DISCUSSION 
composition of posterity is doubly obscure. Without a much 
deeper analysis, the unguarded transfer to “‘society”’ of ideas 
proper to individual responsibility can mislead us into talking 
—and selling—moral nonsense. 
That such nonsense has proved saleable, especially in Nazi 
Germany, should warn us against evaluating our plans for the 
race solely in terms of technical feasibility. We should, how- 
ever, note one technical snag in any proposal to make the 
human genetic constitution self-regulating. I mean the difficulty 
of preventing the “goal-setting” from drifting or oscillating as 
time goes on, under the influence of external or even internal 
factors. Suppose, for example, that “we” (biologists? or 
politicians?) decided (and had the power) to make the next 
human generation of type ““X’’. So far, perhaps, so good. But 
when we die, our place must presumably be taken by a new 
committee—which would presumably be of type “X”’. The 
question we must ponder is what kind of changes these men of 
type “X”’ would think desirable in their successors—and so on, 
into the future. If we cannot answer it, then to initiate such a 
process might show the reverse of responsibility, on any 
explication of the term. 
In short, to navigate by a landmark tied to your own ship’s 
head is ultimately impossible. If we are ever to make proper 
use of our growing eugenic powers, we shall need a wisdom 
greater than our own. 
Here let us be quite candid. There is little agreement today 
that such wisdom is available, let alone as to its origin. But I 
believe strongly that this does not make discussion at this level 
pointless or impossible. For the beginning of wisdom is to ask 
the right questions; and it is by each faithfully drawing 
attention to—and listening to—questions which from a different 
viewpoint might not be raised, that we can most fruitfully co- 
operate for human welfare. 
Brock: I would like to echo Bronowski’s question: What is 
the problem that Crick and Muller are trying to solve? And 
are they thinking about some other problems which would 
arise out of. the solution of what they think they are trying to 
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