/LMAR=0/XLINE=3/USET=30␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u1


␈↓ α∧␈↓α␈↓ ∧}WHAT SHOULD THE DOCTOR DO?

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTSuspend␈α
your␈α
disbelief␈α
and␈α
imagine␈α
the␈α
following␈α
miracle␈α
to␈α
have␈α
occurred:␈α
A␈α
young␈α
doctor
␈↓ α∧␈↓working␈α
in␈α
a␈α
hospital␈α
discovers␈α
that␈α
he␈α
has␈α
the␈α
power␈α
to␈α
cure␈α
anyone␈α
under␈α
the␈α
age␈α
of␈α
seventy␈α
of
␈↓ α∧␈↓any␈αsickness␈αor␈αinjury␈αsimply␈αby␈αtouching␈αthe␈αpatient.␈α Any␈αcontact,␈αhowever␈αbrief,␈αbetween␈αany
␈↓ α∧␈↓part of his skin and the skin of the patient will cure the disease.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTHe␈αhas␈αalways␈αbeen␈αdevoted␈αto␈αhis␈αwork,␈αand␈αhe␈αwants␈αto␈αuse␈αhis␈αgift␈αto␈αbenefit␈αhumanity
␈↓ α∧␈↓as␈α
much␈α
as␈α
possible.␈α
 However,␈α
he␈α
knows␈α
that␈α
the␈α
gift␈α
is␈α
absolutely␈α
non-transferable␈α
(This␈α
was
␈↓ α∧␈↓explained␈αby␈αthe␈αangel␈αor␈αflying␈αsaucerite␈αwho␈αgave␈αit␈αto␈αhim.),␈αwill␈αlast␈αfor␈αhis␈αlifetime␈αonly,␈αand
␈↓ α∧␈↓will not persist in tissue separated from his body.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWhat will happen if he uses his gift?

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWhat should he try to do and how should he go about it?

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWhat is the most favorable result that can be expected?

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTI␈α
consider␈α
myself␈α
a␈α
member␈α
of␈α
the␈α
scientific␈α
rather␈α
than␈α
the␈α
literary␈α
culture,␈α
and␈α
my␈α
idea␈α
of
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈α
correct␈α
answers␈α
to␈α
the␈α
above␈α
questions␈α
reflects␈α
this.␈α
 However,␈α
in␈α
order␈α
to␈α
mislead␈α
the␈α
reader,␈α
I
␈↓ α∧␈↓shall give some pessimistic scenarios and related literary exercises.
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u2


