Cf. 0. Cetwinski, U podstaw teorii polityki ("The essentials of political theory"), Warszawa, 1979, p. 152. The author writes further, "...The class interest of the proletariat leads to the existence of agreement between the values which it recognises and progressive influences from the general human tradition. Thus we often hear of the fulfilling by the proletariat of its historic mission. And thus also we hear of the objective interest of the proletariat and the necessity of its developing consciousness--i.e., a conversion from a class 'in itself' to a class 'for itself'." (ibid.) It is however difficult to agree with the author's definition, for by progressive norms he means those which at the current stage of historical development make possible the unfettered growth of productive power. The term "unfettered" for example is ambiguous and may imply, for example, uncontrolled spontaneity, which is the opposite of the steering of developmental processes.
2.
This conviction is becoming ever more popular in the world. It involves criticism of the "politicisation of expertise," which means the "adaptation of ideology" to decisions, and speaks of the necessity of the de-institutionalising of expertise and the extension of participation experiments (like, for example, the referenda on nuclear energy in Austria or Sweden), and emphasises the role of the trade unions, committees and groups of citizens, etc. (cf., for example, the materials from the international "Science Expertise and the Public" conference, Institute for Studies in Research and Higher Education, Oslo, 1979).
3.
H. Janne, Technika a system spoeczny ("Technology and the Social System") in the collective work Technika a Spoeczenstwo ("Technology and Society"), Vol. 2, Warszawa, 1974, p. 17.
4.
It seems that the role of the trade unions in the sphere of influence on technological choices, both at the policy level and at the level of the enterprise, should be radically increased. There are qood reasons for this both in the political system and in consciousness. We should expect a considerable widening of the interests of the trade unions, outside the fairly traditional questions of working conditions and safety, occupational diseases, accidents and threats to health, women's health protection, etc. The beginnings of this process can already be seen, and interest in the processes of design, and the verification and humanisation of technology. W. Kruczek stated in his speech to the XIth trade union national congress, "We cannot agree with situations, which still sometimes occur, where the constructors of machines, the designers of new buildings or technologists, do not completely take into account in their reckonings the requirements for the protection of human life and health in the place of work. The checking of machines and technical equipment which has been introduced in industry from the point of view of the requirements of ergonomics, working conditions and safety--which is currently being carried out by the factory inspectorate together with the economic administrative bodies-should lead to a radical improvement. The humanisation of technology should become one of the basic obligations in the activities of every academic worker, engineer and technologist, of every organiser of production. It is essential that the problems of the protection of working conditions should be paid more attention than formerly in the work of scientific and researchinstitutions.' (0 wyzsza jakosc dziaania zwiazków zawodowych na rzecz poprawy warunkow pracy, jej bezpieczenstwa i higieny--"On the improved level of activity of the trade unions to secure improved working conditions, safety and hygiene," Warszawa 1979, p. 6.) It is worth mentioning that work is being carried out on "Science, technology and the trade unions" by the International Council for Science Policy Studies. The working party includes Prof. G. Kröber of the German Democratic Republic and the present writer.
5.
Cf. D.M. Gwisziani, Organizacja i zarzadanie. Socjologiczna analiza teorii burzuazyjnych ("Organisation and management. A sociological analysis of bourgeois theories"), Warszawa 1973, p. 90. Gwisziani emphasises that "socialism eliminates the dual character of management which is specific to antagonistic socio-economic formations. Production, which under the capitalist system is not only a process creating material wealth, but also a process of exploitation, radically changes its social character under the socialist system. Working people are the owners of all the means of production, and the state represents the interests of all working people, organising production and all social life consciously and according to plan." (ibid.)
6.
Cf. L. Gilejko, Socjalistyczna wersja rewolucji naukowo-technicznej ("The socialist version of the scientific-technological revolution"), in the collection he edited entitled Rewolucja naukowo-techniczna jako czynnik rozwoju ("The scientific-technological revolution as a factor in development"), Warszawa 1974, pp. 107-108. The objection that is sometimes met that workers are conservative, that they exhibit psychological resistance towards technological innovations, is unjustified. Under socialist conditions, where fears connected with the negative effects of technological progress disappear, workers are not any more conservative than any other group in society (perhaps with the exception of professional inventors).
