The present volume is a product of an international research program
'Foundations of Science and Ethics', launched in 1976 by the Inter-
University Centre of Post-Graduate Studies, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, with
the financial support of the V olkswagen Foundation. According to the
outline ofthe program, formulated in 1976 by a committee consisting of
Professors Dagfinn F llesdal, Rudolf Haller (coordinator), Lorenz
Kruger, Karel Lambert, Keith Lehrer, Kuno Lorenz, Gunther Patzig, Ivan
Supek and Paul Weingartner, its general purpose was to investigate the
interplay of various internal and external factors in the development of
science. Generous financial support from the Volkswagen Foundation made
it possible to plan four annual conferences, the first of which was held
in Dubrovnik on March 6-12, 1978. This volume contains the majority of
the papers presented in the first Dubrovnik conference; the main theme
of this conference was 'Rationality in Science and Ethics' (Some of the
papers appear here in a thoroughly revised form. ) Further results of
the research program will be discussed in three other conferences, to be
held in Dubrovnik in 1979-1981; the papers presented in these
conferences will be published separately. Professor Rudolf Haller of the
University of Graz assumed the burden of the practical planning and
organization of the first conference (as well as that of the other three
conferences). I wish to thank Professor Haller on behalf of all
participants for carrying out this demanding and time-consuming task.
