"Freiheit der Naturforschung!"

With the founding of the New or Second Vienna School of Medicine, Carl Rokitansky released a scientific “revolution”. Together with Joseph Skoda and Ferdinand von Hebra, he sought scientifically based medicine that would make nature-philosophical explanations of disease obsolete. Pathology became the basis of new disciplines and lead to medical specialization. With Rokitansky, the Vienna School achieved international fame. The scholar was also a successful manager for education and science. Based on his humanitarian beliefs, during times of crisis he acted as an intermediary between academic institutions, the government and the Catholic church. He softened the resistance that he encountered with diplomacy and understanding. This scientist-politician was able to create ties between the most important academic institutions of the Habsburg Monarchy. Rokitansky became a key public figure in the period of high liberalism. His life-long motto, “freedom and progress”, lead not only to university reforms, but also to fundamental improvements in health services.