Polish Prime Minister reflects on Copernican lessons and the future of science
Speaking at the Copernican World Congress in Toruń, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki framed recent global upheavals through a historic lens. He suggested that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the pandemic, and a severe economic crisis demand fresh answers to age-old questions, much like a modern rethinking of our place in the cosmos.
Describing the moment as a shift toward a new world order, Morawiecki compared the response to today’s challenges with the Copernican revolution, when the Earth’s central position was re-evaluated. He emphasized that the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and financial strains have created a paradoxical era that calls for honest assessment and resilient leadership.
He noted that the era of information technology has connected millions yet also sowed new strains of isolation and competition. The prime minister underscored that the Internet’s promise of unity has been tempered by complex global dynamics, and he warned that artificial intelligence will shape our future in significant ways.
Morawiecki admitted a personal concern about the impact of AI on education. He shared an anecdote about a colleague who encountered a student paper produced by online software, illustrating how digital tools can challenge the integrity of learning. He stressed that educational systems must adapt to these developments while preserving rigorous standards for students everywhere.
The indispensability of science
In his remarks, Morawiecki argued that science thrives in a free world, guiding people toward safer, better, and more dignified lives. He reminded listeners that true knowledge humbles those who wield power and enlarges human perspective. Speaking at the Copernican Congress in Toruń, he highlighted Copernicus’s legacy as a reminder that the world does not revolve around people, and that deeper understanding often reveals humanity’s relative smallness in the vast universe.
The prime minister reflected on the long arc of civilization, noting how religion, tradition, family, and friendship have historically helped societies cope with danger. He emphasized that the past showed people could endure before technology saturated daily life, yet modern advances also bring new vulnerabilities. He asked what lessons the recent year has offered about the limits of technology’s protective power in the face of viruses and aggressive ambitions, such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Morawiecki reaffirmed that in a free society, science serves people by making life safer and more meaningful. He expressed hope that 21st-century knowledge will promote progress while fostering humility before the world, and he concluded that only the blend of humility and the pursuit of truth can help build a better global future.
Copernicus as patron saint of Polish science
The prime minister reminded the audience that Nicolaus Copernicus, a Toruń native, is celebrated not only as a groundbreaking figure in astronomy but also as a symbol of critical thinking and scientific integrity. He referenced Copernicus’s law, sometimes called the Copernicus-Gresham principle, which warned against replacing valuable ideas with lesser ones — a warning Morawiecki sees as still relevant in today’s information landscape.
Looking ahead, he urged that knowledge should serve the search for truth and the exploration of new frontiers, while resisting noise and superficial knowledge that can mislead. Morawiecki praised Copernicus as a role model for sifting wheat from chaff, guiding humanity toward deeper insights that expand both understanding and quality of life. He invoked Toruń’s own tribute to Copernicus, hoping the scientist’s legacy will continue to inspire Polish intellectual achievement on the world stage.
He expressed gratitude to the convention organizers and to the younger generation for choosing the noble currency of knowledge and belief that, when combined, can help shape a more hopeful world.
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Source: wPolityce