Vol. 12 (2020)

Niels Bohr was a great physicist who was universally admired and respected by his peers. Bohr made pioneering contributions to the understanding of atomic structure and quantum physics. Bohr also conceived the philosophical principle of complementarity, which he said applied to all important questions including physics. This article shows that, unfortunately, Bohr failed to apply his complementarity principle to understanding the origins and aftermath of World War II.

Sigismund (Sigmund) Schlomo Freud (1856-1939) has been rated as the sixth-most-influential scientist in world history. Medical historian Elizabeth M. Thornton writes: “Probably no single individual has had a more profound effect on 20^th-Century thought than Sigmund Freud.” This article examines whether Freud deserves such notoriety—or perhaps its opposite.

German physicist Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) is widely regarded as one of the greatest physicists in world history. His contributions were crucial to the development of quantum physics during the first half of the 20^th Century. Unfortunately, Heisenberg’s reputation has been assailed because he worked on Germany’s atomic-bomb project during World War II. This article shows that Heisenberg’s slighted reputation is not justified, and that he risked his life in an effort to prevent the use of atomic bombs during the war.