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␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u1


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

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTSuspend␈αyour␈α
disbelief␈αand␈α
imagine␈αthe␈α
following␈αmiracle␈α
to␈αhave␈α
occurred:␈αA␈αyoung␈α
doctor
␈↓ α∧␈↓working␈αin␈αa␈αhospital␈αdiscovers␈αthat␈αhe␈αhas␈αthe␈αpower␈αto␈αcure␈αanyone␈αunder␈αthe␈αage␈αof␈αseventy␈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␈αthe␈αangel␈αor␈αflying␈αsaucerite␈αwho␈αgave␈αit␈αto␈αhim.),␈αwill␈αlast␈αfor␈αhis␈αlifetime␈αonly,␈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␈αconsider␈αmyself␈αa␈αmember␈αof␈αthe␈αscientific␈αrather␈αthan␈αthe␈αliterary␈αculture,␈αand␈αmy␈αidea␈α
of
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈α
correct␈αanswers␈α
to␈α
the␈αabove␈α
questions␈αreflects␈α
this.␈α
 However,␈αin␈α
order␈α
to␈αmislead␈α
the␈αreader,␈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␈αthe␈αhospital.␈αHe␈αcures␈αpatients␈αoutside,␈αthey␈α
get␈αhim␈αfor␈αquackery␈αand␈αput␈αhim␈αin␈αjail␈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␈αthere␈α
he␈α
cures␈αa␈α
guard␈α
of␈αcancer␈α
and␈α
then␈αthe␈α
little␈α
daughter␈αof␈α
the␈αwarden␈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␈αbureaucratized
␈↓ α∧␈↓prison␈αdoctors␈αto␈αthe␈αextent␈αthat␈αthey␈αhave␈αhim␈αsent␈αto␈αa␈αhospital␈αfor␈αthe␈αcriminally␈αinsane␈αto␈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␈αplace␈αbefore␈αtheir␈αeyes,␈αself␈αjustifying␈α
speeches␈αby␈αpeople␈αwho␈αdecide␈αto␈αimprison␈αhim␈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,␈αand␈αour␈α
hero␈αis␈αburned␈α
at␈αthe␈αstake.␈α Write␈α
a␈αspeech␈αjustifying␈α
burning␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αas␈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␈αby␈α
a␈α
religion␈α
that␈α
gets␈α
control␈αof␈α
him,␈α
and␈α
its␈α
use␈α
is␈αsurrounded␈α
by
␈↓ α∧␈↓so much ritual that hardly anyone gets cured.  Describe the ritual; make it beautiful.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT4.␈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∧␈↓␈↓ αT5.␈α He␈αforms␈αan␈αorganization␈αfor␈αcuring␈αpeople␈αand␈αat␈αfirst␈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␈αto␈αdominate␈αthe␈αcountry,␈αand␈αis␈αfinally␈αassassinated.␈α Write␈αspeeches␈αfor␈αhim␈αjustifying␈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␈αgiven␈αa␈αsay␈αin␈αhow␈αthe␈αgift␈αshall␈αbe␈αused.␈α Write␈αthe␈αspeech␈αof␈αa␈αrevolutionary␈αrefusing␈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␈αits␈αoperation␈αis␈αfrustrated␈αby␈α
injunctions␈αand␈αdemonstrations␈αby␈αparanoid␈αgroups␈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:␈αBlacks,␈αveterans,␈αthe␈αpoor,␈αSoutherners,␈αpolicemen.␈α Make␈αup␈αlists␈αof␈αdemands␈αon
␈↓ α∧␈↓behalf of these groups.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTc.␈α creates␈αa␈αvast␈αbureaucracy␈αto␈αadminister␈αthat␈αbungles␈αhideously␈αbut␈αamusingly.␈α Write␈αa
␈↓ α∧␈↓description␈αof␈αthe␈αcomputer␈αbungle␈αthat␈αrequires␈αhim␈αto␈αcure␈αthe␈αsame␈αperson␈α103␈αtimes␈αand␈α102
␈↓ α∧␈↓people␈αzero␈αtimes␈αeach.␈α Describe␈αthe␈αquestionnaire␈αthat␈αhas␈αto␈αbe␈αfilled␈αout␈αeven␈αby␈αthe␈αdying␈αin
␈↓ α∧␈↓order␈αto␈α
be␈αcured.␈α Describe␈α
humorously␈αhow␈αa␈α
dying␈αman␈αcompletes␈α
the␈αform␈αin␈α
the␈αnick␈αof␈α
time,
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u3


␈↓ α∧␈↓but␈αis␈αprevented␈αfrom␈αbeing␈αcured␈αat␈αthe␈αlast␈αminute␈αbecause␈αhe␈αhas␈αwritten␈α"same␈αas␈αthe␈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␈αtoo.␈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␈αwoolly-minded␈α
pinko␈α
homosexual␈α
American␈α
professor␈α
into␈αletting␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓Russians␈αget␈αtheir␈αhands␈αon␈αthe␈αdoctor.␈α Write␈α
the␈αspeech␈αof␈αthe␈αKGB␈αchief␈αsending␈αthe␈αagent␈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␈αCIA␈αattempt␈αto␈αuse␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αto␈αblackmail␈αa␈αCuban␈αdiplomat␈αwhose␈αlittle␈αdaughter␈αis
␈↓ α∧␈↓dying␈αof␈αleukemia␈αinto␈αassassinating␈αCastro.␈α Describe␈αthe␈αdeath␈αscene␈αof␈αthe␈αlittle␈αgirl␈αwho,␈αeven
␈↓ 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␈αdevastation.␈α Also␈αwrite␈αa␈αrepentant␈αspeech␈αfor␈αhim␈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␈αon␈α
studying␈α
his␈α
gift␈αto␈α
the␈α
exclusion␈α
of␈αletting␈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␈αrevived␈αby␈αthe␈αdoctor.␈α Write␈αa␈αscene␈αin␈αwhich␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αdiscovers␈αwhat␈αis␈αbeing␈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,␈αconfine␈αhim,␈αand␈αrule␈αhis␈αlife␈αin
␈↓ α∧␈↓order␈αto␈αget␈αthe␈αlast␈αiota␈αof␈αproductivity␈αout␈αof␈αhim.␈α Describe␈αa␈αscene␈αin␈αwhich␈αa␈αhigh␈αexecutive
␈↓ α∧␈↓demands␈αmore␈αproductivity␈αand␈αthreatens␈αto␈αreplace␈αthe␈αpsychiatrist␈αin␈αcharge␈αof␈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␈αneglected,␈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␈αa␈α
machine␈α
that␈α
can␈αmove␈α
12␈α
people␈αper␈α
second␈α
past␈α
him␈αon␈α
each␈α
of␈αten␈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␈αbasis␈α
of␈αthe␈α
arithmetic␈α
the␈αdoctor␈α
need␈αonly␈α
spend␈α
1/60␈αth␈α
of␈αhis␈α
time␈αcuring␈α
people,
␈↓ α∧␈↓i.e. 24 minutes per day.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTIn␈αorder␈αto␈αreduce␈αtransportation␈αcosts␈αit␈αmight␈αbe␈αdesirable␈αto␈αbuild␈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␈αbe␈αvery␈αdifficult␈αfor␈αthe␈αdoctor␈αto␈αget␈αthis␈αsolution␈αadopted␈αgiven␈αa␈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␈αrequired␈α
in␈α
this␈αcase␈α
is␈α
simple␈αenough␈α
so␈α
that␈α
they␈αcould␈α
do␈α
it.␈α It␈α
is␈α
not␈αpossible␈α
to
␈↓ α∧␈↓predict␈αwhether␈αany␈αimportant␈αopposition␈αto␈αthe␈αuse␈αof␈αthe␈αgift␈αwould␈αdevelop.␈α If␈αso,␈αit␈αmight␈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␈αhave␈αnot␈αpostulated␈αany␈αmental␈αor␈αphysical␈αside␈αeffects␈αbut␈αit␈αwould␈αbe␈αnecessary␈αto␈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␈αrequire␈αfor␈αstabilising␈αthe␈αpopulation␈αthat␈αcouples␈αlimit␈αthemselves␈αto␈αan␈αaverage␈αof␈αsay␈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␈αproblem␈α
would␈α
be␈α
solved.␈α
Imagine␈αfurther␈α
that␈α
the␈α
doctor,␈α
while␈αposessing␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓gift␈α
of␈α
healing,␈αis␈α
not␈α
a␈α
super-organizer␈αor␈α
super-hero␈α
of␈α
any␈αsort.␈α
 How␈α
could␈α
one␈αmake␈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