Hans-Peter Dürr
Encyclopedia
Hans-Peter Dürr is a German physicist. In addition to nuclear and quantum physics, elementary particles and gravitation
, epistemology, and philosophy
, he has advocated responsible scientific and energy policies.
(Werner-Heisenberg-Institute) 1972-1977, 1981–1986 and 1993-1995. Until 1997 he was professor of physics
at the Ludwig Maximilian University, both in Munich
, Germany
.
Dürr completed his Ph.D. in 1956 after studying physics in Stuttgart (Dipl.-Phys. 1953) and at University of California
in Berkeley
, supervised by Edward Teller
. In 1962 he was a guest-professor in Berkeley, California and Madras, India.
As "the" follower of Prof. Werner Heisenberg
, he specializes in nuclear physics
, quantum physics, elementary particles and gravitation
, epistemology and philosophy
. He also champions various social justice
causes, and helped fund the "David against Goliath" organization protesting against a nuclear fuel
reprocessing plant in Bavaria
.
In the 1980s, Dürr advocated the cause of peace as a member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
. In 1983, he helped co-fund the Scientists' Initiative "Responsibility for Peace", which led to the Scientists' Peace Congress in Mainz
attended by 3,300 scientists and the Mainzer Appell, a declaration against further nuclear armament. In 1990, another large scientists' convention in Göttingen warned against the militarization of space. In support of these conventions, Dürr gave a series of lectures at numerous German universities. Dürr is a leading critic of the American Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), otherwise known as Star Wars.
In 1986 Dürr proposed a World Peace Initiative, on a similar scale to the Strategic Defence Initiative, to solve environmental problems, and achieve social justice and peace. This was later reborn as the Global Challenges Network, which received the Right Livelihood Award
together with Dürr.
More recently, Dürr has contributed to the global environmental movement. He served as a member of the board of Greenpeace
Germany and as a member of the International Advisory Council on the Economic Development of Hainan in Harmony with the Natural Environment in China. In 1996, Dürr was made a member of the UN Secretary General's international advisory group for the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul
.
Dürr is a member of the Club of Rome
and serves on the scientific committee of the Vienna Internationale Akademie für Zukunftsfragen, advocating sustainable, equitable, and viable development, emphasizing energy efficiency and sufficiency as a point of entry.
In 2005, together with Daniel Dahm
and Rudolf zur Lippe, he published the Potsdam Manifesto and the Potsdam Denkschrift
as a follow-up to the Russel-Einstein-Manifesto of 1955. The Potsdam Manifesto and Potsdam Denkschrift were signed by a large group of scientists from all over the world, including 20 laureates of the Right Livelihood Award
, the Alternative Nobel Prize.
Since 2006 he has been a founding councillor at the World Future Council
.
Gravitation
Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass. Gravitation is most familiar as the agent that gives weight to objects with mass and causes them to fall to the ground when dropped...
, epistemology, and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, he has advocated responsible scientific and energy policies.
Biography
Between 1978 and 1992 he was executive Director of the Max Planck Institute for Physics and Astrophysics in Munich for several times. He was Vice executive director at the Max Planck Institute for PhysicsMax Planck Institute for Physics
Max Planck Institute for Physics is a physics institute in Munich, Germany that specializes in High Energy Physics and Astroparticle physics. It is part of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and is also known as the Werner Heisenberg Institute, after its first director.It was founded as the Kaiser Wilhelm...
(Werner-Heisenberg-Institute) 1972-1977, 1981–1986 and 1993-1995. Until 1997 he was professor of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the Ludwig Maximilian University, both in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Dürr completed his Ph.D. in 1956 after studying physics in Stuttgart (Dipl.-Phys. 1953) and at University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
in Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, supervised by Edward Teller
Edward Teller
Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist, known colloquially as "the father of the hydrogen bomb," even though he did not care for the title. Teller made numerous contributions to nuclear and molecular physics, spectroscopy , and surface physics...
. In 1962 he was a guest-professor in Berkeley, California and Madras, India.
As "the" follower of Prof. Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg
Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory...
, he specializes in nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
, quantum physics, elementary particles and gravitation
Gravitation
Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass. Gravitation is most familiar as the agent that gives weight to objects with mass and causes them to fall to the ground when dropped...
, epistemology and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He also champions various social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
causes, and helped fund the "David against Goliath" organization protesting against a nuclear fuel
Nuclear fuel
Nuclear fuel is a material that can be 'consumed' by fission or fusion to derive nuclear energy. Nuclear fuels are the most dense sources of energy available...
reprocessing plant in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
In the 1980s, Dürr advocated the cause of peace as a member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
. In 1983, he helped co-fund the Scientists' Initiative "Responsibility for Peace", which led to the Scientists' Peace Congress in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
attended by 3,300 scientists and the Mainzer Appell, a declaration against further nuclear armament. In 1990, another large scientists' convention in Göttingen warned against the militarization of space. In support of these conventions, Dürr gave a series of lectures at numerous German universities. Dürr is a leading critic of the American Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), otherwise known as Star Wars.
