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Today, Norm Goldman
Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our
guest, M.A. Curtis author of Dominance & Delusion. M.A. Curtis is
a retired engineer with a strong interest in anthropology and
sociology, and his book looks at evolution and its impact on the
human animal.
Good day M.A. and thanks
for participating in our interview
Norm:
Can you share a
little of Dominance & Delusion with us?
M.A.
It is my contention that the
human animal is influenced by two genetic predispositions. The
first of these is dominance. Dominance occurs in many species
of animals because it has selective value. We are social
primates. All social primates form dominance systems. We
form dominance systems.
Delusion is another matter.
Delusion is a singularly human characteristic. We have the
ability to accept as absolute truth utterly false absurdities.
Interestingly, this ability, at one time, had survival value.
Today it is the single most serious defect in the human animal.
Together, these two genetic
predispositions, dominance and delusion, do much to explain human
behavior.
Norm:
What made you interested
in exploring why humans do the things they do? As a follow
up, how did you decide you were ready to write the book?
M.A.
I have always been interested
in the nature of human nature. I had a choice between
anthropology and engineering. At the time engineering paid
better but I have always been an anthropologist at heart.
As for this book, it is
actually my fifth. It is, however, the first work I have done
that I have felt is worth publishing. The manuscript is a
result of a lifetime of study as well as 15 years of research and
reading.
Norm:
Your book has a broader
mission than simply entertaining. Can you talk more about that
mission and what you hope readers will take away after reading your
book?
M.A.
I believe that we, as a
species, are incapable of objectively studying human behavior.
We are biased in favour of ourselves and see humans as somehow more
important and special than other species. As a result of this
bias we make decisions based on assumptions that have no basis in
fact.
To a religionist we are made
in the image of God. That is how important we are. To a
secularist we are the culmination of evolution, a perfect species,
totally above the often violent and cruel animal world.
Decisions are made and
actions taken based on an assumption of the inherent goodness of
man. Tens of millions of people have been murdered in the name
of natural goodness. Thus we display our delusions.
It is my hope that after
reading Dominance & Delusion the reader will
have a better understanding of human nature and be better able to
make decisions based on that knowledge.
Norm:
Is your book
improvisational or did you have a set plan?
M.A.
The manuscript started with
delusion. I spent most of my career working for a company owned
and run by Seventh Day Adventists. Seventh Day Adventists are
strict creationists. They believe the earth to be only 10,000
years old and at one time it was completely covered by water.
Having been raised on
dinosaurs and trilobites, I knew better. What was fascinating
was the conviction with which these people held their beliefs.
They were as committed to creation as one would be to the law of
gravity or the fact that sun comes up in the east.
This ability to accept as
gospel a completely ludicrous delusion started me on my quest to find
out why we do the things we do. In that quest I came across
another behavior pattern that strongly influences human behavior.
Hence the title Dominance & Delusion.
Norm:
What was the most
difficult part of writing your book?
M.A.
The book was not really that
difficult to write. My method of writing is somewhat different
from most. I write, as I am answering these questions, by
printing in longhand on sheets of notebook paper. This limits
my writing to two to three hours per day and I can honestly say at
times I suffer from writers cramp.
Norm:
How has your
environment/upbringing colored your writing?
M.A.
I try to write from an
engineers perspective. Engineers should be skeptics and they
should question everything. It is important to be as open
minded and unbiased as possible. I think that my training as an
engineer has had a great deal of influence on my writing.
Norm:
What was one of the most
surprising things you learned in writing Dominance & Delusion? \ M.A.
One of the conclusions I came
to in the course of my research is that it is entirely probable that
the genetic predisposition that, today, manifests itself as
homosexual is in fact normal and natural. To form strong
emotional bonds with another individual of the same sex at one time
had tremendous survival value.
I have also come to the
conclusion that we, as a species, are not monogamous.
Norm:
What obstacles did
you have in writing your book?
M.A.
None, really. I did not
start putting pen to paper until I retired 15 years ago. I had
an abundance of notes and a great many books and magazines as
research material. It was at this time that I began to
integrate dominance with delusion. My biggest obstacle is that
I don't type and my wife has to listen to me dictate and type
this. She typed the entire book.
Norm:
Do you hear from your
readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
M.A.
The book has been out for
about a year. In that time response has fallen into two
groups. Most find it interesting, entertaining, and
informative. The other group rejects my premise. I was
scheduled to appear on a local TV show chaired by Pat McMahon.
The day before the show he finally read the book and cancelled my
appearance.
Norm:
Do you worry about the
human race?
M.A.
I am a pessimist.
Reluctantly, I have come to the conclusion that history will show
that intelligence as a survival mechanism is a failure. Dominance
gives us dictators and war. Delusion leads us to murder in the
name of religion. It is a terribly sad commentary on human
nature
Norm:
Where can our
readers find out more about you and Dominance & Delusion?
M.A.
They can go
do www.dominance&deluison.com It is available from all
on-line book sellers such as Amazon.
Norm:
Is there anything else
you'd like to share with us?
M.A.
I would like to leave the
reader with the last two paragraphs of Dominance &
Delusion. We are not the perfect species; we are not the
logical culmination of the evolutionary process. Bipedalism is
a response not an end. Intelligence is a survival mechanism and
not a very good one else would see more intelligent animals.
Consciousness is an accident and not the hallmark of a superior life
form. We are not special just different just as each
species is different.
We do, however, have the
means within us to become a better species. We can stop war.
We can insure that everyone reaches his or her full potential.
We can all be free. We have the means but do we have the will?
Thanks once again and good
luck with Dominance & Delusion
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