The Physicists: A Comedy in Two Acts

Friedrich Duerrenmatt appended "21 Points to THE PHYSICISTS," and in Point 14 he insisted that, "A drama about physicists must be paradoxical." His next point stated that, "It cannot have as its goal the content of physics but its effect." Duerrenmatt's 1962 play (which was translated into English from the original German in 1963 and then appeared on Broadway) succeeds most memorably by adhering to these two points (and his other nineteen which are printed in this edition as well). THE PHYSICISTS features three characters who make claims to being the famed physicists Newton, Einstein and Moebius. These three toddle into the action as unpredictably as individual gas molecules move in a heated, sealed container as the play utilizes bizarre happenings in an old section of a sanitarium to examine the potential destructive power of physics (and by extension, all branches of science) and the moral and ethical dilemmas arising from that. Plot twists and turns abound as the main characters -- and some minor ones -- change like chameleons and the contexual frame of reference is turned repeatedly on its head. THE PHYSICISTS will soon reach the half-century mark, but its themes continue to be relevant as twenty-first century scientists and the public at large confront an ever widening arena of scientific "advances" that could conceivably unleash immense, even catastrophic, repercussions. As Duerrenmatt says in Point 19, "Within the paradoxical appears reality." Within the play, one can see truths for our times. Anyone who has seen or read the more recent plays COPENHAGEN or PROOF will probably find THE PHYSICISTS a great read.

I want all of you to read this play. It is weird butfascinating, surprising and just brilliant. Get to know Germanliterature at one of its best!

Dieses Buch ist eines der kreativsten Werke Duerrenmatts. Er verwandte einen ausgesprochen treffenden Sarkasmus um das Problem der Wissenschaft (Wer traegt die Verantwortung?)zum besten zu geben. Dieses Buch ist leicht zu lesen, da es nur weniger Vorkenntnisse bedarf und gibt doch einen sehr tiefen Einblick in die verschiedenen Ansichten einiger Physiker. Auch das Ende diese Werkes wurde gekonnt gestaltet, denn es regt den Leser an sich selbst mit dem besagten Thema zu beschaeftigen. Wer dieses Buch versaeumt hat zu lesen, sollte es unbedingt nachholen, denn es gehoert einfach zur Allgemeinbildung.

Eine wunderbare, interessante Kritik und Fragestellung ueber die Rolle der modernen Wissenschaften in der heutigen Gesellschaft. Ein Physiker macht as ob er verrueckt waere und findet sich im Irrenhaus. (Indem er sagt, er hoere Koenig Solomon.) Er begegnet drei anderen verrueckten Physikern, die tatsaechlich Spionen sind, die von drei Maechten geschickt worden sind. Sie wollen ihn ueberzuegen, er sollte mit ihnen gehen, weil er als Physiker das sogenannte "Unified Field Theorem" entdeckte. Hauptfragen: Koennte dieses Wissen misgebraucht werden? Kann man Wissen zuruecknehmen? Falls so oder nicht, auf welche Weisen sind Wissenschaftler und Forscher fuer ihre Entdeckungen moralisch verantwortlich? Eben meine Lieblingsdrama!- Paul

Durrenmatt's play provides an excellent and thought-provoking critique on the role of modern science and technology in human affairs. Is science responsible to humanity? If we deem specific knowledge "harmful", how can we hope to prevent its discovery? If the knowledge does exist, how do we prevent its misuse? This is a play that is incredibly relevant in an age plagued with similar issues in genetic engineering and cloning. I'd highly recommend the German translation.