New Atlantis Research Charter

During the International Atlantis Conference 2005 in Milos/Greece, the German participants were sitting together one afternoon and speaking about future cooperation and the founding of a new discussion and research forum about Atlantis in German language. After coming home, four of them decided to work out, as a first step, a Charter for Atlantis Research to have a base for the mutual cooperation. They got help from Thorwald C. Franke, who did not take part in the Milos Conference, but had provided on his website the greatest collection worldwide of literature and links about Atlantis.

Here follows the text of the Charter. When you have questions or remarks: please post them !

Atlantis Research Charter

Thorwald C. Franke � Ulrich Hofmann � Ulf Richter

Christian M. Schoppe and Siegfried G. Schoppe

http://www.atlantis-scout.de/charter.htm

March 2006

An Open Issue

We consider the question of Plato�s Atlantis to be an open issue. Until now Atlantis could neither be found and put in the course of known history nor has it been conclusively proved that Plato�s Atlantis is an invention or misunderstanding.

We demand openness for research in both directions. We reject premature conclusions in either direction, as well as the resulting denial to enter into dialogue resp. the resulting hostility towards contrary positions.

For a Scientific Approach

We base our research on scientific methods. This includes � among others � rationality, objectivity, verifiable documentation, clarity, up-to-dateness and expert research as well as working in different disciplines and the ability to address knowledge gaps and open issues as such.

We stand for an evolving process of knowledge acquisition in the scientific community as well as for individual researchers. This includes tolerance towards contributions from different scientific levels, as long as their authors assess their own level correctly and show the ability to develop. A living science never consists of its distinguished experts alone. Nobody should be prevented from entering into exploration of the Atlantis issue playfully and driven by natural curiosity.

We do not reject established science, but share its values and rules and are, as professional scientists and private researchers, de facto part of it.

Against Pseudo-Science

We reject the approach which takes Plato�s Atlantis dialogues literally word for word. Like all ancient texts they require interpretation in their context of creation and tradition. We especially consider Plato�s datings and the imagination of Atlantis as the eighth continent in the Atlantic Ocean as scientifically long-since disproved and therefore we interprete them as errors derived from tradition or as inventions.

We reject the belief that a possible existence of Plato�s Atlantis could not be understood within the framework of established historiography and would require complete rewriting of history. We reject any deus ex machina, be it extraterrestrial influence, flight discs, nuclear weapons, energy crystals, earth�s crust shift or hollow earth and world ice theories.

We reject oversimplified conclusions and superficial interpretations. The historical content of myths may not be overestimated; we dismiss an unrestrained Euhemerism. We regret the prevailing ignorance and disorientation regarding ancient times and texts.

We reject frankly-expressed disagreement with rationality as well as a lack of verifiable documentation and clarity in structure and content of contributions to the Atlantis research. We regret the recurrent repetition of long-since disproved errors.

Against Dogmatism

We reject not being allowed � against sound reason � to interprete Plato's Atlantis dialogues, but strive for a scientific way to deal with them as is accepted and practiced with every other ancient text. We dismiss the false doctrine that every interpretation of Plato's Atlantis dialogue is a priori an illigitimate falsification of the original.

We reject the dismissal of the Atlantis issue as irrelevant. Content and context of Plato's dialogues touch important aspects of our past. We regret a far too extensive specialization of the sciences thus losing sight of the greater context.

We reject the mystification and mythification of Plato's Atlantis which has developed over thousands of years regarding the original. Atlantis is no myth but either historic reality or invention or misunderstanding.

We reject the adaptation of a certain view of Atlantis in order to please certain colleagues in the scientific community or for the sake of loyalty towards a uniform esprit de corps. We also regret that fear of financial and social disadvantages can be a motivation for a certain view of Atlantis.

We reject the directing of arguments against Atlantis researchers rather than against their Atlantis hypotheses. We reject the abuse of authority, publicity and reputation to push through hypotheses. It is not acceptable to deny not only the truth of others' hypotheses but also to deny their right to exist in a free world.

Against Abuse

We reject the combination Atlantis research with sensationalism and greed for money.

We reject the abuse of Plato's Atlantis for political and ideological purposes, be it nationalism, socialism or racism. We regret a treatment of Plato's Atlantis which is based on excessive enthusiasm and biased love for local history.

We reject any claim on Plato's Atlantis by religions or mysticism. Atlantis does not fit into the category of metaphysical enthusiasm like New Age and parapsychology.

The Charter�s Initiators:

Thorwald C. Franke

http://www.atlantis-scout.de/

Ulrich Hofmann

http://www.platons-insel-atlantis.de/

Ulf Richter

Guest at http://www.black-sea-atlantis.com/

Christian M. Schoppe

Siegfried G. Schoppe

http://www.black-sea-atlantis.com/

The initiators support the process of stimulation and improvement of Atlantis research started at the International Conference Atlantis 2005 on Milos, Greece

http://milos.conferences.gr/index.php?id=917