Analyze and Evaluate Oppenheimer

1. Analyze and evaluate Oppenheimer's views and behavior regarding one or two of the major ethical issues in the play. Look at arguments on both sides of the issue and explain your position in relation to these arguments.

The story of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer is one filled with many ethical and moral dilemmas that impacted not only the life of Oppenheimer, but the scientific field and the world. Oppenheimer was accused of giving secrets to the Russians, and for this accusation he lost his security clearance and the respect he had earned through his life accomplishments. Because of his high profile work on the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer's personal life was closely investigated by the FBI to make sure he was not a security risk. One might say that investigating someone's personal, professional, and past lives is highly unethical; because it is an invasion of the person's human right to privacy. The FBI did indeed deeply delve into Oppenheimer's private life, going so far as to shadow him, open his personal mail, monitor his phone calls, and try to trap him into convicting himself. (Kipphardt p. 60) This is an obvious violation of Oppenheimer's personal privacy and could therefore be called highly unethical.

The actions taken by the government and the FBI were ethical considering what was at stake. Dr. Oppenheimer led the research team at Los Alamos that discovered and produced the Atomic Bomb. This Bomb was far superior to any other countries weaponry, and was a very high profile and substantial milestone in world history. Every country in the world wanted the technology that made this bomb, and therefore Oppenheimer was a very significant and sought after man. The FBI was investigating Oppenheimer's life to ensure he was not a security risk to the United States, to make sure he could be trusted. This was essential to safely allow him to work on the project. Oppenheimer did not object to being under surveillance, he spoke truthfully with the FBI and had nothing to hide. The chief investigator into the matter, John Lansdale stated:

"..during that whole period I talked to him as often as I possibly could. I think he rather liked meÐ'...he talked very franklyÐ'...I had to reach my own conclusion he was not a communistÐ'.... (I concluded) That he was not a communist, and that he should be granted his (security) clearance no matter what.."