␈↓ α∧␈↓αLITERARY EXERCISES IN PESSIMISM AND PARANOIA

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT1.␈α The␈α
doctor␈α
uses␈α
his␈α
gift,␈α
the␈α
other␈α
doctors␈αare␈α
jealous␈α
and␈α
disbelieving␈α
and␈α
drive␈α
him
␈↓ α∧␈↓from␈α
the␈α
hospital.␈α
He␈α
cures␈α
patients␈α
outside,␈α
they␈α
get␈α
him␈α
for␈α
quackery␈α
and␈α
put␈α
him␈α
in␈α
jail␈α
where
␈↓ α∧␈↓he␈α∞can't␈α∞practice.␈α∞ Even␈α∞in␈α∞jail,␈α∞he␈α∞cures␈α∞people,␈α∞and␈α∞the␈α∞prison␈α∞doctor␈α∞has␈α∞him␈α∞put␈α∞in␈α∞solitary
␈↓ α∧␈↓confinement.␈α
 Even␈α
there␈α
he␈α
cures␈α
a␈α
guard␈α
of␈α
cancer␈α
and␈α
then␈α
the␈α
little␈α
daughter␈α
of␈α
the␈α
warden␈α
of
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈αprison.␈αThis␈αarouses␈αthe␈αfears␈αof␈αthe␈αinsecure,␈αnarrow␈αminded,␈αbrutalized␈αand␈αbureaucratized
␈↓ α∧␈↓prison␈αdoctors␈αto␈αthe␈αextent␈αthat␈αthey␈αhave␈αhim␈αsent␈αto␈αa␈αhospital␈αfor␈αthe␈αcriminally␈αinsane␈αto␈αbe
␈↓ α∧␈↓cured␈α	of␈α
his␈α
delusion.␈α
 There,␈α
they␈α
lobotomize␈α
him.␈α
 Write␈α
scenes␈α
in␈α
which␈α	doctors␈α
disbelieve␈α
cures
␈↓ α∧␈↓taking␈α
place␈α
before␈α
their␈α
eyes,␈α
self␈α
justifying␈α
speeches␈α
by␈α
people␈α
who␈α
decide␈α
to␈α
imprison␈α
him␈α
even
␈↓ α∧␈↓though they know better, and the report justifying his commitment to the mental hospital.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT2.␈α
 His␈α
gift␈α
is␈α
judged␈α
sacrilegious␈α
by␈α
the␈α
church␈α
of␈α
your␈α
choice.␈α
 Fanatics␈α
are␈α
aroused␈α
by
␈↓ α∧␈↓preachers,␈α
and␈α
our␈α
hero␈α
is␈α
burned␈α
at␈α
the␈α
stake.␈α
 Write␈α
a␈α
speech␈α
justifying␈α
burning␈α
the␈α
doctor␈α
as␈α
a
␈↓ α∧␈↓lesser␈α
evil␈α
compared␈α
to␈α
letting␈α
him␈α
go␈α
on␈α
violating␈α
God's␈α
law␈α
that␈α
man␈α
must␈α
suffer␈α
disease␈α
and
␈↓ α∧␈↓death.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT3.␈α
His␈α
gift␈α
is␈α
judged␈α
holy␈α
by␈α
a␈α
religion␈α
that␈α
gets␈α
control␈α
of␈α
him,␈α
and␈α
its␈α
use␈α
is␈α
surrounded␈α
by
␈↓ α∧␈↓so much ritual that hardly anyone gets cured.  Describe the ritual; make it beautiful.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT4.␈αPeople␈αkeep␈αcoming␈αto␈αhim␈αuntil␈αhe␈αis␈αexhausted,␈αbut␈αthere␈αis␈αalways␈αan␈αemergency␈αcase
␈↓ α∧␈↓more␈α
touching␈α
than␈α
all␈α
that␈α
have␈α
gone␈α
before␈α
and␈α
eventually␈α
he␈α
dies␈α
of␈α
exhaustion.␈α
 Write␈α
his
␈↓ α∧␈↓speech␈α
saying␈α
that␈α
he␈α
realizes␈α
he␈α
can␈α
cure␈α
more␈α
people␈α
if␈α
he␈α
gets␈α
some␈α
sleep,␈α
but␈α
true␈α
morality
␈↓ α∧␈↓requires him to treat the immediate emergency.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT5.␈α He␈αforms␈αan␈αorganization␈αfor␈αcuring␈αpeople␈αand␈αat␈αfirst␈αworks␈αvery␈αhard␈αbut␈αgradually
␈↓ α∧␈↓gets␈α∂lazy,␈α∂is␈α∂corrupted␈α∂by␈α∂desire␈α∂for␈α∂money,␈α∂power,␈α∂fame␈α∂and␈α∂women,␈α∂requires␈α∂more␈α∂and␈α∂more
␈↓ α∧␈↓flattery␈α∂and␈α∂obsequiousness,␈α∂eventually␈α∂strives␈α∂single-mindedly␈α∂for␈α∂power,␈α∂develops␈α∂cruel␈α∂tastes,
␈↓ α∧␈↓comes␈αto␈αdominate␈αthe␈αcountry,␈αand␈αis␈αfinally␈αassassinated.␈α Write␈αspeeches␈αfor␈αhim␈αjustifying␈αhis
␈↓ α∧␈↓increased demands at various stages.  Write the self-justifying speech of the assassin.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT6. He is taken over by the U.S. government which either:

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTa.␈α⊂ keeps␈α⊂him␈α⊂to␈α⊂cure␈α⊂members␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂ruling␈α⊂military-industrial␈α⊂complex␈α⊂and␈α⊂to␈α⊂co-opt
␈↓ α∧␈↓leaders␈α	of␈α
the␈α
people.␈α
 Describe␈α
the␈α
subtle␈α
way␈α
in␈α
which␈α
a␈α
revolutionary␈α	is␈α
co-opted␈α
in␈α
the␈α
guise␈α
of
␈↓ α∧␈↓being␈αgiven␈αa␈αsay␈αin␈αhow␈αthe␈αgift␈αshall␈αbe␈αused.␈α Write␈αthe␈αspeech␈αof␈αa␈αrevolutionary␈αrefusing␈αto
␈↓ α∧␈↓be cured of his wounds after unsuccessfully trying to blow up the doctor.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTb.␈α devises␈αa␈αsystem␈αof␈αboards␈αto␈αallocate␈αthe␈αuse␈αof␈αhis␈αability␈αin␈αthe␈αfairest␈αpossible␈αway,
␈↓ α∧␈↓but␈α
its␈α
operation␈α
is␈α
frustrated␈α
by␈α
injunctions␈α
and␈α
demonstrations␈α
by␈α
paranoid␈α
groups␈α
(your␈α
choice
␈↓ α∧␈↓as␈αto␈αwhether␈αthe␈αgroups␈αare␈αleft,␈αright␈αor␈αcenter)␈αthat␈αcannot␈αbe␈αconvinced␈αthat␈αhis␈αservices␈αare
␈↓ α∧␈↓being␈αallocated␈αfairly.␈α Write␈αspeeches␈αcharging␈αthat␈αany␈αof␈αthe␈αfollowing␈αgroups␈αare␈αnot␈αgetting
␈↓ α∧␈↓their␈αfair␈αshare:␈αBlacks,␈αveterans,␈αthe␈αpoor,␈αSoutherners,␈αpolicemen.␈α Make␈αup␈αlists␈αof␈αdemands␈αon
␈↓ α∧␈↓behalf of these groups.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTc.␈α creates␈αa␈αvast␈αbureaucracy␈αto␈αadminister␈αthat␈αbungles␈αhideously␈αbut␈αamusingly.␈α Write␈αa
␈↓ α∧␈↓description␈αof␈αthe␈αcomputer␈αbungle␈αthat␈αrequires␈αhim␈αto␈αcure␈αthe␈αsame␈αperson␈α103␈αtimes␈αand␈α102
␈↓ α∧␈↓people␈αzero␈αtimes␈αeach.␈α Describe␈αthe␈αquestionnaire␈αthat␈αhas␈αto␈αbe␈αfilled␈αout␈αeven␈αby␈αthe␈αdying␈αin
␈↓ α∧␈↓order␈α
to␈α
be␈α
cured.␈α
 Describe␈α
humorously␈α
how␈α
a␈α
dying␈α
man␈α
completes␈α
the␈α
form␈α
in␈α
the␈α
nick␈α
of␈α
time,
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u3


