The Rockefeller Foundation and German Biomedical Sciences, 1920–40: from Educational Philanthropy to International Science Policy

Weindling, Paul

doi:10.1007/978-1-349-09514-8_6

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Gunther, Otto Reche, Ernst Rudin and Otmar von Verscheur, as well as work done by German scientists at a Laboratory for Racial Research which existed in Moscow between 1931 and 1938, and the new Chair in Social Biology at the LSE. 26 Together with the emigre banker James Loeb (taking the mens sana in corpore sano of his beloved classics editions rather literally), the Rockefellers paid for much of the building of the Munich Institute for Psychiatry and the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Anthropology, Eugenics and Human Heredity, out of a generalised concern with the parlous state of much respected 'German science'. Let us turn briefly to the ensuing 'gene race' ('germ plasm race' is less anachronistic, but too costive) in which an early British lead passed to America and, by the early 1930s, Germany.…”

Section: Eugenic Utopias and The Genetic Present Michael Burleighmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eugenic utopias and the genetic present

Burleigh

2000

Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions

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Section: Eugenic Utopias and The Genetic Present Michael Burleighmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eugenic utopias and the genetic present

Burleigh

2000

Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions

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“…Under the influence of the director of the International Health Board of the Rockefeller Foundation, Wickliffe Rose , who completely agreed with Loeb's approach (Kevles, 1992: 203), the Rockefeller Foundation (which was not connected directly to the Rockefeller Institute but interlinked with its activities) modified its funding strategy. As a result, at the end of 1922, it began to offer 'fellowships' for selected scientists to conduct research in their home country (Weindling, 1988;Schneider, 2002). Scientists who received financial support with Loeb's help included the biochemist Leonor Michaelis and the Nobel Prize winners Otto Warburg , Otto Meyerhof and Albert Einstein, all of whom shared Loeb's modernist view of science and society (Werner, 1996: 103-24, 29-265).…”

Section: Financial Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Mephistopheles to Isaiah

Fangerau

2009

Soc Stud Sci

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In 1917, the German-American scientist Jacques Loeb (1859-1924) published a short essay, entitled 'Biology and War', that summarized his disagreement with World War I. He was deeply saddened by the break-up of the international scientific community as a consequence of the actions of bellicose politicians. These actions were in direct opposition to his efforts to promote social reform, mechanistic biology and scientific internationalism. The aim of this paper is to examine Loeb's activities aimed at these efforts before, during and after the war. It attempts to explain how Loeb's scientific work was formed, what was special about it and why it was both successful and attacked. Particular emphasis is placed on how Loeb reacted to the War and the subsequent forced disintegration of his international scientific network. Loeb's attempts to integrate his interpretation of biology into post-war Europe's approach to the life sciences is analysed in connection with his social commitment. It is argued that his emigration to the USA, the circumstances of World War I, the reaction of his German colleagues to it and the demolition of the international scientific community changed: (1) Loeb's feelings towards his old home; (2) the direction of his scientific endeavours; and (3) his engagement in science politics. His correspondence with eminent scientists from all over the world serves as a key to Loeb's efforts in the context of the social elements of scientific networks and perceptions.

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“…Gleichwohl gelang es der prosperierenden psychiatrischen Genetik in den 1930er-Jahren trotz knapper werdender Ressourcen, sich immer weiter in den Fokus staatlicher sowie anderer Förderer zu drängen. Besonders die amerikanische Rockefeller-Foundation unterstützte die deutsche psychiatrische Vererbungsforschung [3]. Die Stiftung sah auch angesichts der Verbrechen, die als Eugenik die praktische Umsetzung der Forschungsresultate waren, bis zum Eintritt der USA in den Zweiten Weltkrieg keine Veranlassung, ihre Geldzuweisungen einzustellen.…”

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Der Homosexuelle als „störende Persönlichkeit”. Nikolaus Jensch und seine psychiatrisch-genetischen Studien

Wolfert¹,

Steinberg²

2009

Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr

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For the first time ever, this study presents facts on the biography of Nikolaus Jensch (1913 - 1964), who worked in Wroclav, Leipzig, Strasbourg and Bremen, and on his psychiatric-genetic studies on homosexuality during the Nazi regime. Jensch tried, under methodologically rather doubtful presuppositions, to separate "genuine" from so-called "pseudo-homosexuals", who for him were receptive to psychotherapeutic and educational intervention. Ultimately he aimed to establish an empiric prediction as to the heredity of homosexuality, although even that would not exculpate homosexuals from prosecution. In a different study he analysed the curing effects of castration for homosexuality and other sexual deviances. Although acknowledging the mutilating character of castration and its due to high recrudescence rates rather poor therapeutic outcome, he never pleaded to refrain from this intervention.

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The Rockefeller Foundation and German Biomedical Sciences, 1920–40: from Educational Philanthropy to International Science Policy

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

Eugenic utopias and the genetic present

Eugenic utopias and the genetic present

From Mephistopheles to Isaiah

Der Homosexuelle als „störende Persönlichkeit”. Nikolaus Jensch und seine psychiatrisch-genetischen Studien

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