BRAIN MIND & LIFE
AND NOBEL PRIZE PHILOSOPHY
Brain Mind & Life, International Society of Neuroscience, held a debate on “The spirit and the Philosophy of the Nobel Prize” starting from the last will of Alfred Nobel. The original document was illustrated by Diane Richmond during an introducing lecture to the debate.
EXCERPT FROM THE WILL OF ALFRED NOBEL
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"The whole of my remaining realizable estate
shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe
securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which
shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the
preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said
interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as
follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important
discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who
shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part
to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the
domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have
produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal
direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best
work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing
armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for
physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that
for physiology or medical works by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; that
for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by
a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my
express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the
nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the
prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not."
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