In 1986 Dürr proposed a World Peace Initiative, on a similar scale to the Strategic Defence Initiative, to solve environmental problems, and achieve social justice and peace. This was later reborn as the Global Challenges Network, which received the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
together with Dürr.
More recently, Dürr has contributed to the global environmental movement. He served as a member of the board of Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
Germany and as a member of the International Advisory Council on the Economic Development of Hainan in Harmony with the Natural Environment in China. In 1996, Dürr was made a member of the UN Secretary General's international advisory group for the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
.
Dürr is a member of the Club of Rome
Club of Rome
The Club of Rome is a global think tank that deals with a variety of international political issues. Founded in 1968 at Accademia dei Lincei in Rome, Italy, the CoR describes itself as "a group of world citizens, sharing a common concern for the future of humanity." It consists of current and...
and serves on the scientific committee of the Vienna Internationale Akademie für Zukunftsfragen, advocating sustainable, equitable, and viable development, emphasizing energy efficiency and sufficiency as a point of entry.
In 2005, together with Daniel Dahm
Daniel Dahm
Johannes Daniel Dahm is a German geographer, ecologist, activist, consultant and entrepreneur.As a transdisciplinary scientist he works in the fields of sustainability and development research, ecological economics and ecological creation of values, future of work, plurality and diversity of...
and Rudolf zur Lippe, he published the Potsdam Manifesto and the Potsdam Denkschrift
Potsdam Denkschrift
The Potsdam Denkschrift is a declaration of Hans-Peter Dürr, J. Daniel Dahm and Rudolf zur Lippe under the patronage of the Federation of German Scientists-VDW...
as a follow-up to the Russel-Einstein-Manifesto of 1955. The Potsdam Manifesto and Potsdam Denkschrift were signed by a large group of scientists from all over the world, including 20 laureates of the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
, the Alternative Nobel Prize.
Since 2006 he has been a founding councillor at the World Future Council
World Future Council
The World Future Council is an independent body formally founded in Hamburg, Germany on 10 May 2007. "Formed to speak on behalf of policy solutions that serve the interests of future generations", it includes members active in governmental bodies, civil society, business, science and the arts...
.
Honors
- Award of Merit 1956, Oakland USA;
- Right Livelihood Award 1987 („Alternativer Nobelpreis“), Stockholm;
- Waldemar-von-Knoeringen-Award 1989, Munich;
- Ecology Award „Goldene Schwalbe“ 1990, Darmstadt;
- Natura Obligat Medaille 1991, University of the Bundeswehr Munich;
- Elise and Walter Haas International Award 1993, University of California;
- Medal `München leuchtet' 1996 in Gold, Culture Award Munich;
- Honorary Doctor Dr.phil. h.c, 2002, University Oldenburg, Philosophical Faculty;
- Großes Verdienstkreuz des Bundesverdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 2004, Berlin.
Memberships
- Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, Halle, 1975;
- Rhodes Scholarship Foundation, Vorsitzender des deutschen Auswahlausschusses, Hamburg, 1979–1982;
- Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler, Berlin, Vorstand, 1980–1986, und Vorstandsvorsitzender, 1991–97, 2000-;
- E.F.-Schuhmacher-Gesellschaft, Kuratorium, Munich, 1980-;
- Studiengruppe Sanfte Energietechnologien München SESAM, University Munich 1981-1983;
- Naturwissenschaftler Initiative – Verantwortung für den Frieden, Mainz, 1983;
- Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, London/Geneva, 1983, Council 1987-97,
- Peace-Nobel Prize 1995;
- Energiekommission der Landeshauptstadt, Munich, 1983-;
- Wissenschaftszentrum München, Vorstand Beirat, 1983-;
- Scientists against Nuclear Weapons and for Peace, Sowjetische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Moskau, 1984-;
- August-Bebel-Kreis, Tübingen, 1986–1990;
- Greenpeace Deutschland, Hamburg, Vorstand, 1985–92;
- Stabilitätsorientierte Sicherheitspolitik, Starnberg, Codirector Forschungsprojekt 1986-1988;
- Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik, Wissenschaftlicher Beirat, Universität Hamburg, 1986-;
- Global Challenges Network, München, Gründer und Vorstand, 1987;
- Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR, Berlin, 1987;
- International Foundation for the Survival and Development of Humanity, Moskau, Mitbegründer und Vorstand, 1988;
- Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung, Frankfurt, Wiss. Beirat, 1989-;
- Internationale Akademie für Zukunftsfragen, Wien, Vorstand und Wissenschaftliches Präsidium, 1990;
- Economic Development of Hainan in Harmony with the Natural Environment, Intern. Adv. Council, PR China, 1990–93;
- Die Umweltakademie/Umwelt und Management, Oberpfaffenhofen, Vorsitzender Kuratorium, 1990–97, Vorstand, 1998;
- Club of Rome, Paris, 1991;
- Europäische Stiftung für Natur- und Kulturvermögen, Prag, Mitbegründer und Präsident, 1991–2001;
- Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea, Salzburg, 1991-, Prodekan, 1993–1995;
- International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility INES, Hamburg, 1992-;
- Lenkungsausschuss der „Consultative“, DUA Oberpfaffenhofen/München, 1992–1994;
- Center for Science of Hope, International Center for Integrated Studies, ICIS. Advisory Council, New York 1993;
- Freunde und Förderer der Robert-Jungk-Stiftung, Ehrenmitglied, Salzburg, 1993-;
- Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Vorstand, Chicago, 1993–95;
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research PIK, Wissenschaftlicher. Beirat, 1993–2003;
- Muhammad Abdus Salam Foundation, Stiftungsrat, London, 1993–1995;
- Volkshochschule, Kuratorium, München, 1994–1996;
- Global Commission to Fund the U .N., Washington D.C, 1995;
- Institut für Zukunftsstudien und Technologiebewertung IZT, Wissenschaftlicher Beirat, Berlin, 1995-;
- Gruppe Energie 2010: Zukünftige Energiepolitik, Niedersächsische Energie-Agentur, Hannover, 1995-1998.
