Introducing Civil Clauses against Expanding Military Research at German Universities? A Descriptive and Ethical Analysis of the Discussion*

Over the last 10 years, students and professors at German universities have intensely discussed the implementation of the controversial Civil Clauses. In light of a well-documented expansion of military research at German state universities, the pros and cons of this political instrument at universities should be discussed within an ethical framework. For the Civil Clause to be viable and to be seen as a means for self-assurance, an ‘ethos of epistemic rationality’ and a well-defined ‘ethos of scientific responsibility’ is as much necessary as the consideration of criteria like transparency and the implementation of ethical review committees.