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.