# Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker

> German physicist (1912–2007)

**Wikidata**: [Q65350](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65350)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Friedrich_von_Weizsäcker)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/carl-friedrich-von-weizsacker

## Summary
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker was a German physicist, philosopher, and writer born in 1912 and deceased in 2007. Recognized professionally as a physicist, nuclear physicist, astronomer, university teacher, and philosopher, he was affiliated with numerous prestigious academic institutions and academies. He is notably known for his membership in the Göttingen Eighteen, a group of German nuclear researchers who authored the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto, and for receiving high honors such as the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, the Max Planck Medal, and the Templeton Prize.

## Biography
- **Born:** June 28, 1912
- **Nationality:** German
- **Education:** University of Göttingen, Frederick William University Berlin, Leipzig University
- **Known for:** Work in physics, philosophy, and writing; membership in the Göttingen Eighteen; contributions to nuclear physics and astronomy
- **Employer(s):** University of Hamburg, University of Göttingen, Frederick William University Berlin, Leipzig University
- **Field(s):** Physics

## Contributions
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker's contributions spanned the fields of physics, philosophy, and writing. As a nuclear physicist and astronomer, he engaged in scientific research and education at the university level. He was a member of the Göttingen Eighteen, the group of eighteen German nuclear researchers who authored the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto, a significant document regarding the ethical and political implications of nuclear energy. He also delivered the Messenger Lectures at Cornell University. His work as a writer and philosopher involved the production of literary works and the extensive exploration of philosophical ideas, bridging the gap between science and the humanities.

## FAQs
**What were Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker's primary professions?**
He was a physicist, writer, philosopher, university teacher, nuclear physicist, and astronomer.

**Where did Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker receive his education?**
He was educated at the University of Göttingen, Frederick William University Berlin, and Leipzig University.

**Which universities was Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker affiliated with as an employer?**
He worked as a university teacher at the University of Hamburg, the University of Göttingen, Frederick William University Berlin, and Leipzig University.

**What major awards did Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker receive?**
He received the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, the Goethe Prize, the Erasmus Prize, the Peace Prize of the German Publishers' and Booksellers' Association, the Max Planck Medal, the Templeton Prize, the Sigmund Freud Prize, the Ernst Hellmut Vits Award, the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art, and the Heinrich Heine Prize.

**Was Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker involved in any political or social activism?**
Yes, he was a member of the Göttingen Eighteen, a group of eighteen German nuclear researchers who authored the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto.

**Which academies was Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker a member of?**
He was a member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony, the German Academy for Language and Literature, the American Physical Society, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

## Why They Matter
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker matters for his interdisciplinary impact on science, philosophy, and literature. As a physicist and philosopher, he contributed to the discourse on the ethical responsibilities of scientists, particularly through his involvement in the Göttingen Manifesto, which addressed the dangers of nuclear armament. His extensive membership in numerous national and international academies, including the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, underscores his global influence and recognition in the scientific community. His receipt of prestigious awards, such as the Templeton Prize and the Pour le Mérite, highlights the broad respect for his work in bridging the gap between physics, theology, and philosophy.

## Notable For
- **Awards:** Recipient of the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, Max Planck Medal, Templeton Prize, Erasmus Prize, Goethe Prize, Peace Prize of the German Publishers' and Booksellers' Association, Sigmund Freud Prize, Heinrich Heine Prize, Austrian Decoration for Science and Art, and Ernst Hellmut Vits Award.
- **Academic Honors:** Held honorary doctorates from the Technical University of Berlin, the University of Aberdeen, Leipzig University, the University of Basel, the University of Tübingen, and RWTH Aachen University.
- **Professional Memberships:** Member of the Göttingen Eighteen (authors of the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto), the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony, the German Academy for Language and Literature, the American Physical Society, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- **Lectures:** Delivered the Messenger Lectures at Cornell University.
- **Eponym:** The asteroid 13531 Weizsäcker is named after him.

## Body

### Professional Identity and Occupations
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker was a multifaceted intellectual whose professional life encompassed the roles of physicist, writer, philosopher, university teacher, nuclear physicist, and astronomer. His work as a physicist involved the study of matter and its motion, along with related concepts such as energy and force. As a nuclear physicist, he specialized in nuclear science, and as an astronomer, he studied celestial bodies. Beyond the natural sciences, he was recognized as a writer, using written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works, and as a philosopher, a person with extensive knowledge of philosophy. His role as a university teacher involved teaching at the university or college level, shaping the minds of students in these various disciplines.

### Academic Affiliations and Education
Weizsäcker's academic career was deeply rooted in major German institutions. He was educated at the University of Göttingen, Frederick William University Berlin (the predecessor to Humboldt University), and Leipzig University. His professional employment as a university teacher and researcher connected him to the University of Hamburg, the University of Göttingen, Frederick William University Berlin, and Leipzig University. Through these affiliations, he contributed to the academic communities in Hamburg, Göttingen, Berlin, and Leipzig.

### Memberships in Scientific and Literary Academies
His standing in the academic world is evidenced by his extensive memberships in prestigious academies. He was affiliated with the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the national academy of Germany. He held memberships in the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. His interdisciplinary interests were reflected in his membership in the German Academy for Language and Literature and the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts. Internationally, he was a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques in France, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States. He was also associated with the American Physical Society, a professional organization of physicists.

### Awards, Honors, and Lectures
Throughout his career, Weizsäcker received numerous awards recognizing his contributions to science and the humanities. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, the civil class of the order, and the Max Planck Medal, a science award of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. His literary and philosophical contributions were honored with the Goethe Prize, the Sigmund Freud Prize, and the Heinrich Heine Prize. He received the Erasmus Prize, awarded by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation, and the Peace Prize of the German Publishers' and Booksellers' Association. His work also garnered the Templeton Prize, a religious award, and the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art. Additionally, he received the Ernst Hellmut Vits Award and delivered the Messenger Lectures at Cornell University.

### Honorary Doctorates
In recognition of his scholarly impact, Weizsäcker received several honorary doctorates. He was an honorary doctor of the Technical University of Berlin, the University of Aberdeen, Leipzig University, the University of Basel, the University of Tübingen, and RWTH Aachen University.

### The Göttingen Eighteen and Political Activism
A significant aspect of his legacy was his involvement with the Göttingen Eighteen, a group of eighteen German nuclear researchers. This group authored the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto, a document that addressed the political and ethical implications of nuclear weapons research during the Cold War. This affiliation highlights his engagement with the social responsibility of scientists.

### Legacy and Identifiers
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker's influence extends to his recognition in the broader cultural and scientific record. An asteroid, 13531 Weizsäcker, is named after him. His life and work are documented through numerous structured identifiers and catalog references, including his GND ID (118630717) and ISNI (0000000109135145), ensuring his place in the global history of science and philosophy. He passed away on April 28, 2007.

## References

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12. [Weizsäcker Carl-Friedrich – HAZU](https://www.info.hazu.hr/en/clanovi/weizsacker-carl-friedrich/)
13. [Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsacker | American Academy of Arts and Sciences](https://www.amacad.org/person/carl-friedrich-freiherr-von-weizsacker)
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