September 13, 1971

Dr. Philip C. Ritterbush
Archives of Institutional Change
3233 P Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20007

Dear Dr. Ritterbush,

Thank you for your letter of August 19th and the attached material
which I have just read with great interest promptly upon my return from
a trip.

I am pleased to see a number of areas of overlapping interest
and am already greatful to you for having brought my attention to the
books by Bertram Morris and Eugene S. Schwartz, which I had not hitherto
encountered, Professor Morris’ book in particular - judging from the
review in Prometheus, No. 2, promises to be a partial answer to some
questions that have been bothering me recently.

These are summarized in a draft problem statement which is motivated
by some tentative arrangements I am working out with the Center for
Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences. The very fact that I felt
impelled, over a period of time, to look beyond the resources of my
own university is a phenomenon that provoked this reflection. I still
have certain prejudices about the wanton "population explosion" of new
organizations in response to the perceived failure of existing forms
to deal with certain kinds of problems, For example, if I may put it
hypothetically, is it necessary or even efficacious to establish a new
organization to study the sociology of institutions? I would point to
people like Bill Scott, here at Stanford, fon an example of a man who
just gets down to do the job within the framework of the timeworn tradition
of the academic career. I expect that there is a very real answer to my
question but as the attached memo suggests I do approach it with some
skepticism - not the complacency that we are now doing the job all that
well but can we really expect other forms to do any better?

At any rate let m also draw your attention to Professor Scott in
connection with your solicitation for Prometheus No. 6.

over
Dr. Philip Ritterbush - 2 + 9/13/71

I am glad to respond to your questionnaire for "correspondence".
I do not thibk I can realistically obligate myself for any regular

responsibilities, but I may be able to return your courtesies on 4
catch as catch can basis,

If you still have a copy of Prometheus No. 1 I would be grategul
if you would send it on to me.

Are you much interested in the history of the “Prometheus Concept"?
It is, of course, laden with ambiguity and I could collect a few of the
references I have been perusing on its literary history.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/rr