␈↓ α∧␈↓but␈αis␈αprevented␈αfrom␈αbeing␈αcured␈αat␈αthe␈αlast␈αminute␈αbecause␈αhe␈αhas␈αwritten␈α"same␈αas␈αthe␈αabove"
␈↓ α∧␈↓in a space where he should have written his address for the third time.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTd.␈α
 gets␈α
into␈α
a␈α
dispute␈α
with␈α
the␈α
Russians␈α
who␈α
want␈α
the␈α
doctor␈α
to␈α
cure␈α
their␈α
leaders␈α
too.␈α
 This
␈↓ α∧␈↓leads␈αto␈αa␈αnuclear␈αwar.␈α Write␈αthe␈αdialog␈αat␈αthe␈αfinal␈αnegotiating␈αsession␈αcasting␈αthe␈αRussians␈αas
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈α
villains␈α
rejecting␈α
a␈α
reasonable␈α
American␈α
offer.␈α
 Rewrite␈α
it␈α
casting␈α
the␈α
Americans␈α
as␈α
villains
␈↓ α∧␈↓trying␈αto␈αuse␈αtheir␈αcontrol␈αof␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αto␈αrule␈αthe␈αworld.␈α Write␈αthe␈αdialog␈αwith␈αneither␈αside␈αas
␈↓ α∧␈↓villains␈α⊃but␈α⊃just␈α⊃as␈α⊃paranoid␈α⊃and␈α⊃stupid.␈α⊃ Rewrite␈α⊃it␈α⊃so␈α⊃as␈α⊃to␈α⊃admit␈α⊃all␈α⊃three␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊃above
␈↓ α∧␈↓interpretations.␈α⊃ Describe␈α⊃a␈α⊃scene␈α⊃in␈α⊃which␈α⊃the␈α⊃sly␈α⊃and␈α⊃wicked␈α⊃Russians␈α⊃swindle␈α⊃the␈α⊃gullible
␈↓ α∧␈↓Americans␈α
with␈α
the␈α
aid␈α
of␈α
a␈α
woolly-minded␈α
pinko␈α
homosexual␈α
American␈α
professor␈α
into␈α
letting␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓Russians␈α
get␈α
their␈α
hands␈α
on␈α
the␈α
doctor.␈α
 Write␈α
the␈α
speech␈α
of␈α
the␈α
KGB␈α
chief␈α
sending␈α
the␈α
agent␈α
on
␈↓ α∧␈↓his␈αmission␈αin␈αthe␈αstyle␈αof␈αa␈αJames␈αBond␈αnovel␈αand␈αalso␈αin␈αthe␈αstyle␈αof␈αColonel␈αAbel's␈αmemoirs.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Describe␈αa␈αCIA␈αattempt␈αto␈αuse␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αto␈αblackmail␈αa␈αCuban␈αdiplomat␈αwhose␈αlittle␈αdaughter␈αis
␈↓ α∧␈↓dying␈αof␈αleukemia␈αinto␈αassassinating␈αCastro.␈α Describe␈αthe␈αdeath␈αscene␈αof␈αthe␈αlittle␈αgirl␈αwho,␈αeven
␈↓ α∧␈↓dying,␈αunderstands␈αwhy␈αshe␈αmust␈αdie␈αin␈αorder␈αto␈αdefeat␈αimperialism.␈α Write␈αsuitable␈αspeeches␈αfor
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈αdying␈αlittle␈αgirl␈αand␈αfor␈αthe␈αhead␈αof␈αthe␈αCIA␈αjustifying␈αthe␈αblackmail␈αto␈αa␈αsqueamish␈αagent.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Describe␈α∂the␈α∂scene␈α∂after␈α∂the␈α∂bombs␈α∂have␈α∂fallen␈α∂with␈α∂the␈α∂doctor␈α∂running␈α∂around␈α∂curing␈α∂a␈α∂few
␈↓ α∧␈↓radiation␈αinjuries␈αin␈αa␈αscene␈αof␈αvast␈αdevastation.␈α Also␈αwrite␈αa␈αrepentant␈αspeech␈αfor␈αhim␈αrefusing
␈↓ α∧␈↓to cure any more or the reproachful speech of a dying person refusing to be cured.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT7.␈α
 The␈α
scientists␈α
insist␈α
on␈α
studying␈α
his␈α
gift␈α
to␈α
the␈α
exclusion␈α
of␈α
letting␈α
him␈α
use␈α
it.␈α
 Ever␈α
more
␈↓ α∧␈↓dangerous␈α
experiments␈α
are␈α
tried␈α
until␈α
he␈α
is␈α
killed.␈α
 Describe␈α
