Andrei Sakharov
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCIENTISTS·
Because of the international nature of our profession,
scientists form the one real worldwide community which exists
today. There is no doubt about this with respect to the substance of
science: Schrodinger's equation and the formula E
=
mc
2
are equally
valid on all continents. But the integration of the scientific
community has inevitably progressed beyond narrow professional
interests and now embraces a broad range of universal issues,
including ethical questions. And I believe this trend should and will
continue.
Scientists, engineers, and other specialists derive from their
professional knowledge and the advantages of their occupations a
broad and deep understanding of the potential benefits - but also the
risks - entailed in the application of science and technology. They
also develop an awareness of the positive and negative tendencies of
progress generally, and its possible consequences.
Colossal opportunities exist for the application of recent
advances in physics, chemistry, and biochemistry; technology and
engineering; computer science; medicine and genetics; physiology
and hygiene; microbiology (including industrial microbiology); in–
dustrial and agricultural management techniques; psychology; and
other exact and social sciences. And we can anticipate more achieve–
ments to come. We all share the responsibility to work for the full
realization of the results of scientific research in a world where most
people's lives have become more difficult, where so many are threat–
ened by hunger, premature illness and untimely death.
Hut scientists and scholars cannot fail to think about the
dangers stemming from uncontrolled progress, from unregulated in–
dustrial development, and especially from military applications of
scientific achievements. There has been public discussion of topics
related to scientific progress: nuclear power; the population explo-
• English translation of Andrei Sakharov's letter and of his autobiographical note
courtesy of Khronika Press.
Copyright
C
Andrei Sakharov 1981
