THE COSMIC EGG

A book,entitled, THE COSMIC CANCER,by DAVID LOUIS SUSSMAN, inspired me to create this blog where I can discuss some of his ideas as presented in the book and also from those appearing on his website with the additional fact that I attended a lecture he gave recently at the FISKE FREE LIBRARY in Claremont, New Hampshire, where he graciously autographed my copy of his book. Upon reading in the local papers of his coming lecture at the library, I went on-line and went to his website and read his topics which were easily accessible on the neatly designed web pages and also made a brief comment prior to meeting him...I then printed off his topics to study, when to VIOLET'S BOOKSTORE on Tremont Square where his books were being sold and purchased my copy and then begain reading it, armed with the information he had posted on his website on the various topics and categories found in the book itself. My usual reading pattern is not to start with the front page but to go from the back and look in the indexes of subjects, authors/references/etc. all of which give me a most general idea of how a person thinks and some of the sources of the ideas as well as glancing at the table of contents and the brief bios that sometimes appear, all of which give certain impressions of the author which sometimes are quickly dispelled upon actual meeting and discussion(s). My initial and ERRONEOUS impression of the author from his book and bio info made me ready to challenge his assumptions and assertions as those coming from a possible pompous personality who was attempting to dictate and direct persons how to save humanity on this planet and from themselves.....hardly a 'cosmic' cancer but more of a 'TERRESTRIAL CANCER' if anything.....but when I arrived early and met him in person, I decided to not immediately challenge or discuss his notions and found him to be very sincere, concerned, open, and intelligent as well as 'humble'.....eager to discuss his topics as much as possible in the time alloted for such.....which was far from being sufficient.... Having been privy in the past to many discussions on evolution and 'Darwinism" along with most of the topics contained in the book he had written,but with different persons and in different places, I could clearly see areas that are needed by him to cover in any sequel he may intend.....as the references he utilizes seemed a bit limited in scope and some of the data needed to be update, as for example, his discussion of bacteria, Neanderthals and other primitive men and primates,psychoanalysis, and a number of other terms and concepts too numerous to fully detail here...to my satisfaction or perhaps that of others..... Religion, economics, and politics as well as science comprise the major concerns of the author who,essentially, subcribes to the 'overpopulation' theories, which contain a number of interesting and conflicting 'bedfellows' from Malthus, Sanger, Hitler,to modern versions derived from those sources and grafted onto what used to be called, 'Social Darwinism' along with some other considerations.....that I hope to discuss herein, if not with the author, at some future time... Historical considerations also need to be expanded a bit to support some of the contentions found there....philosophical notions are also important and he clearly recognizes this aspect that he feels is absent from most scientific endeavors and one has to agree, at least tentively, with this.... His emphasis, based on some research, on the unity of mankind rather than the differences will raise some eyebrows on those who wish to promote racial, cultural, religious, economic, and political superiority and yet, his notions will appeal also to those who,in their zeal to limit human populations, to create elites and masters and rulers and to further more 'social controls' and restrictions.....but this also needs further dicussion to clarify things in the book that he proposes should be brought to the attention of mankind and hopefully will enter their consciousness....one being responsibilies over rights.....which reads to some minds, duties and obligations and 'obedience to orders'....unfortunately, that are imposed rather than 'freely accepted'.... The age-old debate over 'FREE WILL' and 'choice' vs conditioning,regimentation, training, and determinism as well as heredity and 'education' reared its many heads,which are difficult to lop off since they keep rearing or replacing their heads in each and every discussion, demonstrating that people have not resolved such issues and arguments for themselves... The author does not believe in 'free-will' and the usual and ordinary concepts and ideas many hold about such and for this one can exhibit considerable sympathy in many ways...... The ideas the author sees as essential to his goals and aims are 'food for thought' certainly, but are for many hard to swallow and digest completely, and myself also find them somewhat this way....although many would refer to them as 'wine or beer' tastings at a high level...... The author needs to expand his notions,ideas, and concepts to include SCALES & LEVELS beyond what he has thus far presented and this means also avoiding what some have termed, 'tilting at windmills' though we now recognize that 'wind power' is more essential than previously used and thought....along with solar power...which brings me to some other points of discussion that are often ignored in various ways..... This will mean that I will attempt to dismiss his analogy of 'cancer' which is derived from a physician's look at humanity along with others,some power possessors, who consider man ' a blight on the surface of the earth' etc. A physician under the 'influence of Western Science and Medicine' which depends more on analysis and technology and a number of other things, will look for a 'cure' which means often enough destruction of life itself.....in whatever ways needed to 'treat' what is considered a 'disease' but more likely to treat only symptoms and seldom causes and to represent a 'distorted' as well as a 'limited' perspective of reality....which will, of course, involve deeper considerations of evolution than most people care to under take beyoned a superficial level and a small scale suitable to their intellectual capacities......more on this another time..