she p=
STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER ~O-|
ia STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 e (415) 321-1200

 

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

StanvonD UsivEnsr | , SEP 3 1971

Dr. Kenneth BYClark )
Psychology Depts .
CUNY, New York, Ney. !VO4G

Dear Professor Clark

May I have the text of your address to the APA?

I should not comment at all on the basis of possibly unreliable
press reports; but I may betimes have commented on a related idea (see
enclosures). I asked myself, what would be an "ideal" biological war-
fare agent: ohviously, a virus that induced a state of pure pacificism
on the part of the 'enemy'. But just such an attack would be resisted
to the death by every available weapon.

So I come to the paradoxical conclusion that any drug-panaceas we
invent should be directed to the abolition of altruism (the appeal to
which is undoubtedly the source of most of the mischief in the world).
The drug we want would induce the utmost in selfish interest, which, to
_be sure might be optimized by rational enlightenment about meeting the
other fellow's needs, to improve your own welfare in the long run.

 

Congratulations for stirring the pot with a wonderful metaphor. Your
colleagues look all the more foolish for their excessive literalism, and
their refusal to meet the essential issues you posed.

Sincerely,

oa HN FL

shua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

Do you recall our meeting

at a most improbable occasion--

a workshop for TV executives

at Asilomar, Pacific Grove, Calif.?

Aa, 7)” yf
Uy ey }22, |

LT. J. P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE, DEDICATED TO RESEARCH IN MENTAL RETARDATION
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HEREDITY NEUROBIOLOGY DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE