Scientists Are Also Just Humans

In this chapter, we delve deeper into Max Planck’s biography. His trials and tribulations, adherence to principles, and ultimately his concept of scientific integrity become clear. However, Planck’s influential position as academy secretary during the Nazi dictatorship, which also led to an irreparable conflict with his old friend Albert Einstein, will be critically examined as well. Through similarities with the Dutch Physics Nobel laureate Frits Zernike regarding the scope of philosophy, we will finally discuss the division of labor between disciplines and different types of knowledge.