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%6S%5 Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Stanford, California 94305
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	Douglas B. Lenat
	Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
	Stanford University
	Stanford, California  94305
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Sincerely,
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Doug  Lenat
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.LTR(Professor Marvin Minsky)
Room 822 
Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
545 Technology Square
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts  02139

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Dear Marvin,

   
I believe I sent you a preliminary copy of my thesis proposal several months ago.
(the %2Automated Mathematician%* project). As you may recall,
I am concerned with how one might explain -- and automate --
the formation of new mathematical theories.
I've been working on a program which can develop
simple mathematical concepts, which aims at
expertise in proposing new definitions and in theorem %2proposing%*,
rather than theorem %2proving%*.
A brief description of the project is enclosed.

My committee consists of Ed Feigenbaum, Cordell Green,
Bruce Buchanan, and Don Knuth. They have suggested that I
write you and Pat Winston, 
since I expect to receive my Ph.D. by next Fall. I am interested
in a faculty position for next year, and would welcome the opportunity to
discuss the matter with you 
(even if there will be no  openings at MIT. Your advice to me in 1972,
to go to Stanford for graduate school, proved invaluable).
I could visit Boston sometime this Winter,
perhaps in February.
If there is sufficient interest,
I'd be happy to give a
colloquium on my dissertation research.

Hoping to hear from you soon,

.DBL