The Political Arena (1934–1961)

Finn Aaserud (Eds.)9780080459455, 9780444513366, 0444513361

Part I is devoted to Niels Bohr’s mission to promote an “open world” between nations, that is, full sharing of information in the scientific and technical, as well as in the cultural spheres the scientific and technical, as well as in the cultural spheres. He started his mission immediately upon escaping from Nazi-occupied Denmark in the autumn of 1943, when he realized that the bomb was on the way to becoming a reality. As he wrote in 1944, he considered that the existence of the atomic bomb “would not only seem to necessitate but should also, due to the urgency of mutual confidence, facilitate” the realization of an open world. During the Second World War, while being actively involved in the Allied atomic bomb project, Bohr was able to obtain access to Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt to promote his view. After the war he continued his confidential approaches to the statesmen while publishing more generally oriented articles on the issue. Although Bohr put in as much work in appeals to the statesmen as in his other writings, they were not intended for publication. This has called for the inclusion of a greater number than in earlier volumes of the Collected Works of previously unpublished documents as well as a particularly extensive historical introduction written by the editor. The material adds up to a fascinating sotry of the political dedication and social responsibility ofone of the major scientists of the twentieth century. Part II documents Bohr’s other social and political activities, such as his long-time presidency in the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and his promotion of the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Taking a broader approach than most of his other publications, these occasional writings, which are most often published versions of talks at public events, are particularly well suited to present Bohr to the general public, as a thinker as well as a person.
* Niels Bohr * Open World * Atomic Bomb Project * Science and Politics * Collected Works * Archival Documents * Original Photographs

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Table of contents :
Content:
Edited by
Page iii

Copyright page
Page iv

Foreword
Pages v-ix
Finn Aaserud

Earilers Volumes of the Niels Bohr Collected Works
Page xvii

Abbreviated Titles of Periodicals
Page xviii

Other Abbreviations
Pages xix-xx

Acknowledgements
Pages xxi-xxiii

Introduction
Pages 3-83
Finn Aaserud

I. Documents, World War II
Pages 85-120

II. Sciences and Civilization
Pages 121-124

III. A Challenge to Civilization
Pages 125-130

IV. Atomic Physics and International Cooperation
Pages 131-134

V. Documents, 1945: Statements Upon Return to Denmark
Pages 135-148

VI. Humanity’s Choice Between Catastrophe and Hapier Circumstances: Menneskehedens Valg Mellem Katastrofe og Lykkeligere Kaar
Pages 149-154

VII. Docoments, 1946 and 1948: Contact With Baruch and Marshall
Pages 155-170

VIII. Open Letter to the United Nations, June 9th, 1950
Pages 171-173,175-186

IX. Documents, 1950: Presentation of and Reaction to the Open Letter
Pages 187-190

X. Open Letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, November 9th, 1956
Pages 191-192

Appendix. Various Letters and Notes
Pages 193-333

Introduction
Pages 337-377
Finn Aaserud

I. Meeting on 20 October 1939: Mødet Den 20. Oktober 1939
Pages 379-384

II. Meeting on 15 March [1940]: Mødet Den 15. Marts [1940]
Pages 385-387

III. Meeting on 20 September 1940: Mødet Den 20. Septbr 1940
Pages 389-392

IV. Meeting on 30 January 1942: Mødet Den 30. Januar 1942
Pages 393-396

V. Meeting on 13 November 1942 on The 200th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Academy: Mødet Den 30. November 1942 Paa 200-aarsdagen for selskabets Stittelse
Pages 397-414

VI. Meeting on 19 October 1945: Mødet Den 19. Oktober 1945
Pages 415-417

VII. Meeting on 25 April 1947: Mødet Den 25. April 1947
Pages 419,421-424

VIII. Meeting on 17 October 1947 in Commemoration of King Christian X: Mødet Den 17. Oktober 1939 Til Minde Om Kong Christian X
Pages 425-432

