Citation

Grace D. Sci. Eng. Ethics 2002; 8(1): 31-42.

Affiliation

School of Social Work, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 2052. d.grace@unsw.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Opragen Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11840955

Abstract

Recently, religious organisations, governments and public institutions have begun to offer apologies for historical wrongs. Can they legitimately do so? Departing from the tendency, Professor Hubert Markl, President of the Max Planck Society, has offered strong reasons for not apologizing for the crimes of medical scientists who experimented on human subjects during the Nazi era. He argues that only the perpetrators can meaningfully apologize. Markl's position is considered and rejected in favour of the view that apologies by proxy for historical wrongs are justifiable and should be made by institutions that have the authority to do so.

Language: en