Abstract

Between 1927 and 1949, Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein argued with each other about the nature of quantum mechanics, in person and in writing.
                                                                                                                       Their debate is usually (most prominently by A. Pais, the biographer of both antagonists)portrayed as one between a staunch conservative no longer in possession of the intellectual powers he once had, and a revolutionary genius far ahead of his time. In actual fact, Einstein's criticism of quantum theory was extremely penetrating and the question who actually "won" the debate has a surprising answer. This talk will be accessible to students.