Let us make a clear distinction between the adjectives “valuable,” “momentous” and “significant.” Valuable is of value, precious; anything that feeds a need or brings satisfaction. Momentous is that - and only that - which brings about notable changes to valuable things or pre- vents such changes for that matter. Naturally, value and momentousness are gradable and relative. A thing may be more valuable than another; something may be more momentous in certain aspects and less momentous in others; for instance, a poster may carry significant informative value, but precious little artistic one; similarly, a regulation may instigate substantial alterations in transportation facilities, but hold no effect whatsoever when it comes to moral judgement. The same applies to significance. It is always relative and gradable. How so? We can say that a thing is more significant than another if it prevents or eradicates a greater evil. To take an example, public health protection schemes put greater significance on vaccinations than maintaining distance between people, while the latter is in turn more significant than consuming specially designated meals.

Having thus determined the meaning of these key words, let us ponder over the value, momentousness and significance of science. It is beyond question that science can be put to use, pay heed to various needs and bring tremendous satisfaction. Suffice it to say that science can satisfy the hunger for knowledge. Advances in scientific research result in substantial changes to things of value. What striking headway has been made, for instance, in the field of artificial lighting, both in our homes and in the streets! Science has also made it possible to combat diseases previously unrecognisable, inexplicable and incurable. Were it not a fact, then – though it certainly is – that science successfully aids in confronting a variety of threats (to name for instance, the application of probability theory to serve all sorts of insurance systems and companies), it would suffice to invoke the aforementioned advances in medicine in order to hail science as a very significant factor indeed.

That being said, there are still numerous voices that diminish the value of science as such, on account of the fact that it demonstrates great negative momentousness. Science has destroyed the edifice of delusions that pervade certain world views, and has shaken the balance of naive souls that was based on these delusional views. It has driven humanity further and further away from our natural state and therefore weakened our direct immunity to the forces of nature inherited from our animal ancestors. It has continually provided mankind with more and more devastating means of waging wars, handing in such weapons to men of dubious moral stance and resentful of each other. The result is impending disaster of unpredictable proportions...

All of the above is the sad truth, but numerous beneficial effects of science could be listed in retort, as the corollary of the previous statements. Moreover, positive changes in the psychical constitution of people of science could be rightly lauded. Their minds become more fertile, their thoughts wiser, tastes more refined, the conversations they hold turn out more invigorating, insistent and uplifting. It is the very nature of intellectual work that causes these changes; much more so if it is labour of love, working in a team of devoted enthusiasts of science, open minds eager to embrace research. It is like a mental orchestra, no less spiritual, but infinitely more intelligent. Still, none of these laudations, however justified, can silence the critics that verbalise the uses of scientific advances for destructive and devious purposes.

It appears that this dramatic dispute can be resolved with the help of two arguments, each perfectly sufficient on its own. Firstly, nothing can hold back science in its drive forward. Once unleashed, it is unstoppable. Science has become the passion and infatuation of the high-foreheaded human. There is no turning back to naivety. Childhood is gone forever, only maturity and dotage are left. There is no static balance anymore, only stagnation and apathy. Secondly, a society which would fall behind in terms of mental development, one which would renounce scientificity or merely dwindle in competitive re- search, would sooner or later (presumably sooner) end up in servitude, of ancillary nature to other societies, those better developed scientifically and therefore more operational.

Such, therefore, is the role of science and the institutions that foster it. The significance of science lies not so much in satisfying curiosity and fine-tuning intellects; nor does it lie in its affinity with art in shaping refinement to the effect that both are frequently mentioned in the same breath, though not directly comparable in repute. The significance of science lies in being the essential and indispensable grooming of the resourceful household and the technology at its disposal, providing the protection against illness and premature demise, and the defence against social threats, in particular against the failure to lead an honourable existence.

Seeing as science is thus of prime significance, teaching it is equally significant. While science produces tools to counter evil forces, teaching is in essence the pro- duction of producers. In theory, our society appreciates the momentousness and significance of science, but in practice it falls short of providing it with the support it needs. Schools, which directly serve the industry or health protection, enjoy constant sustenance. However, the teaching faculties in academia are behind everyone else in the queue for adequate backing. Well, just as there is no physics without physicists, there is no general mental resourcefulness without general education providers. I am certain that the time will come for the humanities, mathematical and natural sciences to enjoy the kind of well-earned societal support that is now the preserve of technical sciences and medicine.

Lodz, 14 April 1948