Breakthrough Book Asks Us To
Explore:
Where Do Humans Really Come From?
How Shall We Define What It Means To Be
Human?
Are Humans Becoming More Like Machines?
An author and former medical
reporter for KABC-LA radio, Geoffrey Simmons, M.D. has practiced medicine for
44 years. He has delivered a cutting-edge, controversial new book that sparks a
dialogue on the very nature of what it means to be human and shows us where
humanity is heading. He poses a number of eye-opening questions,
including:
Did Darwin’s theory of man-to-monkey get it wrong on the
origination of humanity?
Does God actually exist?
How do we really define what it means to be human today?
Are we moving towards becoming robotic hybrids?
Has science, drugs, surgeries,
and technology tinkered too much with humans?
Are We Here To Re-Create
Ourselves: The Convergence of Designs by Geoffrey Simmons, M.D.
is provocative, philosophical, scientific, religious, and just plain-old
interesting.
“Is there an Intelligent
Designer, rather than humans being the consequence of simple evolutionary
accidents and natural selection?,” asks Dr. Simmons. “I believe,
something helped evolution along. The arrival of humans is impossible to
explain by unguided evolution alone. That is, given the billons of complex
steps needed and the incredible complexities of our different systems and
senses. The origin of thinking and of consciousness are particularly hard
to explain in evolutionary terms. So is the elusive “spark” of life.”
Dr. Simmons, who has published
numerous books, including one that sold 350,000 copies and was optioned to
Hollywood, once appeared on the nationally televised Steve Allen Show and was a
radio medical reporter, commentator and/or host on KABC (LA) and KPNW. He had a
show on KUGN “Doc Talk” for six years. He has been a Fellow with the Discovery
Institute in Seattle for 12 years and he has lectured on Intelligent Design
(ID) across the Northwest and on radio many times.
Dr. Simmons, a client of the
book publicity firm that I work for, is interviewed below:
1.
As a physician of 44 years, what inspired you to pen a
book debunking Darwin’s monkey-to-man Theory of Evolution? Actually, Darwin had many good ideas, but
some of his theories are no longer compatible with scientific data. And, why would they be? We know so much more. I’ve always been amazed with the complexities
and intricacies of the human body and very curious how we all came about. The
more I studied these issues, the more questions I had. At one time I was a
firmly-entrenched agnostic until I stumbled on an old book The Neck of the
Giraffe, by Francis Hitching. Therein, the author pointed how the long neck
of the giraffe and the anatomy/physiology necessary to support it has no
apparent predecessors. That’s the same for the whale with its blowhole and huge
communication center And, why does its tail go up and down when a fish’s tail
goes back and forth? This is the third
in a series, starting with What Darwin Didn’t Know and Billions of
Missing Links. Herein, I was drawn to a pattern that I see weaving through
human “progress”. From the cave drawing to the doll to the robot and last the
humanoid, we are recreating ourselves in many ways. I discuss this history in
the book, such glass on a beach from a lightning strike to glasses to the
robotic eye. Might re-creation be our purpose? Our destiny? The book also uses
the design of humanoids to explain the design of humans.
2.
What do we need to know about Intelligent Design
(ID)? The answer is encyclopedic.
There are many current texts and articles by distinguished scholars on the
subject. Although ID is often pegged as “cloaked” religion, it is truly meant
by most to be non-religious. Supporters and promoters alike, such as those from
the Discovery Institute, demand academic excellence. Certainly, God may well be
the ultimate Designer, but that’s not the point. There’s an incredible amount of evidence
saying something besides (in addition to)
simple
natural selection and mutation is also going on. Maybe, it’s panspermia(aliens). Regardless,
we cannot dispute the fact that we came with embedded plans using the
“language” of DNA much like using a huge stack of blueprints for a skyscraper
of enormous proportions. Our eyes are excellent examples of purposeful and
intricate design. Our clotting is another. This triggered-system requires more
than two simultaneous pathways, with multiple steps and smaller and smaller
steps at each level. Everything must happen quickly, at the right time, in the
right place and in the right order. If one step were out of kilter, clotting
might be hampered. A small wound might be fatal. If clotting were to spread to
the rest of the body, the response to a small cut on the hand might be
devastating. Every process inside us is controlled.
3.
How would you define a human being? In a sense, my entire book addresses this. One chapter
definitely does. One might start with a simple description using the ratios of
salts, proteins and water, our physiology, our electrical systems, or how we
look and how we differ from the great apes. Or what we all do alone and within
society. One could discuss how our brain functions and note how ours is
“improved” over animals’, plus how elaborate on how we think, feel, react,
create, debate, play, pray and talk.
4.
Gene altering, Drugs, Plastic Surgery and Cybernetics:
Is science turning humans into something else? The simple answer is yes. We are changing
some people into partly inanimate entities and robotic machines into to
substitutes for people. Human changes include the artificial heart, artificial
skin, artificial pancreas, and artificial kidneys, vision implants for the
blind, hearing implants for the deaf, breast, pecks, butt and cheek implants,
imbedded microchips and brain stimulators, artificial joints, prosthetic legs,
arms and hands, and varied pacemakers.
We are creating humanoids(robots) that look and act like us. Computers
already mimic our brains in many ways. We may alter genes to make that super
race yet. Note the Nazi’s Blitz Krieg was mostly successful by the use of
ethamphetamines. There are more and more
mind-altering drugs used in medicine and found on the streets. Machines have
progressed from simple clumsy robots to impressive human facsimiles. Humanoids,
that speak 27 languages, greet shoppers in Japan. In Singapore humanoid cops
give directions. Humanoids keep the elderly company in nursing homes and play
with children in pre-school. There are even robotic puppies. Humanoids will
likely be the passengers in deep space exploration. My book gives the
historical evidence. This goes back to DaVinci, maybe all the way back to cave
drawings.