IX. Meeting on 11 March 1949: Mødet Den 11. Marts 1949
Pages 433-436

X. Meeting on 19 October 1951: Mødet Den 19. Oktober 1951
Pages 437-438

XI. Meeting on 16 November 1951: Mødet Den 16. November 1951
Pages 439-441

XII. Meeting on 14 October 1960: Mødet Den 14. Oktober 1960
Pages 443-445

XIII. Niels Bohr’s Deeply Serious Appeal: Niels Bohrs dybt Alvorlige Appeal
Pages 447-452

XIV. Meeting on 2 February 1951: Mødet Den 2. Februar 1951
Pages 453-461

XV. Statement by Professor Niels Bohr in the Current Affairs Programme on Danish National Radio, Monday 4 February 1952: Udtalelse of Protessor Niels Bohr I Radioens Aktuelle Kvarter, Madag den 4. Februar 1952
Pages 463-467

XVI. Eighth Presentation of the H.C. Ørsted Medal: Ottende Uddeling af H.C. ørsted Medaillen
Pages 469-475

XVII. Niende Uddeling af H.C. Ørsted Medaillen: Niende Uddeling af H.C. Ørsted Medaillen
Pages 477-485

XVIII. Tiende and Ellevte Uddeling of the H.C. Østed Medal: Tiende og Ellevte Uddeling af H.C. Østed Medaillen
Pages 487-491

XIX. Memorial Evening for Kirstine Meyer in the Society for Dissemination of Natural Science: Mindeaften for Kirstine meyer i Selskabet for Naturlærens Udbredelse
Pages 493-499

XX. Speech at the Meeting of Matural Scientists in Helsinki, 14 August 1936: Tale Ved Naturforskermø i Helsingrors, 14 August 1936
Pages 501-507

XXI. Speech at the inauguration of the Institute’s high-voltage plant 5 April 1938: Tale Ved Indvielsen af Instutttets Højspændingsanlæ 5. April 1938
Pages 509-526

XXII. Science and Its International Significance
Pages 527-531

XXIII. The University and Research: Universitetet og Forskningen
Pages 533-553

XXIV. Preface: Forord
Pages 555-560

XXV. Greater International Cooperation is Needed for Peace and Survival
Pages 561-570

XXVI. The Physical Basis for Industrial Use of the Energy of the Atomic Nucleus: Det fysiske grundlag for industriel udnyttelse af atomkerne-energien
Pages 571-607

XXVII. Atoms and Society: Atomerne og Samfumdet
Pages 609,611-631

XXVIII. Grettings to the Exhibition from Professor Niels Bohr: Hilsen Til Udstillingen fra professor Niels Bohr
Pages 633,635-636

XXIX. The Presentation of the First atoms for Peace Award to Niels Henrik David Bohr, October 24, 1957
Pages 637-644

XXX. Professor Niels Bohr on Risø: Professor Niels Bohr om Risø
Pages 645-653

XXXI. On the Problem of Measurement in Atomic Physics: Om Maalingsproblemet i Atomfysikken
Pages 655-666

XXXII. Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
Pages 667-673

XXXIII. Greeting from Niels Bohr: Niels Bohr’s Hilsen
Pages 675-680

XXXIV. Address Broadcast on the Danish National Radio, 16 October 1953: Tale Ved Statsradioroniens Udsendelse Den 16. Oktober 1953
Pages 681-688

XXXV. The rebuilding of Israel. A remarkable kind of adventure: Israels Genopbyging ET Æventyr af Ejendommelig art
Pages 689-699
Niels Bohr

XXXVI. The Goal of the fight: That we in freedom may Look Forward to a Brighter Future: Kampens Mål: At vi i frihed kan se hen til en lysere fremtid
Pages 701-704

Appendix. Selected Correspondence
Pages 705-722

Introduction
Pages 725-736

Index
Pages 737,739-754