The Other Side Of Ørsted: Civil Obedience

Danes refer to the first half of the 19th century as the Golden Age, a time when the interaction between philosophy, art, and science was closer than it is today. The broad spectrum of his interests reveals that Ørsted was very much a man of his time. This is, of course, the primary focus of this symposium. But it was also an era which recognized the fact that scientific techniques and recently acquired scientific knowledge could exert an important and beneficial influence on industry, society, and the lives of ordinary citizens. Ørsted’s activities in this area increased throughout his life, and they are in no small part responsible for Denmark’s continuing affection for him. In this paper we would like to suggest the remarkable scope of Ørsted’s tireless efforts to use the natural sciences in the service of his country.