/LMAR=0/XLINE=3/USET=30␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ ⊂F1


␈↓ α,␈↓α␈↓ ε>WHAT SHOULD THE DOCTOR DO?

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|Suspend␈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 any part of his skin and the skin of the patient will cure the disease.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|He␈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⊃bene≡t␈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␈α∪by␈α∪the␈α∪angel␈α∪or␈α∪∨ying␈α∪saucerite␈α∪who␈α∪gave␈α∪it␈α∪to␈α∪him.),␈α∪will␈α∪last␈α∪for␈α∪his␈α∪lifetime␈α∪only,
␈↓ α,␈↓and will not persist in tissue separated from his body.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|What will happen if he uses his gift?

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|What should he try to do and how should he go about it?

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|What is the most favorable result that can be expected?

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|I␈α∂consider␈α∂myself␈α∂a␈α∂member␈α∂of␈α∂the␈α∂scienti≡c␈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→re∨ects␈α→this.␈α→ However,␈α→in␈α→order␈α→to␈α→mislead␈α→the
␈↓ α,␈↓reader, I shall give some pessimistic scenarios and related literary exercises.
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ ⊂F2


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

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|1.␈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⊂con≡nement.␈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␈α∀prison.␈α∀This␈α∀arouses␈α∀the␈α∀fears␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀insecure,␈α∀narrow␈α∀minded,␈α∀brutalized␈α∀and
␈↓ α,␈↓bureaucratized␈α→prison␈α→doctors␈α→to␈α→the␈α→extent␈α→that␈α→they␈α→have␈α→him␈α→sent␈α→to␈α→a␈α→hospital␈α→for␈α→the
␈↓ α,␈↓criminally␈α∃insane␈α∃to␈α∃be␈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␈α→they␈α→know␈α→better,␈α→and␈α→the␈α→report␈α→justifying␈α→his
␈↓ α,␈↓commitment to the mental hospital.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|2.␈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∀su≥er␈α∀disease
␈↓ α,␈↓and death.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|3.␈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 so much ritual that hardly anyone gets cured.  Describe the ritual; make it beautiful.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|4.␈α⊃People␈α⊃keep␈α⊃coming␈α⊃to␈α⊃him␈α⊃until␈α⊃he␈α⊃is␈α⊃exhausted,␈α⊃but␈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,␈↓␈↓ α|5.␈α⊃ He␈α⊃forms␈α⊃an␈α⊃organization␈α⊃for␈α⊃curing␈α⊃people␈α⊃and␈α⊃at␈α⊃≡rst␈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,␈↓∨attery␈α∪and␈α∪obsequiousness,␈α∪eventually␈α∪strives␈α∪single-mindedly␈α∪for␈α∪power,␈α∪develops␈α∪cruel␈α∪tastes,
␈↓ α,␈↓comes␈α∀to␈α∀dominate␈α∀the␈α∀country,␈α∀and␈α∀is␈α∀≡nally␈α∀assassinated.␈α∀ Write␈α∀speeches␈α∀for␈α∀him␈α∀justifying
␈↓ α,␈↓his increased demands at various stages.  Write the self-justifying speech of the assassin.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|6. He is taken over by the U.S. government which either:

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|a.␈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␈α_given␈α_a␈α_say␈α_in␈α_how␈α_the␈α_gift␈α_shall␈α_be␈α_used.␈α_ Write␈α_the␈α_speech␈α_of␈α_a␈α_revolutionary
␈↓ α,␈↓refusing to be cured of his wounds after unsuccessfully trying to blow up the doctor.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|b.␈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␈α∀fair␈α∀share:␈α∀Blacks,␈α∀veterans,␈α∀the␈α∀poor,␈α∀Southerners,␈α∀policemen.␈α∀ Make␈α∀up
␈↓ α,␈↓lists of demands on behalf of these groups.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|c.␈α⊂ creates␈α⊂a␈α⊂vast␈α⊂bureaucracy␈α⊂to␈α⊂administer␈α⊂that␈α⊂bungles␈α⊂hideously␈α⊂but␈α⊂amusingly.␈α⊂ Write␈α⊂a
␈↓ α,␈↓description␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀computer␈α∀bungle␈α∀that␈α∀requires␈α∀him␈α∀to␈α∀cure␈α∀the␈α∀same␈α∀person␈α∀103␈α∀times␈α∀and
␈↓ α,␈↓102␈α∀people␈α∀zero␈α∀times␈α∀each.␈α∀ Describe␈α∀the␈α∀questionnaire␈α∀that␈α∀has␈α∀to␈α∀be␈α∀≡lled␈α∀out␈α∀even␈α∀by␈α∀the
␈↓ α,␈↓dying␈α⊃in␈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,␈↓␈↓ ⊂F3


