The Ethical Dimension of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Conference in Havana’s Historic Center

Argel Calcines Pedreira, PhD, will present a conference titled «The Ethical Dimension of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Perspective from the Social Studies of Science and Technology» on Friday, August 15, at 2:00 p.m. The event will take place at Casa de Asia, located at 305 Mercaderes Street in Havana’s Historic Center.

In marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, several reflective questions arise: Is the doctrine of nuclear deterrence still viable? Could a Third World War occur? What would happen if an atomic weapon were used? These inquiries were highlighted in a post by Opus Habana magazine on Facebook.

The decision to drop atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, remains one of the most debated topics in the historiography of World War II.

When viewed as a philosophical issue, the use of nuclear weapons confronted the scientific community with two ethically irreconcilable perspectives: consequentialism («the outcomes justify the means») and deontology («do not do wrong to achieve good»). This ethical dilemma faced prominent scientists such as Einstein, Bohr, Oppenheimer, and Szilárd, among others, who were directly or indirectly involved in the Manhattan Project.

Argel Calcines is the founding editor-in-chief and current director of Opus Habana magazine. He graduated in Nuclear Power Engineering from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute in 1987. In 2021, he earned his doctoral degree with Cum Laude distinction in Logic and Philosophy of Science from the University of Valladolid, Spain, with a thesis titled «The Unique Nature of Nuclear and Radiological Risk.»

The conference will be held at Casa de Asia, a colonial building that opened in 1997 and is located at 111 Mercaderes Street, Havana Vieja. The museum promotes Asian culture and hosts various cultural activities, making it a rich venue for this important discussion.

This event offers a timely opportunity to engage with the ethical, historical, and scientific dimensions surrounding one of the most significant moments in modern history, as well as to reflect on its ongoing implications for global peace and security.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez