Atomic Power — Olaf Stapledon, lecture notes

Original manuscript — sheet 1

Transcription

417.ATOMIC POWER
(Social aspect)
#/Reaction to the atomic bomb
horror but hope
appalling danger for Mankind
but immense potentiality for good
ð bomb may force us to found a World State
it has waked up ð public
the prospect, if we fail to organize control
1. war is revolutionized
ð bomb is 2000 times as powerful
as ð old bomb
¹⁄₁₀th the weight?
ð next will be 1000 times ð first one
rockets
× submarine bombsie 2,000,000 times ð old bomb
futility of warships, bombers, armies
war against
machinesatomic rockets with atomic noses
war depends wholly on —
vast research & organization
area for
dispersalonly possible to ð mightiest states 
2. ∴ without organization —
Russo-American war⊕
cities snuffed out //
material civilization destroyed
lands devastated - famine
3. possibility of defence?
only by subterranean shelters
miles deep
blasted by atomic power
refrigerated by "
x or exploding distant bombs
extreme danger
#

Original manuscript — sheet 2

Transcription

27
 
⊕ (Haldane)
possibly a general law of nature ð —
creatures ð win atomic power —
before unifying their planet —
destroy themselves
 
£ “money no object”
ð universal skivvy

Original manuscript — sheet 3

Transcription

2
Peaceful use of atomic power
at present impossible
depends on damping ð explosion
grading it for industrial work
scientists arepromised in a few years
rightly cautiousif all goes well
but— limited supply of uranium
won’t go on for ever
when all is used up — ?
possibility of power from other atoms
other radio-active atoms
stable atoms
danger of exploding stable atoms
ð explosion is infectious
might destroy ð planet
× cp Asteroids ⊕ /
but if controlled use becomes possible —
what then?
access to limitless power, for good or ill
eg to transform ð planet
irrigate deserts
warm ð Arctic ð Antarctic
change ð coasts
remove obstructing mountains
(but preserve wild places)
change climates
found islands, change rivers
Ⓔbuild many glorious cities
also:-(if we know what is glorious)
private atomic planes for all
vast scientific research
abolish disease
prolong maturity
improve child birth
interplanetary travel

Original manuscript — sheet 4

Transcription

entrust secret to —
Security Council.
of ð "United Nation
(or a better body)
world control of arms —
at least possible
+ inevitable.
universal inspection
# ð 600? protesting scientists
ð, fear not only war
but accident
from irresponsible experiment
all countries are researching?!, in a hurry
Argentine Nazis on the track
Jap professor
folly of secrecy — for a mere 5 years! ↑
USA isolationism.
⊕ First Industrial Revolution obsessed with —
ð glamour of power
ð new toy
Second Indust Rev. — power will be cheap
ordinary, trivial
we may turn again to ð Spirit

Original manuscript — sheet 5

Transcription

3
Power without wisdom
ð gift is futile & lethal unless —
we use it wisely
with clear view of ð right aim
ð application of science hitherto
what Bacon prophesied. But —
what he would see today: —
good & bad
health, nutrition
communications
education
unemployment
war
tyranny
what went wrong?
1. no clear view of ð goal
2. no resolute planning
⊗all left to ð profit motive
#Atomic power may force us to learn wisdom
///otherwise, man destroys himself.
ð lesson: 1. world unification
ð national state too dangerous
2. world-plan for human welfare.
foodi e for opportunity of full humanity
for every individual
3. clearer view of “full humanity”
4. power is not intrinsically good ⊕//
The goal, in more detail
every child to have a fair chance —
to develop into a splendid man or / women.
best food
health service
education →
living conditions
every adult ditto —
and suitable work
& leisure to become a
wide awake citizen.

Original manuscript — sheet 6

Transcription

⊕ ∴ revolution in education
educate for: personality,
community
world-feeling
atomic power enables this
X a world of aristocrats
i.e of best possible men & women
education alone — ineffective
social background is powerful
frustration breeds fascism
atomic power can abolish —
economic frustration
7

Original manuscript — sheet 7

Transcription

4
why work is necessary
participation in θ common venture
of making θ best of mankind
but work hours must be short
∴ leisure is necessary
for responsible democracy
for keeping in touch with society
⊕” voluntary social action
╱╱θ goal involves diversity of citizens, & groups
not uniformity
personality - in - community
mutual awareness & enrichment
but also - imagination & intelligence.
for mutual insight
Short Term social effects of atomic power
a Second Industrial Revolution
①. all production methods will change.
goods will be produced more easily,
& efficiently
∴ vast unemployment?
Yes, unless we plan
& unless θ state takes responsibility
for every individual
②. world-organization for generation of power
to release full potentiality
③. but - cheap power everywhere?
improved electric transmission?
” accumulator?
also - synthetic products from
universal raw materials
(cp Richard Palmer)
θ result may be a new village industry
Ford's new move toward -
domestic industry
with home electric power

Original manuscript — sheet 8

Transcription

5-
Danger of "denaturing" man
adapted to a primitive environment
∴ preserve much of the primitive
for relaxation
moorland, mountain jungle — etc
Remoter possibilities
× with immensely improved research —
(based on atomic power) —
create special human types
for special environments
(to enjoy them)
eg subterraneans
for living in ð hot depths
(if necessary)
arctics — no, warm ð Arctic
special types for other planets
Mars — rare atmosphere
Venus — vegetation for oxygen
Jupiter etc — stocky men for —
resistance to gravity
why bother? — not for mere power
but ∵ diversity is enriching
ð more different ð better
granted mutual insight
The littleness of man
ð minute solar system
sun among ð stars
galaxies
ð whole

Original manuscript — sheet 9

Transcription

5
# Battle of Britain — sense of doom )
end of German war — “things will go on
after all”
Jap Bombs — doom again
Summary
Battle of Britain — Atomic
War revolutionized
American secrecy
Protesting scientists
International Control — cf: Haldane’s law
Second Industrial Rev
Wise use of Atomic Energy
Aladdin. Bacon.
Transform. of Planet
(Denaturing) Man
& True Goal
Interplanetary —
⊕ Britain would be the Stalingrad?
certain destruction
only 2 great geographical units could survive
i.e. with areas of dispersal
/ later, perfected H bomb
instant mutual destruction

Original manuscript — sheet 10

Transcription

LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
STAP.
F11/26