how␈α
the␈α
scientist␈α
become␈α
more␈α
and
␈↓ α∧␈↓more␈α∪neurotic␈α∪in␈α∪the␈α∪face␈α∪of␈α∪this␈α∪miracle␈α∪unexplainable␈α∪by␈α∪their␈α∪puny␈α∪materialistic␈α∪minds.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Describe␈α
some␈α
of␈α
their␈α
silly␈α
experiments.␈α
 Describe␈α
one␈α
of␈α
their␈α
inhuman␈α
experiments␈α
in␈α
which
␈↓ α∧␈↓people␈α∂are␈α∂killed␈α∂in␈α∂order␈α∂to␈α∂determine␈α∂the␈α∂exact␈α∂moment␈α∂when␈α∂someone␈α∂is␈α∂dead␈α∂and␈α∂can␈α∂no
␈↓ α∧␈↓longer␈αbe␈αrevived␈αby␈αthe␈αdoctor.␈α Write␈αa␈αscene␈αin␈αwhich␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αdiscovers␈αwhat␈αis␈αbeing␈αdone
␈↓ α∧␈↓and the chief scientist justifies it to him.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT8.␈αThe␈αMafia␈αor␈αthe␈αWeathermen␈αkidnap␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αand␈αthreaten␈αto␈αkill␈αhim␈αunless␈αsome
␈↓ α∧␈↓demand␈α
is␈α
met.␈α
 Write␈α
the␈α
threatening␈α
letters␈α
from␈α
the␈α
two␈α
groups.␈α
Include␈α
justifications␈α
of␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓most outrageous demands you can think of.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT9.␈α
 The␈αdoctor␈αis␈αtaken␈αover␈αby␈αtechnocrats␈αwho␈αdrug␈αhim,␈α
confine␈αhim,␈αand␈αrule␈αhis␈αlife␈αin
␈↓ α∧␈↓order␈αto␈αget␈αthe␈αlast␈αiota␈αof␈αproductivity␈αout␈αof␈αhim.␈α Describe␈αa␈αscene␈αin␈αwhich␈αa␈αhigh␈αexecutive
␈↓ α∧␈↓demands␈αmore␈αproductivity␈αand␈αthreatens␈αto␈αreplace␈αthe␈αpsychiatrist␈αin␈αcharge␈αof␈αhim.␈α His␈αmany
␈↓ α∧␈↓attempts␈α
to␈α
commit␈α
suicide␈α
are␈α
frustrated␈α
by␈α
the␈α
clever␈α
technocrats.␈α
 Eventually,␈α
a␈α
nurse␈α
falls␈α
in
␈↓ α∧␈↓love with him and helps him commit suicide.  Give their dialog as they die in each others arms.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT10.␈α A␈αwrangle␈αabout␈αwhat␈αto␈αdo␈αgoes␈αon␈αuntil␈αhe␈αdies␈αof␈αold␈αage.␈α Write␈αa␈αspeech␈αsaying,
␈↓ α∧␈↓"Stop␈α∞this␈α∞endless␈α∞debate␈α∞and␈α∞start␈α∞some␈α∞action."␈α∞that␈α∞has␈α∞the␈α∞effect␈α∞of␈α∞delaying␈α∞action␈α∞further.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Write␈αa␈αspeech␈αshowing␈αhow␈αthe␈αthird␈αin␈αa␈αseries␈αof␈αtwo␈αyear␈αstudies␈αwill␈αsave␈αtime␈αin␈αthe␈αlong
␈↓ α∧␈↓run.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT11.␈α The␈αdoctor␈αhas␈αa␈αvisitation␈αfrom␈αa␈αsecond␈αangel␈αwho␈αexplains␈αthat␈αthe␈αapparent␈αfirst
␈↓ α∧␈↓angel␈αwas␈αreally␈αthe␈αdevil␈αwho␈αgave␈αhim␈αthis␈αgift␈αin␈αorder␈αto␈αbring␈αhim␈αinto␈αsin.␈α Expound␈αthe
␈↓ α∧␈↓theology of this.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT12.␈α∞ In␈α∞order␈α∞to␈α∞destroy␈α∞his␈α∞gift␈α∞the␈α∞doctor␈α∞tricks␈α∞some␈α∞scientists␈α∞into␈α∞skinning␈α∞him␈α∞alive.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Explain why he does this.
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u4


␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT13.  He brings about universal health and the population explodes.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT14.␈α
 Universal␈α
health␈α
is␈α
achieved,␈α
but␈α
when␈α
he␈α
dies␈α
medicine␈α
has␈α
been␈α
neglected,␈α
immunities
␈↓ α∧␈↓are gone and plague wipes us out.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT15.  Write a great American novel combining as many of the above catastrophes as possible.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT16. Write an impassioned letter to him urging him to keep his gift secret.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTI␈α∞believe␈α∞that␈α∞all␈α∞the␈α∞above␈α∞catastrophes␈α∞can␈α∞be␈α∞avoided␈α∞and␈α∞the␈α∞gift␈α∞made␈α∞into␈α∞a␈α∞great
␈↓ α∧␈↓benefit.␈α∂ Those␈α∂readers␈α∂who␈α∂consider␈α∂themselves␈α∂as␈α∂members␈α∂of␈α∂C.␈α∂P.␈α∂Snow's␈α∂scientific␈α∂culture
␈↓ α∧␈↓should try to work out the best solution for a day or so before turning to the next page.
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u5


␈↓ α∧␈↓αSOLUTION:

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTA solution requires morality, common sense, and technology.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTYou flunk on moral grounds if you propose not to cure anybody.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTAny␈α
attempt␈α
to␈α
cure␈α
as␈α
many␈α
people␈α
as␈α
possible␈α
gets␈α
a␈α
B.␈α
 To␈α
get␈α
an␈α
A,␈α
you␈α
must␈α
do␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓arithmetic and see that it is possible to cure almost everybody for a while.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTClearly␈α
the␈α
gift␈α
is␈α
finite.␈α
The␈α
doctor␈α
will␈α
eventually␈α
die,␈α
and␈α
his␈α
patients␈α
will␈α
face␈α
disease
␈↓ α∧␈↓again␈αas␈αthey␈αwill␈αanyway␈αwhen␈αthey␈αreach␈αseventy.␈α This␈αis␈αno␈αreason␈αnot␈αto␈αget␈αthe␈αmaximum
␈↓ α∧␈↓benefit.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTIt␈α∩turns␈α∩out␈α∩that␈α∩he␈α∩can␈α∩cure␈α∩everyone␈α∩in␈α∩the␈α∩world␈α∩whose␈α∩disease␈α∩or␈α∩injury␈α∩can␈α∩be
␈↓ α∧␈↓diagnosed in time to bring him to the doctor.  The solution is technological.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTApproximately␈α⊃60,000,000␈α⊃people␈α⊃under␈α⊃seventy␈α⊃die␈α⊃each␈α⊃year,␈α⊃i.e.␈α⊃two␈α⊃people␈α⊃die␈α⊃each
␈↓ α∧␈↓second.␈α
 We␈α
build␈α
a␈α
machine␈α
that␈α
can␈α
move␈α
12␈α
people␈α
per␈α
second␈α
past␈α
him␈α
on␈α
each␈α
of␈α
ten␈α
moving
␈↓ α∧␈↓belts.␈α∀ A␈α∀mechanism␈α∀should␈α∀be␈α∀provided␈α∀to␈α∀stop␈α∀the␈α∀motion␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀finger␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀patient
␈↓ α∧␈↓momentarily so that it touches the doctor rather than brushes his skin.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTOn␈α
the␈α
basis␈α
of␈α
the␈α
arithmetic␈α
the␈α
doctor␈α
need␈α
only␈α
spend␈α
1/60␈α
th␈α
of␈α
his␈α
time␈α
curing␈α
people,
␈↓ α∧␈↓i.e. 24 minutes per day.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTIn␈α
order␈αto␈αreduce␈αtransportation␈αcosts␈αit␈αmight␈αbe␈αdesirable␈αto␈α
build␈αa␈αnumber␈αof␈αmachines
␈↓ α∧␈↓in␈αdifferent␈αregions␈αof␈αthe␈αworld␈αand␈αfor␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αto␈αmake␈αtrips␈αto␈αthese␈αmachines,␈αsay␈αonce␈αa
␈↓ α∧␈↓month, to get the slow diseases, and to fly the emergency cases to wherever he happens to be.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTIt␈αwould␈αnot␈αbe␈αvery␈αdifficult␈αfor␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αto␈αget␈αthis␈αsolution␈αadopted␈αgiven␈αa␈αreasonable
␈↓ α∧␈↓degree␈αof␈αpersuasiveness␈αeither␈αon␈αhis␈αown␈αpart␈αor␈αon␈αthe␈αpart␈αof␈αsome␈αformer␈αpatients␈αhe␈αcould
␈↓ α∧␈↓recruit␈α∞to␈α∞help␈α∞him.␈α∞ Doctors␈α∞are␈α∞often␈α∞skeptical,␈α∞but␈α∞we␈α∞have␈α∞postulated␈α∞a␈α∞miracle␈α∞that␈α∞would
␈↓ α∧␈↓convince␈α∂almost␈α∂all␈α∂of␈α∂them.␈α∂ Politicians␈α∂are␈α∂often␈α∂shortsighted␈α∂and␈α∂bureaucrats␈α∂bumbling,␈α∂but
␈↓ α∧␈↓what␈α
would␈α
be␈α
required␈α
in␈α
this␈α
case␈α
is␈α
simple␈α
enough␈α
so␈α
that␈α
they␈α
could␈α
do␈α
it.␈α
 It␈α
is␈α
not␈α
possible␈α
to
␈↓ α∧␈↓predict␈αwhether␈αany␈αimportant␈αopposition␈αto␈αthe␈αuse␈αof␈αthe␈αgift␈αwould␈αdevelop.␈α If␈αso,␈αit␈αmight␈αbe
␈↓ α∧␈↓necessary␈α∞to␈α∞protect␈α∞the␈α∞doctor␈α∞from␈α∞assassination␈α∞and␈α∞the␈α∞equipment␈α∞from␈α∞sabotage,␈α∞and␈α∞even
␈↓ α∧␈↓then, there would be some risk of disaster.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTI␈α
have␈α
not␈α
postulated␈α
any␈α
mental␈α
or␈α
physical␈α
side␈α
effects␈α
but␈α
it␈α
would␈α
be␈α
necessary␈α
to␈α
watch
␈↓ α∧␈↓for them as well as for possible adverse social side effects.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTThe␈α
use␈α
of␈α
this␈α
gift␈α
would␈α
contribute␈α
to␈α
the␈α
population␈α
problem␈α
but␈α
not␈α
so␈α
much␈α
as␈α
one
␈↓ α∧␈↓might␈αthink.␈α
 In␈α
the␈α
U.S.␈α
 4,000,000␈α
people␈α
are␈α
born␈αeach␈α
year␈α
but␈α
less␈α
than␈α
1,000,000␈α
under␈α
70
␈↓ α∧␈↓die␈αeach␈α
year␈α
and␈α
most␈α
of␈α
these␈α
are␈α
past␈αthe␈α
child-bearing␈α
age.␈α
 Elimination␈α
of␈α
death␈α
under␈α
70
␈↓ α∧␈↓would␈α
require␈α
for␈α
stabilising␈α
the␈α
population␈α
that␈α
couples␈α
limit␈α
themselves␈α
to␈α
an␈α
average␈α
of␈α
say␈α
2.1
␈↓ α∧␈↓children rather than the 2.2 children that might be allowable otherwise.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTIn␈αcountries␈αwith␈αlarger␈αdeath␈αrates␈αof␈αyoung␈αpeople␈αthe␈αpopulation␈αeffect␈αwould␈αbe␈αlarger,
␈↓ α∧␈↓but ordinary medicine is already having a similar effect.
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u6


␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTSome␈α⊂people␈α⊂find␈α⊂the␈α⊂above␈α⊂solution␈α⊂repulsive␈α⊂because␈α⊂it␈α⊂involves␈α⊂a␈α⊂big␈α⊂machine␈α⊂with
␈↓ α∧␈↓moving␈α
belts␈α
which␈α
would␈α
probably␈α
be␈α
noisy.␈α
 Maybe␈α
they␈α
don't␈α
like␈α
a␈α
technological␈α
solution␈α
to
␈↓ α∧␈↓what has been conceived as a moral problem.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTOther␈αpeople␈αthink␈αthat␈αa␈αlaw␈αof␈αnature␈αis␈αsurely␈αbeing␈αviolated␈α-␈αnamely,␈αa␈αlaw␈αthat␈αsays
␈↓ α∧␈↓that␈α
any␈α
apparently␈α
worthwhile␈α
innovation␈α
involving␈α
technology␈α
surely␈α
must␈α
have␈α
harmful␈α
side
␈↓ α∧␈↓effects at least equal in magnitude to the apparent benefit.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTThere␈αremains,␈αhowever,␈αthe␈αliterary␈αproblem.␈α Namely,␈αimagine␈αthat␈αthe␈αabove␈αanalysis␈αis
␈↓ α∧␈↓correct␈α
and␈α
that␈α
the␈α
problem␈α
would␈α
be␈α
solved.␈α
Imagine␈α
further␈α
that␈α
the␈α
doctor,␈α
while␈α
posessing␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓gift␈α
of␈α
healing,␈α
is␈α
not␈α
a␈α
super-organizer␈α
or␈α
super-hero␈α
of␈α
any␈α
sort.␈α
 How␈α
could␈α
one␈α
make␈α
literature
␈↓ α∧␈↓of␈α
such␈α
a␈α
situation.␈α
 The␈α
pessimistic␈α
and␈α
paranoid␈α
fantasies␈α
of␈α
the␈α
previous␈α
section␈α
make␈α
much
␈↓ α∧␈↓better literature at least by present literary standards.


␈↓ α∧␈↓John McCarthy
␈↓ α∧␈↓Stanford, California
/FONT#0=BAXL30/FONT#2=BASB30= :?ACDEHILMNOPRSTUWXYY