1946 — STANFORD, CALIFORNIA.
A HUGE CROWD of people filled the largest auditorium at Stanford University, in an event that was much talked about in the scientific community at the time. Everyone, whether professors, researchers, scientists, the press or just curious onlookers, gathered there to hear a single voice, that of a young man, a boy of only sixteen, with freckles and pimples that were still emerging, which showed his lack of experience in the world, in contrast to his remarkable and incredible intellectual development.
Amidst that world of important people, the figure of the young Robert Payne, the speaker of the night, appeared to publicly explain his theories and discoveries. About the seed of what promised to become a revolution in medical and human sciences. Under the shower of flashes from the many local, national and international newspapers and weeklies, the skinny boy walked to the stage and landed behind the microphone that rose higher than his height could reach.
With some inability, he adjusted it so that it faced his chin and could correctly receive his voice during the lecture. Everyone waited attentively for the beginning of his dissertation, and, after clearing his throat and taking a sip of not-so-cold water, their expectations were finally met.
— Good evening, everyone. — the young man began, in a nervous voice. — I must thank you for your presence and for showing interest in my studies. Even though I say mine, in truth, I do not feel nourished by any knowledge. I believe that since man became a thinker, knowledge is his main gift, and it should not be denied to anyone who desires it. And speaking of being a thinker, since man saw himself as such, and realized the great mark that made him different from other animals, he felt the need to know that which was the cause of his privileges, the mind. And it is in this context that I elaborate my study proposal. Ever since I was young, I have been interested in understanding how our minds work.
Having said that, the audience burst out laughing, seeing a boy refer to his youth in the past tense. Robert smiled, a little calmer.
— Well, I observed and became very curious about the subject. But to this day, I have not found a direction that can guide this knowledge in a more scientific way, as a true field of knowledge, a multidisciplinary development, capable of elevating it from a level of curiosity to a level of certainty. This is my first proposal, to make the study of the mind a field of science as it deserves. After all, if it is the mind that makes us know, it needs to be known.
Some more excited people were already applauding him obsequiously and alone, as they shared the same vision, even causing a certain embarrassment to the boy and the other listeners.
— For those who wish, I have an article explaining in detail each step to be taken, each division, chair and union of knowledge that will cooperate for this important leap that we will take in the coming years, towards science.
The young genius paused his speech to moisten his lips, which were dry from his initial nervousness, and to speak more easily. After carefully placing the glass down, fearing that he might knock it and the water over, he continued his prayer:
—But I do not wish to limit my speech to this proposal tonight. Mainly because this subject concerns few interested parties and I know that most of those present here are eager to know about my hypothetical work. I would like to encourage them to think about something new, a concept not yet developed, a look at something not yet explored. Today, I wish to speak to you about my thesis, the presentation of which was made officially a few hours ago and which has brought me some success after such a laborious process.
— I have spent the last three years of my life immersed in this research, the longest period I have ever dedicated to a project. Through it, I hypothesize the existence of a standard intelligence, a master code of the human mind, and perhaps resident in every animal on this planet. I make it clear that this hypothesis concerns all things, but I limit myself to describing only what is of interest to my field: the human mind. Philosophically, whether we can call existence a creation, assuming someone, or a greater force behind all things, or whether this very existence is in fact an insurgency against the dominion of nothingness, does not change in any way what I am proposing.
— Both cases — an intelligent creator or an involuntary construction — assume that there is a pattern of existence, a law to be followed, a source code, where everything that exists needs to base its functioning. Now, restricting this idea to the field of the human mind, there is then a psychic pattern that precedes any construction of knowledge, thought, or being. A universe of meanings that precedes language, images, and any relationship between man and the world, whether natural, social, or ideological.
— Now, if a man drinks water, or says it is day or night, he does so loaded with an enormous envelope of social, ideological, scientific or whatever construction, for the simple fact of seeing himself as an individual in the face of such facts. But the mechanism that makes his mind understand that he needs water, or that it is day or night, is similar to what makes a leopard in an African savannah have the same understanding. It is the gear of thought, the meeting point between the brain — flesh, gray matter, an aggregate of chemical reactions — and the mind — what many would call the spirit.
— This mechanism is the same for the American working in an accounting office, the Muslim following a jihad and an aboriginal displaced from any relationship with the time of our society. In other words, totally different interfaces, but which have the same construction base, the same law of operation. Given the enormity that this subject reaches, I believe that my current state of knowledge on the subject is still superficial, since I only deduce its existence.
—But how could you deduce how this mechanism works?—someone interrupted him in the auditorium.
Robert took another sip from his glass of water and turned over some leaves that had rested on the enormous wooden pulpit, which almost swallowed him up on that even larger stage.
— That's a good question. Well, as I said, I'm still starting from assumptions, nothing has been proven or even minimally tested. I don't even know of any technology that would allow us to do that at this point, but I have a hypothetical construction that's thick enough to start the studies. Here's an example:
And he pointed to the man who had asked the question.
— Could you please stand up?
The man looked at him suspiciously and surprised, but, under the gaze of everyone in the room, he stood up.
