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Dewey B. Larson
755 N.E. Royal Court Portland, Oregon 97232 |
July 22, 1982
Dear Professor Sizemore:
The manuscript that Jan Sammer has in his possession is one that I have been working on, from time to time, for more than twenty years. This is about the fourth complete revision. I am still undecided as to what to do about it. There are three options: (1) to publish it soon, just as it is, (2) to continue working on it and publish it a few years down the road, or (3) to let it rest and leave the question of publication up to my heirs. The reason for trying to limit the travels of the manuscript, and the copies thereof, is to enable keeping all of these options open. In this work I have arrived at a considerable number of new conclusions, and new points of view on old issues. These ideas are all derived from the same premises, and constitute a single structure of thought. I believe, therefore, that they should all be presented at the same time in the book, when and if it is published, and not spread around piecemeal in advance of that publication.
I had not intended to let the manuscript get out at all, but it did, somewhat accidentally, and a number of my associates have copies with the understanding (i) that they are not to be released to, or discussed with, anyone else without my authorization, and (2) that the obviously new ideas in the work are not to be used in publications or oral presentations until after the book is published. You may feel that these conditions are unduly restrictive. If so, it would be better to withdraw the request, as I cannot see my way clear to relax them as yet. If they are acceptable, I will authorize Sammer to make his copy available to you.
I might say that the basic point on which this work rests is the principal conclusion reached in my study of the physical universe, the conclusion that it is a universe composed entirely of motion. It follows from this that space and time are contents of the universe, not a container or setting in which the universe exists. This demolishes the belief that now prevails in scientific circles, the belief that all existence is in space and in time, and it clears the way for the existence of non-physical entities and processes.
Sincerely yours,
D.B. Larson