- U.N. Conference of Human Settlements, Habitat II, International Advisory Council, New York, 1996;
- David gegen Goliath, München, 1996, Ehrenmitglied; 1996;
- RIO-Impuls Luzern, Schweiz, Beirat, 1996-;
- Ludwig-Bölkow-Stiftung München, Kuratorium, 1998–2004;
- Roland-Röhl-Stiftung Göttingen, Kuratorium Vorsitzender, 1998;
- Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders, New York, Co-Chair Science, 1999-;
- Stiftung für die Rechte zukünftiger Generationen, Oberursel Beirat, 1999;
- The State of the World Forum, San Francisco, Gorbachev Foundation, International Coordinating Council, 1999;
- Herrmann-Knoblauch-Akademie, Schirmherr, Hannover, 1999;
- Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste, München, Ehrenmitglied, 2000;
- Commission on Globalization, The State of the World Forum San Francisco, New York, 2001;
- Friends of Health, Washington, Scientific Advisory Committee, 2000;
- Koalition für Leben und Frieden, München , 2002-;
- Stiftung Insel Hombroich, Neuß, Kuratorium, 2003-;
- Lassalle Institut, Bad Schönbrunn, Schweiz, Patronatskomitee, 2003-;
- International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War IPPNW (Friedens-Nobelpreis, 1985),.Berlin, Wiss. Beirat, 2004.
Books – Selection
- What is Life? Scientific Approaches and Philosophical Positions (co-author, co-ed.), World Scientific, 2002, ISBN 9810247400
- Unified Theories of Elementary Particles (ed.), Springer Verlag, 1982.
- Werner HeisenbergWerner HeisenbergWerner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory...
, Gesammelte Werke (co-ed.), 9 vols., Piper und Springer Verlag (1985–1993). - Physik und Transzendenz (ed.), Scherz Verlag, 1986.
- Das Netz des Physikers, Hanser Verlag, 1988.
- De la Science à l’Éthique, Bibliothèque Albin Michel Sciences 1988.
- Geist und Natur (ed.), Scherz Verlag, 1989.
- Respekt vor der Natur - Verantwortung für die Natur, Piper Verlag, 1994.
- Die Zukunft ist ein unbetretener Pfad, Herder Verlag, 1995.
- Zukünftige Energiepolitik (co-author), Economica Verlag, 1995.
- Umweltverträgliches Wirtschaften (co-ed.), Agenda Verlag, 1995.
- Gott, der Mensch und die Wissenschaft (co-author), Pattloch Verlag, 1997.
- Rupert SheldrakeRupert SheldrakeRupert Sheldrake is an English scientist. He is known for having proposed an unorthodox account of morphogenesis and for his research into parapsychology. His books and papers stem from his theory of morphic resonance, and cover topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, memory,...
in der Diskussion (co-ed.), Scherz Verlag, 1997. - Für eine zivile Gesellschaft, dtv 2000.
- Elemente des Lebens (co-ed.), Graue Edition, 2000.
- Wir erleben mehr als wir begreifen (co-author), Herder spektrum, 2001.
- Wirklichkeit, Wahrheit, Werte und die Wissenschaft (co-author, co-ed.), BWV, 2003.
- Auch die Wissenschaft spricht nur in Gleichnissen, Herder spektrum, 2004.
- H.P.Dürr/Raimon PanikkarRaimon PanikkarRaimon Panikkar-Alemany was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest and a proponent of inter-religious dialogue. As a scholar, he specialized in comparative religion.-Early life and education:...
: Liebe - Urquelle des Kosmos − Ein Gespräch über Naturwissenschaft und Religion, Herder Vlg. (Herder Tb.5965), Freiburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-451-05965-0
External links
- Right Livelihood Award
- Global Challenges Network (in German)
- Hans-Peter Dürr MP3 audio - from Shift in Action, sponsored by Institute of Noetic Sciences
- "Sprache der modernen Physik" — Recording of an event in Hamburg/Germany (MP3, in German)
- Prof. Dürrs participation at the Youth Future Forum "Vision-Values-Action"
- Prof. Dürr speaks for the Stand-Up Event of the UN in 2008
- Prof. Dürr speaks about the World Future Council