— Thank you very much, — Robert told him. — You can take your seat again.
The crowd watched the scene, confused. The man looked at him irritably and felt like Martino had made him.
— Think about it, my dear friend. When I asked you to stand up, your mind carried out a number of analyses so that you would finally comply with my request, which might not have happened. First, your brain received the sound data sent by your eardrums and translated them into words in our language. Your mind organized these words according to what you have learned throughout your life.
— Remember that if you were an aborigine who spoke another language, you would not have understood my prayer and would not have been able to fulfill my request. By organizing the words, your mind sought the signs, the acoustic images that give meaning to these words, and only then did it construct meaning through them and understand that my request meant getting up from your seat. After understanding the sentence, your consciousness analyzed a series of factors until it decided whether or not it was worth fulfilling it, and your action now depended not only on your understanding, but on your decision.
— Deciding to grant me the grace of being attended to, your mind translated the meaning into orders for the brain, which, in turn, translated them into impulses so that your body would comply with what was necessary, moving until you stood up. In short, my speech was received by your senses, visited your consciousness and managed to pass to your mind in its most essential state, which ended with your action of standing up. It is this point, when the mind finds the primordial meaning, the one that will be passed on to the physical, that I intend to study.
—And what would be the use of this science? —asked a reporter who was trying to write down all the young man's words.
Robert thought for a moment, looked at the reporter, perhaps trying to understand his intentions with the question, and replied:
— I would say that understanding and perhaps a use for it are still far from being achieved. However, I already make certain assumptions regarding the use of this knowledge. Patients suffering from quadriplegia or paraplegia may be able to regain hope of one day being able to give orders to their paralyzed limbs through other forms of communication, teachers may be able to use methods that allow their students to learn more quickly, or even police officers may be able to take advantage of this science to control criminals in risky situations...
— Control criminals? — asked the reporter.
Many found themselves wide-eyed at his statement.
— Are you saying an involuntary act?
— I think so. If we are able to reach this level where we go beyond questioning, beyond consciousness, and give orders directly to the last level, a criminal would not be able to disobey an order.
The auditorium was filled with intense noise. The audience was agitated by the young man's controversial statement and raised several heated questions among themselves. Some even got up from their seats, eager and blushing, talking a lot and disrupting the continuation of the lecture.
—Are you talking about mind control? — asked another person.
— There would be that possibility — Robert replied calmly — to give undeniable and unquestionable orders, but this is very latent. Especially at the level we are at now, where there is only one hypothesis. I dare say that there are many barriers to reaching the final stage of the mind, and that each person, according to their level of mental construction, may present a different reaction to the same stimulus.
— I must remind you that everything we are talking about is still illusory, barely tangible. I cannot say that it will one day be possible to order a bandit to stop, or a soldier to follow an order without even thinking, or even that one can tell a child not to be disobedient, but the world was once square and electricity was once unattainable. We are millions of completely different people, living our own lives and our own thoughts. However, I can state the idea with some certainty: all minds are essentially the same. Today we accomplish great feats, to the point of talking about atomic bombs, so why can't we believe that we will uncover and control the human mind?
Having said this, people in that auditorium went crazy. Voices rose and many began to curse the young man, treating him as the father of a great evil, someone without scruples.
Robert did not understand why there was so much fuss, he thought so fondly about the possibilities that his study would open up for humanity.
Why were they so disappointed?
Amidst the confusion, a man appeared, a soldier, wearing his uniform, who walked to the pulpit and took his place at the microphone, giving his orders:
— Calm down, gentlemen! The lecture is over. You may go home now. Good evening.
Robert Payne didn't know why a soldier had interrupted his lecture. There was still so much left to say... He was confused. People were starting to leave, some indignant, some confused, some thoughtful.
The man turned to him and said:
— Boy, follow me please.
He nodded, although he was afraid of what would happen to him. They both left the auditorium and walked down some corridors until they reached a more private room in the building.
WHEN ENTERING, THE YOUNG MAN saw the rector of the university, with an unserene expression, one of his professors and some other men in uniform, probably from the army, and one of them stood out among the soldiers.
— Robert, this is General Leslie R. Groves. — the professor introduced him to the prominent man.
Robert Payne stared at him tensely, absorbed in the whole incomprehensible situation.
Why would the army be there?
Let alone the presence of the general himself! The high-ranking man extended his hand in greeting, and Robert shook it in return.
— He has a few words to say. Would you like to hear them? — the teacher asked, although everyone was aware that there was only one answer.
— Yes, yes, I'm here... — replied the boy.
The imposing man, with his uniform full of decorations and a satisfied look, smiled at him and gave him the speech he never thought he would hear:
— Dr. Payne, do you know why people don't understand you? It's because you're not on their level. You're above, far beyond what they can comprehend. There's no point in trying to make them understand, there are things that are reserved for a few. Even though thinking is a gift for everyone, understanding is an exercise for a few. And that's why I'm here, because you're part of this select group. And we want people like you. So I ask you this question: do you want to be part of this group?