␈↓ α,␈↓nick␈α∂of␈α∂time,␈α∂but␈α∂is␈α∂prevented␈α∂from␈α∂being␈α∂cured␈α∂at␈α∂the␈α∂last␈α∂minute␈α∂because␈α∂he␈α∂has␈α∂written␈α∂"same
␈↓ α,␈↓as the above" in a space where he should have written his address for the third time.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|d.␈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→≡nal␈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!o≥er.␈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␈α∀a␈α∀CIA␈α∀attempt␈α∀to␈α∀use␈α∀the␈α∀doctor␈α∀to␈α∀blackmail␈α∀a␈α∀Cuban
␈↓ α,␈↓diplomat␈α↔whose␈α↔little␈α↔daughter␈α↔is␈α↔dying␈α↔of␈α↔leukemia␈α↔into␈α↔assassinating␈α↔Castro.␈α↔ Describe␈α↔the
␈↓ α,␈↓death␈α⊃scene␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊃little␈α⊃girl␈α⊃who,␈α⊃even␈α⊃dying,␈α⊃understands␈α⊃why␈α⊃she␈α⊃must␈α⊃die␈α⊃in␈α⊃order␈α⊃to␈α⊃defeat
␈↓ α,␈↓imperialism.␈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␈α⊃injuries␈α⊃in␈α⊃a␈α⊃scene␈α⊃of␈α⊃vast␈α⊃devastation.
␈↓ α,␈↓Also␈α∂write␈α∂a␈α∂repentant␈α∂speech␈α∂for␈α∂him␈α∂refusing␈α∂to␈α∂cure␈α∂any␈α∂more␈α∂or␈α∂the␈α∂reproachful␈α∂speech␈α∂of␈α∂a
␈↓ α,␈↓dying person refusing to be cured.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|7.␈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␈α⊂be␈α⊂revived␈α⊂by␈α⊂the␈α⊂doctor.␈α⊂ Write␈α⊂a␈α⊂scene␈α⊂in␈α⊂which␈α⊂the␈α⊂doctor␈α⊂discovers␈α⊂what␈α⊂is␈α⊂being
␈↓ α,␈↓done and the chief scientist justi≡es it to him.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|8.␈α∩The␈α∩Ma≡a␈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⊃justi≡cations␈α⊃of␈α⊃the
␈↓ α,␈↓most outrageous demands you can think of.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|9.␈α⊂ The␈α⊂doctor␈α⊂is␈α⊂taken␈α⊂over␈α⊂by␈α∂technocrats␈α⊂who␈α⊂drug␈α⊂him,␈α⊂con≡ne␈α⊂him,␈α⊂and␈α⊂rule␈α⊂his␈α⊂life␈α⊂in
␈↓ α,␈↓order␈α~to␈α~get␈α~the␈α~last␈α~iota␈α~of␈α~productivity␈α~out␈α~of␈α~him.␈α~ Describe␈α~a␈α~scene␈α~in␈α~which␈α~a␈α~high
␈↓ α,␈↓executive␈α∂demands␈α∂more␈α∂productivity␈α∂and␈α∂threatens␈α∂to␈α∂replace␈α∂the␈α∂psychiatrist␈α∂in␈α∂charge␈α∂of␈α∂him.
␈↓ α,␈↓His␈α∃many␈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␈α∪with␈α∪him␈α∪and␈α∪helps␈α∪him␈α∪commit␈α∪suicide.␈α∪ Give␈α∪their␈α∪dialog␈α∪as␈α∪they␈α∪die␈α∪in
␈↓ α,␈↓each others arms.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|10.␈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∩e≥ect␈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,␈↓␈↓ α|11.␈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∩≡rst
␈↓ 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,␈↓␈↓ α|12.␈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,␈↓␈↓ ⊂F4


␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|13.  He brings about universal health and the population explodes.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|14.␈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 are gone and plague wipes us out.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|15.␈α≠ Write␈α≠a␈α≠great␈α≠American␈α≠novel␈α≠combining␈α≠as␈α≠many␈α≠of␈α≠the␈α≠above␈α≠catastrophes␈α≠as
␈↓ α,␈↓possible.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|16. Write an impassioned letter to him urging him to keep his gift secret.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|I␈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,␈↓bene≡t.␈α∪ Those␈α∪readers␈α∪who␈α∪consider␈α∪themselves␈α∪as␈α∪members␈α∪of␈α∪C.␈α∪P.␈α∪Snow's␈α∪scienti≡c␈α∪culture
␈↓ α,␈↓should try to work out the best solution for a day or so before turning to the next page.
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ ⊂F5


␈↓ α,␈↓αSOLUTION:

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|A solution requires morality, common sense, and technology.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|You ∨unk on moral grounds if you propose not to cure anybody.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|Any␈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,␈↓␈↓ α|Clearly␈α∪the␈α∪gift␈α∪is␈α∪≡nite.␈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,␈↓bene≡t.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|It␈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,␈↓␈↓ α|Approximately␈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⊂≡nger␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂patient
␈↓ α,␈↓momentarily so that it touches the doctor rather than brushes his skin.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|On␈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, i.e. 24 minutes per day.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|In␈α∂order␈α∂to␈α∂reduce␈α∂transportation␈α∂costs␈α∂it␈α∂might␈α∂be␈α∂desirable␈α∂to␈α∂build␈α∂a␈α∂number␈α∂of␈α∂machines
␈↓ α,␈↓in␈α⊂di≥erent␈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 ∨y the emergency cases to wherever he happens to be.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|It␈α⊂would␈α⊂not␈α⊂be␈α⊂very␈α⊂di≠cult␈α⊂for␈α⊂the␈α⊂doctor␈α⊂to␈α⊂get␈α⊂this␈α⊂solution␈α⊂adopted␈α⊂given␈α⊂a␈α⊂reasonable
␈↓ 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␈α⊗whether␈α⊗any␈α⊗important␈α⊗opposition␈α⊗to␈α⊗the␈α⊗use␈α⊗of␈α⊗the␈α⊗gift␈α⊗would␈α⊗develop.␈α⊗ If␈α⊗so,␈α⊗it
␈↓ α,␈↓might␈α∩be␈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 even then, there would be some risk of disaster.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|I␈α⊂have␈α⊂not␈α⊂postulated␈α⊂any␈α⊂mental␈α⊂or␈α⊂physical␈α⊂side␈α⊂e≥ects␈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 e≥ects.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|The␈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 children rather than the 2.2 children that might be allowable otherwise.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|In␈α⊃countries␈α⊃with␈α⊃larger␈α⊃death␈α⊃rates␈α⊃of␈α⊃young␈α⊃people␈α⊃the␈α⊃population␈α⊃e≥ect␈α⊃would␈α⊃be␈α⊃larger,
␈↓ α,␈↓but ordinary medicine is already having a similar e≥ect.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|Some␈α_people␈α_≡nd␈α_the␈α_above␈α_solution␈α_repulsive␈α_because␈α_it␈α_involves␈α_a␈α_big␈α_machine␈α_with
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ ⊂F6


␈↓ 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,␈↓␈↓ α|Other␈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,␈↓e≥ects at least equal in magnitude to the apparent bene≡t.

␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ α|There␈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 much better literature at least by present literary standards.


␈↓ α,␈↓John McCarthy
␈↓ α,␈↓Stanford, California
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