Morality of nuclear planning
One of the main objectives of this volume is to analyze certain bizarre developments in science, particularly physics, which have made their appearance since radioactivity was discovered, some 80 years ago. These changes in the basic ways of going about the business of science are the counterpart of the equally bizarre changes in political and economic climates which have occurred during the same period. This volume has three purposes: (1) to pose the question, ''Is it morally acceptable for the great majority of mankind to be forced to depend for their safety on a very special brand of mathematical gymnastics which physicists use in their solution of nuclear problems''; (2) to examine the historical development of the means by which physicists interpret the very visible effects of nuclear reactions; and (3) to focus attention on certain concepts that were universally accepted by older scientists as being logically necessary to explain much of the workings of the physical world. For many, many years there have been scientific arguments and learned discussions between ''etherists'' and ''non-etherists.'' This volume is an attempt to feed back into an earlier (pre 1920) climate of opinion, that which has developed out of the current ''Information Explosion.'' A scientific revolution of unprecendented magnitude, which had its beginning about 1950, is about at its mid-way point now. (MCW)
- OSTI ID:
- 7092204
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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