January 31, 1979

Professor Freeman Dyson
;institute for Advanced Study
Princeton, New Jersey 08540

Dear freeman :

Thank you for the opportunity to read the draft of Chapter 15.

The

primary result of the readin5 i.8 to make me look forward to reading Cnapters
1 through 14 and 16 through the end. As I had begun to learn in other con-
texts, one person's ego trip can be another's exciting voyage.

I am enclosing the draft. On pages 16 and 17 you will find some suyges-

tions. At least in my view, they are primarily concerned with making the
facts more accurate.

  After 1 have read the book I know that there will be many things to
discuss further.  For example, I have not experienced the anguish ---- you speak
of when facing the implications of modern biology.  Nothing I know of in
biology threatens my own notions of human identity or uniqueness, quite the
reverse. Biology teaches us that each species is indeed unique and this
reinforces our sense of brotherhood and responsibi.lity. As for nutability ....
ve have been mutable since the beginning and knew that in many ways. What
is different is that we are beginning to understand one of the mechanisms
for nutabili ty.
been understood and manipulated for ~nillennia.

Other nechanisms of mutabj li ty, dependj ng on culture, have

I agree with you about sanity. But insanity is rampant without biolo-

gical understanding.  The important thing about Dr. Moreau and Adolph Hitler
is insanity. It i8 true that power increases the dangers inherent in insanity
and for that reason as knovledge brings power it can be dangerous. But that
is not really a new problen.
itself.

For me, the central issue is probably power

Well, that's a beginning. I look forward to nore give and take in a

face to face meeting.

I hope it won't be too long.

Very best regards,

Si. nc e re 1 y ,

Maxine Singer