Copenhagen by Michael Frayn: A Play About Science, Ethics, and the Responsibilities of Scientists

Copenhagen is a play by Michael Frayn that explores the meeting of Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in Copenhagen in 1941. The play is a fictionalized account of the meeting, and it explores the relationship between science and ethics, and the responsibilities of scientists in a world at war.

Plot

The play takes place in Copenhagen in 1941. Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist, has invited Werner Heisenberg, a German physicist, to visit him. The two men are old friends and colleagues, but they have been estranged since the outbreak of World War II.

Copenhagen

by Michael Frayn

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3324 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	145 pages

FREE

Bohr and Heisenberg spend the evening talking about science, ethics, and the war. Bohr argues that scientists have a responsibility to use their knowledge for good, while Heisenberg argues that scientists should remain neutral and focus on their research.

The play ends with Bohr and Heisenberg agreeing to disagree. However, the play also suggests that the two men have a deep respect for each other, and that they are both committed to the pursuit of knowledge.

Characters

• Niels Bohr: A Danish physicist who is a pioneer in the field of quantum mechanics. Bohr is a Nobel laureate, and he is known for his work on the atomic model and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics.
• Werner Heisenberg: A German physicist who is also a pioneer in the field of quantum mechanics. Heisenberg is a Nobel laureate, and he is known for his work on the uncertainty principle and the matrix mechanics formulation of quantum mechanics.
• Margrethe Bohr: Niels Bohr's wife. Margrethe is a strong supporter of her husband's work, and she is also a talented physicist in her own right.
• Erik Bohr: Niels Bohr's son. Erik is a physicist, and he is also a close friend of Werner Heisenberg.

Themes

Copenhagen explores a number of themes, including:

• The relationship between science and ethics: Bohr believes that scientists have a responsibility to use their knowledge for good, while Heisenberg believes that scientists should remain neutral and focus on their research.
• The responsibilities of scientists in a world at war: The play explores the ethical dilemmas that scientists face in a world at war. Bohr and Heisenberg both struggle with the question of whether they should continue their research, even if it could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.
• The nature of reality: The play explores the nature of reality, and the role that science plays in our understanding of the world. Bohr and Heisenberg discuss the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which suggests that the world is fundamentally uncertain.

Critical Reception

Copenhagen has received critical acclaim since its premiere in 1998. The play has been praised for its intellectual rigor, its emotional depth, and its insightful exploration of the human condition.

In a review of the play, The New York Times wrote: "Copenhagen is a play that will stay with you long after you see it. It is a play that will make you think, and it is a play that will challenge your assumptions about the world."]

Awards

Copenhagen has won numerous awards, including:

• The Tony Award for Best Play (1999)
• The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play (1999)
• The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play (2000)

Copenhagen is a powerful and thought-provoking play that explores the complex relationship between science, ethics, and the human condition. The play is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of science, the philosophy of science, or the human condition.

Copenhagen

by Michael Frayn

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3324 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	145 pages

FREE