5.
Why do you say the ultimate race is on? Nations
realize there’s money and power to be had by developing various robotic
machines as well as humanoids. Machines
are expendable and more easily repaired or replaced than humans. They can
respond to natural and manmade disasters, safely pull people from fires and
nuclear contamination, dive deeper and longer to explore sea bottoms for
mining. They will be used for warfare.
They can be man-power extenders especially with drudgery and repetitive work.
Plus, most importantly, robots can work 24/7 without taking breaks for lunch
and time off for vacations. They don’t need to check their phones for messages
or scroll Facebook. They can (and will) fight our wars; whoever has the best
robots may truly rule the world. Robots will take us way beyond Mars. Given our
present technology, humans will never make it out our solar system. If there
are distant civilizations, why not have robots look and act like us? Not only is the design good, but that gives
an alien a “picture” that is worth a thousand words.
6.
Is the existence of humans evidence of God’s
existence? I believe it is. Definitely, something with
inexplicable capabilities authored our blueprints. Authored all blueprints of
all animals and plants. And, ours is not a simple blueprint. All the books in
the Library of Congress (combined) are simpler. The difference between closely
related species may seem minuscule on the surface, but they can be a
millionfold different at the microscopic, chemical and genetic level. Breeding
a faster horse, a different kind of dog or a rabbit with more offspring is not
using natural selection to create a new species. A huge number genetic changes are needed.
Take the premise that the great apes evolved into humans; yet, they have two more
chromosomes than we, meaning 48 to our 46. How could that happen? Genes are not modified by natural selection
as best as we know, and mutations are damaging, not helpful. That is 99% of the
time. Our blueprints reflect intelligent (D)design planning, forethought,
contingencies, engineering, plumbing, and modeling. Not accidents. We each have
tens of thousands of different proteins made and quadrillions of chemical
reactions happening every day. Everything is accounted for in the blueprints.
7.
Are Humans now trying to act like God and tinker with
humanity? No question
about it and, not just these days. Leaders, especially dictators through the
centuries, have acted as if they were God, starting with the Pharaohs. Some
major religious leaders, believe they are direct conduits if not godly
themselves. Much depends how one defines humanity. We are changing our culture
and the work ethic. We appear to be on the verge of an another 1984 with
ubiquitous surveillance. What the government isn’t doing, private companies
seem to be. Some labs are trying to crossbreed animals such as monkeys with
humans at the microscopic (genetic) level. And, fiddling with genetic profiles
on unborn children within the womb. We can already select sperm for eye color,
hair color and maybe athletic prowess. Is this not the beginning of another
super race someday?
8.
Are we integrating artificial intelligence and bionics
into the human form in a dangerous way? Absolutely,
integrating. But, dangerous depends on whom one asks. China has hidden cameras
trained on school children in the classroom and they say they can tell young
school children finding out who has potential and who doesn’t. Plus, officials
act on it. AI is monitoring our highway and many of our sidewalks. AI will be
categorizing us and even judging us, more and more. That said there are
enormous benefits to using AI such as fighting crime and understanding disease
processes. AI is used to read Pap smears and it seems as if it can do a better,
faster job than human counterparts. Industry has been using AI for a long while
to make better products and better sell them.
9.
Are we trying to re-create ourselves in the form of
robots? History says so. We have been
aiming toward remaking ourselves as humanoids since prehistory. For example,
take cave drawings to paintings and sculptures to dolls and mannequins to
humanoids. Or, hearing devices to robotic hearing and eyeglasses and cameras to
TV and robotic vision. We are doing this wherever and whenever it makes sense.
No need for complete humanoids in the assembly lines. Maybe just two
arms. In Bruce Dern’s 1972 movie Silent Running robots tended his gardens
and will do so into perpetuity. Sci-fi movies commonly have this kind of
theme. Using humanoids may well become common on the International Space
Station. The Russians already placed one there. A humanoid top-half already
mixes drinks in Las Vegas. Humanoid upper halves can cook for you in your home.
The answer is a likely yes if waiting on tables, greeting shoppers at
department stores, working as butlers or keeping children and the elderly
company. The distances beyond our solar system are way too great for humans to
make the journeys. The humanoid in many circumstances may be the most economic
and effective shape? There’s some sense in having these travelers look like us
if they come upon extraterrestrials. Sending a giant, green, robotic centipede
with many arms/hands gives the wrong idea.
10.
Why are we here?
That’s a question everybody must ask some time in their life. Maybe,
many times? I have many times and I have changed my mind many times. There are
many possible answers in the book from the practical to fulfilling dreams, from
the mundane to the spiritual, and from the personal and hedonistic to the
altruistic. The Bible says we’re here to glorify God, Sister Teresa would
surely add to serve the poor. The millionaire might say to make money, the
beggar might say to get food and shelter, and the criminal may have an entirely
different thought. Many moms and dads
might say raise a family. My book says we are here, in part, to remake
ourselves and travel the universe, much like the patterns of early man
traveling across Africa, Columbus and Magellan traveling the seas, covered
wagons crossing the Plains and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.
PLEASE
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Brian Feinblum’s
insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in
this terrific blog are his
alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should --
follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him
at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in
the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2020. Born and
raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often
featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.
This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and
recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also
named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted
a panel on book publicity for Book Expo
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