 |
| Google Images |
The rather long short story that has been accompanying you over the past two months or so is coming to an end. Sure enough, matching the written expression, the audio and the video episodes has taken some time, but let's say it's quite all right now, as long as you kept downloading the episodes and listening to them again and again. And even if you don't say so (which would have been an expression of acknowledgement I would have highly appreciated), I do hope you got the message of all this: that learning means, for better or for worse, accepting linguistic reality. But well, the merit is all Daniel Keyes's!
 |
| Google Images |
Flowers
for Algernon (11)
Daniel Keyes
May 29—I have been
given a lab of my own and permission to go ahead with the research. I’m on to
something. Working day and night. I’ve had a cot moved into the lab. Most of my
writing time is spent on the notes which I keep in a separate folder, but from
time to time I feel it necessary to put down my moods and my thoughts out of
sheer habit.
I find the calculus
of intelligence to be a fascinating study. Here is the place for the
application of all the knowledge I have acquired. In a sense it’s the problem
I’ve been concerned with all my life.
May 31—Dr. Strauss
thinks I’m working too hard. Dr. Nemur says I’m trying to cram a lifetime of
research and thought into a few weeks. I know I should rest, but I’m driven on
by something inside that won’t let me stop. I’ve got to find the reason for the
sharp regression in Algernon. I’ve got to know if and when it
will happen to me.
June 4
 |
| Google Images |
Dear Dr. Strauss:
Under separate cover I
am sending you a copy of my report entitled, “The Algernon-Gordon Effect: A
Study of Structure and Function of Increased Intelligence,” which I would like
to have you read and have published.
As you see, my
experiments are completed. I have included in my report all of my formulae, as
well as mathematical analysis in the appendix. Of course, these should be
verified.
Because of its
importance to both you and Dr. Nemur (and need I say to myself, too?) I have
checked and rechecked my results a dozen times in the hope of finding an error.
I am sorry to say the results must stand. Yet for the sake of science, I am
grateful for the little bit that I here add to the knowledge of the function of
the human mind and of the laws governing the artificial increase of human
intelligence.
I recall your once
saying to me that an experimental failure or the disproving of a
theory was as important to the advancement of learning as a success would be.
I know now that this is true. I am sorry, however, that my own contribution to
the field must rest upon the ashes of the work of two men I regard so highly.
 |
| Google Images |
Charles Gordon
encL: rept.
June 5—I must not
become emotional. The facts and the results of my experiments are clear, and
the more sensational aspects of my own rapid climb cannot obscure the fact that
the tripling of intelligence by the surgical technique developed by Drs.
Strauss and Nemur must be viewed as having little or no practical applicability
(at the present time) to the increase of human intelligence.
As I review
the records and data on Algernon, I see that although he is still in his
physical infancy, he has regressed mentally. Motor activity is impaired; there
is a general reduction of glandular activity; there is an accelerated loss of
co-ordination.
There are
also strong indications of progressive amnesia.
As will be
seen by my report, these and other physical and mental deterioration syndromes
can be predicted with statistically significant results by the application of
my formula.
 |
| Google Images |
I feel that
this, in itself, is an important discovery.
As long as I
am able to write, I will continue to record my thoughts in these progress
reports; it is one of my few pleasures. However, by all indications, my own
mental deterioration will be very rapid.
I have
already begun to notice signs of emotional instability and forgetfulness, the
first symptoms of the burnout.
No comments:
Post a Comment