In the Theatre of Science

The infamous Two Cultures debate and the so-called Science Wars frame all discourses on the topic of science and literature. The problematic of an ongoing mutual misunderstanding between the two disciplines therefore appears inescapable. At the turn of the 3rd millennium, however, two English dramatists set themselves upon the task of bridging the gap between the two inimical cultures by combining artistic, philosophical and scientific questions in highly effective dramatic texts. Tom Stoppard and Michael Frayn, many of whose works are classics of modern drama, showed philosophical interest throughout their career. In their recent science plays, they connect this interest to insights from quantum mechanics and chaos theory - each of them in his unique style. The results of their efforts are impressive plays of ideas. In the Theatre of Science introduces its readers to the ongoing debate between literary studies and the natural sciences. Through analyses of the award-winning plays Arcadia (Stoppard) and Copenhagen (Frayn) the book shows both the potential and the obstacles for intercultural communication.