Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
In the words of Ian Malcom: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Why did no one in the U.S or the USSR ever stop to think whether or not they should make nukes? Did they really have no idea how bad it could get? Or did they just not give a damn whether they blew the world up?
He's a fictional character. He can say whatever he wants. He fills the role in Jurassic Park of someone to play the foil against the scientists who developed the amusement park without consideration for ethics or risks.
They did. There is known letter from physicists to American government about dangers of nuclear weapons.
Sakharov, father of Soviet H-bomb, went same route. Of course, he first invented it...
Nuclear weapons were developed at the height (or depths) of World War II -- the darkest chapter of human history -- and the United States was the only proven democracy of the three contenders.
Does anyone among the Goody Two-shoes at this site want to tell us, with a straight face, that either the Nazis or Soviets would have refrained from pursuit of the most powerful (and terrifying) weapon yet devised?
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 03-06-2020 at 04:53 PM..
If you're going to put this under history, you have to google Churchill's Operation Unthinkable and the subsequent US plans to stage a first-strike against USSR. They would have used up their entire arsenal of warheads at that time. Most of the rival nuclear powers started developing their nuclear programs when WW2 was raging in the 30's but essentially undeclared. The Chinese didn't become communist until 1949. The two major superpowers were busy undermining democracy throughout the world. If you look hard enough, they both financed and supported rival political parties in much of the contested elections in Europe and Asia.
So, hypothetically speaking, let's say during the Cold War either the U.S or the USSR had completely gotten rid of their nuclear arsenal, do you think either side would have taken advantage of it by going ahead and nuking the other country regardless? Do you think as scary as it was both needed nukes to maintain peace?
In the words of Ian Malcom: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Why did no one in the U.S or the USSR ever stop to think whether or not they should make nukes? Did they really have no idea how bad it could get? Or did they just not give a damn whether they blew the world up?
Oh did the world blow up or am I missing something?
Nuclear weapons were developed to stop a terrible World War where tens of millions were dying. It was successful in that endevear, and arguably saved millions of lives. It has never been used again. In fact, again arguably, it prevented all future World Wars with the concept of mutually assured destruction, thus saving millions of more lives.
By the way, USSR didn't develop nuclear weapon technology, they essentially stole it from the U.S. (edit note here: however all major powers, including Nazi's, were attempting to develop nuclear weapons). Now, currently, many countries have nuclear strike capability. What the future brings regarding nuclear weapons is unknown. However, technology and human development being what it is, it's essentially like arguing that gun powder should have never been developed. Or maybe bow and arrow should have never been developed.
Also let's not forget you are quoting a fictional book about cloning dinosaurs. It wasn't meant to be a philosophical discourse on the dangers of nuclear technology.
So, hypothetically speaking, let's say during the Cold War either the U.S or the USSR had completely gotten rid of their nuclear arsenal, do you think either side would have taken advantage of it by going ahead and nuking the other country regardless? Do you think as scary as it was both needed nukes to maintain peace?
During the cold war, without nuclear weapons, you would have seen Russian tanks crossing the Fulda Gap into West Germany like so many fleas. It would have been World War III, with an equivalent or greater death count that the previous war.
Robert Oppenheimer was the chief scientist of the top secret Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb. His first thought on seeing the first detonation in New Mexico was remembering the words of an old Hindu sacred text “ now I become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Robert Oppenheimer was the chief scientist of the top secret Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb. His first thought on seeing the first detonation in New Mexico was remembering the words of an old Hindu sacred text “ now I become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
On that note - I always liked the movie "Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb".
Slim Pickens riding the bomb down like a bucking bronco from the B52 - classic scene.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
