BRACERS Record Detail for 66799
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BR acknowledges receipt of Newby's letter of May 11 but declines to talk on paranormal psychology, astrophysics and biochemistry.
He suggests Newman on calculating machines (computers).
BR TO BBC / P.H. NEWBY, 19 MAY 1950
BRACERS 66799. TLS(X). BBC Written Archives
Proofread by K. Blackwell
41, Queen’s Road,
Richmond,
Surrey.
May 19, 1950
P.H. Newby, Esq.,
Talks Department,
The British Broadcasting Corporation,
Broadcasting House, W.1
Ref. 04/HT/PHN
Dear Mr. Newby,
Thank you for your letter of May 11.
I am inclined to think that somebody else would do your job better than I could. I am very sceptical of three-fourths of what is offered for our belief in the way of paranormal psychology, and I know very little about astro-physics and bio-chemistry. Nor have I very much taste for “mystery”, which always seems to imply pleasure in ignorance.
I cannot at the moment think of anybody who would do quite what you would like, though I am sure there are such people. I assume you would not be satisfied with an address by Professor Newman, the mathematician, proving that there is nothing, however stupid, that human beings can do that could not also be done by calculating machines.
Yours sincerely,
<signed> Russell
(Earl Russell)
