From the Atomic Bomb to Covid-19; The Ethical Responsibility of Scientists: A Thematic Study in Friedrich Durrenmatt's The Physicists

Abstract

    When contemplating the moral responsibility of the scientists in the age of nuclear energy, one of the literary works that comes to mind is Friedrich Durrenmatt’s The Physicists written in the wake of the atom bomb which deals with one of the humanity’s  strongest tension between scientific progress and morality and accountability. Under this light, the recent outbreak of the Covid-19 raises similar questions especially when examining the theory that this virus was enhanced in a lab by scientists for the purpose of wielding power similar to lab-manufactured atomic bombs and without those scientists’ regards to moral responsibilities. This paper seeks to shed light on the fact that scientists should reassess their moral duty when involved in discoveries and experiments that may have catastrophic outcomes and threaten humans and other species living on this planet. This responsibility does not end here, however, and the play suggests other parties such as governments and political lobbies should be held accountable as well.