Research Article
Paul J. Flory, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, as an Activist for Human Rights in the Cold-war Era
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University
Published: January 2001 · Vol. 23 · pp. 49-68
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Abstract
In this work, the activity for human rights of Paul J. Flory, 1974 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, was discussed. The Nobel prize in 1974 provided him a great opportunity to act as an eminent human-rights representative. He worked for human rights everywhere around the world, especially for the scientists of former Soviet Union and other Eastern Europe in the Cold-war era. It was found that he fully utilized his honor and fame as a Nobel laureate to help scientists-in-need around the world even just a few days before he passed away. In addition to his splendor as a distinguished scientist, he worked as an activist for human rights and gained world-wide fame and record his name in history as well as in the field of polymer science. As is well known, there have been a significant development in science and technology, especially in molecular biology, such as for replicated animals. This kind of scientific developments let scientists play some roles to help the desirable aspects of science and technology. It may be suggested that the social activity of an eminent Nobel laurate, Paul J. Flory for human rights of scientists-in-need in the Cold-war era may give a great hint to us what the distinguished scientists have to do in the current high-technology era, since the scientists know the advantage and danger much better than common people in the non-scientific world.