Copenhagen e o escrutínio público da ciência

Abstract

Despite the fact that it is a play, Copenhagen (Frayn [1998] 2000) caused an intense public debate about its historical and scientific reliability.
The aim of this essay is to show that the purpose of the play (whether or not it coincides with the author’s) is, precisely, that of promoting a public discussion on scientific practice. The necessity of a public scrutiny of science is put forth through the relations established between the characters and what they represent. The literary tools used, in turn, materialize that scrutiny, inviting those who read or watch Copenhagen to discuss science and scientific practice.