INSTITUTE  FOR  ETHICS  (Institute  for  Studies  Ethics  and  Values)  is  a  young  institution,  which  was  established  in  2013  at  the  initiative  of  Prof  Jože  Trontelj.  The  Institute  was  co-­‐founded   also   by   the   Slovene   Academy   of   Sciences   and   Arts   and  was   headed   –  until  his  sudden  and  very  premature  death  –  by  Prof  Dr  Jože  Trontelj.      

Institute’s  main   task   is   to   support   re-­‐introduction  of   education   in   ethical   values   in  the   Slovenian   school   system.  The  basic  aim  of  the  Institute  is  the   promotion   of   the  competencies   to   build   the  culture   of   knowledge,   values  and   ethics,   especially   in   the  education   from   the   preschool  to  the  university  level.    

We   started   our   work   in   the  belief   that   the  most   important  tasks   of   the   present   time   will  be   the   formation   of   a   global  society   of   values,   knowledge  and   welfare   as   the   only  possible   form   of   a   stable  society  of  the  future.        Such  society  can  only  be  built  on  a  basis  of  well-­‐functioning  ethical  standards  and  impartial  knowledge  in  all  venues  of  public  life.  Ethical  values  must  be  embraced  personally  by  the  large  majority  of  members  of  the  society.  This  can  only  happen  if  children  and  adolescents  receive  appropriate  education  in  ethics  and   virtues.   Schools   have   traditionally   fulfilled   this   role  with   great   dedication   and  responsibility   throughout   the   history   of   civilization.   However,   our   dynamic   time   is  presenting  new  challenges,  which  have  to  be  addressed  with  additional  efforts  and  in  new  ways.            

Prof  Dr  Janek  Musek,  Prof  Dr  Jože  Trontelj,  Mr  Marijan  Musek,  co-­‐founders  of  the  Institute  for  Ethics  

On   4th   September   2013   we   hosted   a   Conference   entitled   ”Ethics   and   Values   in  Education”,  which  was  attended  by  more  than  400  principals  of  kindergartens  and  schools   from  all  over  Slovenia.   It  was  a  high   level  event,  directly   supported  by  our  President  of  the  Republic  Mr  Borut  Pahor,  who  also  addressed  the  participants  with  a  speech.      

   There   has   been   a   remarkable   positive   response   first   of   all   to   the   initiative   to  introduce  more   ethics   education   to   schools,  which   seems   to   have   come  at   a   right  time,  and  then  to  the  actual  content  of  the  Conference.    

       

 

Prof  Dr  Jože  Trontelj    and    President  of  The  Republic  of  Slovenia    Mr  Borut  Pahor  

         

 Prof  Dr  Janek  Musek,  Mr  Marijan  Musek,  Prof  Dr  Jože  Trontelj,    

Prof  Dr  Elmar  Doppelfeld,  Prof  Dr  David  Carr  

     

         

At   the   Conference   was   presented   a  long-­‐term   project   of   fostering   ethics  education  at  our  schools,  starting  from  the   pre-­‐primary   level.   We   prepared  training   programs   for   teachers   and  educators,   including   recommended  activities   for   children   and   pupils.   We  are   aiming   at   need   to   strengthen  motivation  for  responsible  behavior  in  respect  of  morals  and  virtues.          

   Introductory  training  of  teachers  and  educators,  November  2013    

   Introductory  training  of  teachers  and  educators,  Prof  Dr  Jože  Trontelj  and  Mrs  Božena  Bratuž,  President  of  the  Slovenian  community  kindergartens,  Principal  of  Kindergarten  Ptuj,  November  2013  

 “Knowledge  without  borders”,  26th  December  2013  

Together   with   Prof   Dr   Trontelj   we   were   supporting   young   Slovenian   students,  researchers  and  alumni  all  around   the  world  at   their  efforts   to  establish   their  own  association   for   networking   of   knowledge   for   better   society.   At   our   initiative  President  of   The  Republic   of   Slovenia  hosted   in   Presidential   Palace   a   reception  on  The  National  Day  of  Independence  and  Unity.  Unfortunately  Prof  Dr  Trontelj  was  no  longer  with  us.  But  his  thoughts  has  generously  and  sensitively  shared  his  wife  Mrs  Tatjana  Trontelj.      

   Mrs  Tatjana  Trontelj,  Speech  at  inaugural  meeting  of  Association  of  young  Slovenian  citizens  who  are  studying  or  researching  abroad.    

   Reception  of  the  President  of  the  Republic  

 

     We  are  well   aware  of  Prof  Dr  Trontelj’s   cordial  wish   to   continue  with   the  planned  work   of   the   Institute,   especially   regarding   the   projects   aimed   at   more   intense  integration   of   values   and   ethics   into   education   and   the   dialogue   between  generations  and  within   society   in  general.   The   Institute   continues   to  work   in   close  cooperation  with  Prof  Dr   Jože  Trontelj’s  closest  co-­‐workers,   including  his  wife,  Mrs  Tatjana   Trontelj,   Prof   Dr   Janek   Musek,   co-­‐founder   of   the   Institute,   and   Mr   Tone  Žakelj,   his   co-­‐worker   and   long-­‐time   close   friend   from   the   Institute   of   Clinical  Neurophysiology  and  the  Republic  of  Slovenia  Medical  Ethics  Committee.    

   Mrs  Tatjana  Trontelj,  Welcome  speech  at  2nd  training  of  teachers  and  educators,  February  2014  

       Academician  Prof  Dr  Jože  Trontelj,  our  co-­‐founder  and  president,  is  no  longer  among  us.   We've   lost   a   man   who   in   one   person   embodied   the   world's   major   scientific  breakthroughs   and   human   greatness,   the   highest   intellectual   range   and   noble  kindness,  diligence  and  unwavering  dedication  to  family,  professional  excellence  and  breadth  of  wisdom,  the  highest  professional,  vocational,  social  functions  and  a  lot  of  personal   modesty,   cosmopolitanism   and   patriotism,   commitment   to   superior  professional   ethics,   medical   ethics   and   bioethics   and   implementation   of   ethical,  moral  and  value  the  ideals  of  personal  life.    Members   and   associates   of   Institute   for   ethics   are   gratefull   and   honored   of   his  presence   and   support.   As   guardian   angel   he   was   someone   who   embodied   the  scientific  erudition,  ethics  and  the  highest  values  on  the  path  of  truth  and  goodness.    And  although  the  sudden  and  untimely  death  broke  away  our  great  mentor  and  also  a   friend,   his   work   will   allow   us   the   continuation   of   our   mission   and   our   vision,  projects  that  have  been  outlined  along  with  it.  In  the  spirit  he  will  remain  with  us  and  that  throughout  the  indispensability  of  his  departure,  nothing  can  prevent  it.    His   memory   and   a   great   example   compel   us   and   fills   us   with   feelings   of   deep  gratitude.