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Jackanator87
Discuss Einstein and Planck’s differing views about whether science research is removed from social and political forces.
Einstein and Planck were both German scientists in the early twentieth century. They were good friends and worked in the same field of physics. But their friendship was troubled by the outbreak of World War I, because Planck was a firm nationalist, he supported the German’s war effort even though his son died in the war, but directly opposite to him stood Einstein, who was a pacifist and believed in world peace.
Although there was no direct debate between Einstein and Planck on this issue, it seems that Einstein and Planck took different views about scientists remaining in Germany and continuing to do scientific research.
When Hitler came in power, Einstein and some other Jewish scientist escaped to United State during the 1930’s. Plank remained in Germany and continued with his scientific researches, even though many of his friends and students were Jewish and suffered constant discrimination and insults from society, he persist on been an nationalist by signing the manifesto of 93 German intellectuals, which showed his absolute royalty to his country and their war efforts. On the other hand, Einstein and 3 other German scientists signed an anti-manifesto in 1914, which made Einstein an indirect rival to Planck.
In the aftermath of World War I Einstein became a major figure in the international peace movement until he fell out with the more radical pacifists who opposed the use of force to combat Nazism. In his famous letter to Franklin Roosevelt, he urged the American president to explore the possibility of developing nuclear weapons to deploy against Nazi Germany.
After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Einstein deeply regretted what he see as his crucial role in initiating the atomic era, he quoted afterwards that he should not bring science into political and social affairs as the impact would just be devastating.
Einstein and Planck were both German scientists in the early twentieth century. They were good friends and worked in the same field of physics. But their friendship was troubled by the outbreak of World War I, because Planck was a firm nationalist, he supported the German’s war effort even though his son died in the war, but directly opposite to him stood Einstein, who was a pacifist and believed in world peace.
Although there was no direct debate between Einstein and Planck on this issue, it seems that Einstein and Planck took different views about scientists remaining in Germany and continuing to do scientific research.
When Hitler came in power, Einstein and some other Jewish scientist escaped to United State during the 1930’s. Plank remained in Germany and continued with his scientific researches, even though many of his friends and students were Jewish and suffered constant discrimination and insults from society, he persist on been an nationalist by signing the manifesto of 93 German intellectuals, which showed his absolute royalty to his country and their war efforts. On the other hand, Einstein and 3 other German scientists signed an anti-manifesto in 1914, which made Einstein an indirect rival to Planck.
In the aftermath of World War I Einstein became a major figure in the international peace movement until he fell out with the more radical pacifists who opposed the use of force to combat Nazism. In his famous letter to Franklin Roosevelt, he urged the American president to explore the possibility of developing nuclear weapons to deploy against Nazi Germany.
After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Einstein deeply regretted what he see as his crucial role in initiating the atomic era, he quoted afterwards that he should not bring science into political and social affairs as the impact would just be devastating.