able to appease the fears of the FAZ, that perhaps in future no anonymous information on scandals
might be received, with the promise that we will also repeatedly in future inform the FAZ.
The “Open Letter” on scientific freedom sent to the 639 members of the Society of German Constitutional-Law
Teachers (of 5.3.08) has so far received one positive answer, subsequently giving rise to a written exchange of
ideas. Before at least a year has passed and a check has been made on the material sent by us and on the opinionforming
process in periodic committee meetings, this activity cannot be evaluated.
2012
Evaluation of the Reactions in the Offline World
If one adds all of our postal consignments to the addressees (in Germany and abroad):
including individual letters until April 2005: 820,
less the 251 dispatches to libraries 569
the open letter to members of the German Bundestag 614
and to 63 print media 63
the open letter to journalists of FAZ-SPIEGEL-SZ-TAZ 234
the „First Open Letter“ 290
the open letter to 200 Prof’s of the HU Berlin and the TU Dresden 200
and to 46 media outlets and publicists 46
the letter to German President Horst Köhler 1
the open letter to the „Wissenschaftsrat“ / Ms. Lochte 1
the open letter to the FAZ 66
and the open letter to the Constitutional-Law Teachers 639
in all: 2723
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G. O. Mueller: STR