7.
Cf. L. Gilejko, op. cit., pp. 106-107. Opposition to technological progress is growing where new technological revolutions are appearing. The current revolution is in microprocessors, which have suddenly cheapened automation and have begun to push people out of jobs in the capitalist countries.
8.
Cf. J. Pajestka, Determinanty postepu--czynniki i wspózaleznosci rozwoju spoeczno-gospodarczego ("The determinants of progress--factors and correlations in socio-economic development"), Warszawa 1975, pp. 174-175. The author gives varied evidence for the thesis that a grass roots innovatory dynamism is developing. He writes, for example, that this dynamism, "understood as a socio-civilisational characteristic, is a general pre-requisite for innovation, receptiveness to it and its general application, taking part in its introduction and improvement, and also the development of various small innovations, which will have as wide a scope as ever. It is also ... the realisation of the theses on the model of socialist man: innovatory creativity should be available to everybody, including those working directly in production." (ibid., p. 143)
9.
Attempts at co-operation between the trade unions and the R and D sector have been made in the West, e.g., in Holland ("science shops") or in the German Federal Republic.
10.
And if they do do it, it usually means simply hiding information. Thus, for example in the United States, in 1978 alone there were as many as 2100 various breakdowns connected with atomic technology, but only the most serious, as for example Harrisburg, have been made public. Cf. L. Zacher, Technika dla czowieka ("Technology for man") in Problemy, 11/1979. It is worth adding that in public discussions experts in atomic energy speak exclusively about the bright prospects, sedulously concealing such inconvenient facts as the unsolved problems of radioactive waste, the enormous capital costs, the difficulties of obtaining uranium--a rare raw material of strategic importance, the possibilities of serious break-downs, the difficulties in making transport and the power stations themselves secure against terrorists, etc.
11.
This type of information is as important as information about the advantages and disadvantages of newly-introduced techniques and technology about which choices and decisions are to be made. Both types of information are linked with the need for the broad, technical 1 education of society and lead to the development and dissemination of technical culture.
12.
There are various possible methods, from the super-technical, like referenda carried out by the use of cable television (the appropriate device in the home assures two-way communication with the studio), to the more traditional--like, for example, social control committees.
13.
Subjective elements of the quality of life are important in politics, alongside, objectively, the former conditions of life.
14.
W. Kozowski adds an interesting argument, indicating in Poland we have a chance to avoid some negative effects of technological development because--and this sounds paradoxical--of our certain degree of backwardness in relation to the highly-industralized countries (this could be called "the late-comer's chance"), as our society has not yet shed some of the positive characteristics of an anthropo-natural society, and also because of the use of central planning, especially in connection with the foreseen social future and the interdisciplinary character of research. He writes, "The development of academic disciplines and the maximalisation of their effectiveness, even when planning is applied, does not preclude the social dangers of the incorrect use of science and technology (including here also social and humanist technologies)....Co-operation amongst artists, humanists and planners is essential to avoid such dangers and this is fully possible in our conditions." (Przyszosc a technika. Ergonomiczna analiza funkcji spoecznej badan naukowych i techniki ("The future and technology. Ergonomic analysis of the social function of scientific research and technology"), Wroclaw-Warszawa 1975, p. 415.
15.
Cf. W. Markiewicz, Kultura polityczna jako przedmiot badan naukowych ("Political culture as a subject for academic research"), in Kultura i Spoeczenstwo, 4/1976. In the opinion of this author, the political culture of a society "is subject to hereditary principles, is objectivised in the form of certain norms, customs and habits and also the institutions and public bodies called into being to organise collective activities and exercise control over the political behaviour of the members of the national community. Political culture, forming part of the social superstructure, is an exceptionally important stimulus to social progress, and may calm or sharpen social conflicts, strengthen or weaken the political system, and hasten or retard its development." (ibid.) We can only add that a political culture promoting democratic and humanist values will lead to the choice of the correct paths of scientific-technological progress, and to effective social control of its results.
