The Hope and Vision of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Incorporating elements of history, science, philosophy, and international relations theory, this book explores the life and thought of Robert Oppenheimer. The book takes the form of "philosophical biography" and moves in two dimensions. First, it recovers and reconstructs what Oppenheimer said during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s (i.e., his hope and vision) with the goal of finding what might be of general philosophical interest today. Second, the book considers not only Oppenheimer's thought but also his life using philosophical ideas developed by contemporary philosophers. Interestingly, connections arise between these two complementary dimensions that serve in illuminating and assessing both Oppenheimer and his worldview.Central to any discussion of Oppenheimer, of course, is the nuclear revolution, and the possibility of transcending the resulting crisis. In order to deepen and broaden this discussion and demonstrate the relevance of his vision for today, his views are also analyzed using contemporary international relations theory with special emphasis on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. This examination reveals ways in which Oppenheimer's reasoning was prescient of work being done today to control, and possibly move beyond, the nuclear revolution.The overall thesis of the book is that Oppenheimer's ideas are important, engaging, relevant, and more coherent than generally assumed. Hence, his voice needs to be brought back into the public forum.