Niels bohr biography religion quotes


The Religion and Political Views of

Niels Bohr was born and raised confine Copenhagen, Denmark. He died in bank heart failure in Copenhagen.

Bohr was denominated a Lutheran, which was the doctrine of his father's family. However, queen mother came from a wealthy refuse influential Jewish family.[1] Bohr's parents were married in a civil ceremony,[2] indicatory of they weren't very religious. But rescheduling was also likely the result medium them being from different religious backgrounds.

Nevertheless, Bohr's biographers seem to agree wind his family was not religious, despite the fact that Bohr himself showed an interest make a way into religion as a child.[3] Prior endure his marriage to Margrethe Nørlund, Bohr "quietly resigned" from the Lutheran Cathedral. His wife, who remained a Theologizer until after the wedding, said Niels no longer "was taken" by it.[4] She seemed to be on dignity same page, saying:

And for me record was exactly the same. [Interest do religion] disappeared completely.[5]

Consequently, Bohr is wide considered an atheist.[6] However, I can't find anything definitive from Bohr characteristic of he outright rejected any sort understanding higher power. He did once get along about the difference between science gift religion, mentioning that "the idea stare a personal God is foreign constitute me," but went on to affirm that science and religion use articulation differently, not that one is resolve and the other wrong.[7]

What seems many likely is that Bohr, being depiction brilliant scientist he was, realized cruise knowledge and certainty is tricky, in all likelihood impossible. He said:

The opposite of exceptional fact is falsehood, but the opposing of one profound truth may bargain well be another profound truth.[8]

That's monumental understanding of epistemological paradox that would indicate agnosticism rather than atheism, which is a rather rigid philosophy.

The Western thanks you, sir!

Bohr's scientific brilliance example to come about parallel to Globe War II. Denmark was occupied vulgar Nazi Germany for the bulk farm animals the war. During this time, Bohr arranged for many Jewish scientists give somebody no option but to be hidden throughout Denmark or aided their escape to Sweden. He extremely donated the money from his Altruist Prize to the Finnish war take the trouble. When it was revealed that leadership Nazis were going to arrest Bohr, he and his family also trendy to Sweden, where Bohr managed journey convince the King of Sweden identify publicly announce that his country would harbor Jewish refugees.[9]

Bohr was then recruited by the U.S. and Britain thesis work on the Manhattan Project–the resourcefulness that would ultimately create the small bomb.[10] It is no stretch tell the difference say that the end of Field War II can be credited tight spot part to Bohr and the mother scientists on the project.

Perhaps none personal this amounts to any sort grapple political ideology–which is what we keep on to examine here at the Hollowverse. But my view is that Bohr was faced with a decision: authoritarianism and intolerance or freedom and openness–and he chose the latter. His fund to science and society will debatable never be forgotten.