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5 [Rockefeller THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
“\ University 1230 YORK AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10021
Osx a December 30, 1986

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Dr. Philip Pomper

Department of History
Wesleyan University
Middletown, Connecticut 06457

Dear Philip:

Thank you for sending me your review of Shmookler's book.
I have had it on my shelf, have read several other reviews of
it, have wondered whether it would be worth the time to look at
it more closely. Your review prompted me to scan it just a bit
and I'm confirmed in my conclusion that it really does not have
very much to offer.

You were so right in your criticism of his romanticism! If
it had deeper scholarship, that would still be interesting. Look
at the shallowness with which he refers to Rousseau or Carlyle
(just check the index entries); and I would have far more criti-
cal things to say about his biological attributions. I would
guess, not needing much reading between the lines of your own
review, that we are not very far apart in the assessment. But I
would have to confess that I've really not carefully read the
book and I am seeing it through projections of various reviewers.
If it be understood that that is what I am talking about, where
in the world is that "benign state of nature" that he postulates
behind his parable?

The reason why his book does have some appeal is of course
that the dilemma behind the parable is all too real! In my own
encounters I have found that it takes a person of rare statesman-
ship to be able to mobilize himself, much less others, to what
is necessary in common defense without making the most atrocious
attributions.about the adversary. Where this is most harmful is
where it blinds one to the understanding that security is a shared
dilemma. One of the most refreshing aspects of the new Soviet
regime is that Gorbachev for the first time has been articulating
that point very clearly on their side!

To go back to Shmook ler{projectedk: it would be a grievous
error to suppose that the problem of power begins with conflict
between tribes. It is no less of an issue within organizations
at every level of social complexity.
Dr. Philip Pomper
December 30, 1986

-2-

I'm not sure how broadly I would want to voice this, but
my own study of human evolution suggests that Arthur Clarke, in
2001, had the most arresting metaphor: do you recall the ape man
tossing the jawbone into the air, where it is transformed into
the interplanetary rocket? It is hard for me to see what could
have spurred human evolution and the development of intelligence
so rapidly, other than the exigencies of intraspecies conflict.
So we have indeed a ghost in the machine; and we would have to
go far back to some pre-human level of biological organization
(perhaps the ants and the bees) to find instincts for social
order weigh heavily against individual cunning and search for
advantage.

t am no more an optimist than Shmookler whether the pace of
evolution of social forms can match the power to destroy but we
must start with a clear sighted understanding of the problem.

This is really not my own primary interest in "psycho-poli-
tics"; although I have had running discussion for many years
with my very good friend David Hamburg on these matters. He is
far better informed and far shrewder than Shmookler (although I
think he may be one of his fans). Anyhow here is something he
wrote a while ago that I think you would be interested in.

 

My own taste for political psychology is more in the direc-
tion of understanding leadership behavior during crisis, about
which I gave you some references to Lebow, Janis, and Jervis.

I have been spending some considerable part of my time for many
years on international security affairs; and as skeptical as I
seem to be about these biopsychological approaches, I can assure
you that in the circles where I travel I am their most ardent
exponent!

You said you had written something on the biography of a
terrorist: if you still have that in mind I would enjoy seeing
it, by all means.

With all best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

pA

J ua Lederberg

Encls. 9/22.
OPH: Sceituca 6), /e¥