Thursday, October 17, 2024

Are we really living in a simulation? Is our reality real?

Are we really living in a computer simulation?

Donald H Marks, physician and scientist


Recently there have been a number of discussions concerning whether our perception of reality is real and whether we are actually rather living in a simulation of reality. Such a simulation would involve  a higher power or higher intelligence to simulate, perhaps in a massive computer program somewhere the perception of reality and life which then would be fed to us as characters in The simulation to make us think that we were real.


The Simulation Hypothesis: A Deep Dive


The simulation hypothesis is a philosophical thought experiment that posits that we might be living in a simulated reality, created by a technologically advanced civilization. This idea has gained traction due to advancements in technology and our growing understanding of the nature of reality.


The Theory Behind the Simulation Hypothesis


The core arguments behind this simulation  hypothesis are:

 * Technological Advancement: As technology continues to advance, it becomes increasingly plausible that a future civilization could create highly realistic simulations.

 * Infinite Universes: If there are an infinite number of universes, it's possible that at least one of them would have the capacity to create simulations.

 * Fundamental Laws of Physics: The laws of physics could be a product of the simulation's programming, rather than fundamental truths of the universe.

What Does It Mean to Live in a Simulation?

Living in a simulation would mean that our entire perceived reality, including our physical bodies, the world around us, and the laws of physics, are all part of a computer program. It's as if we are characters in a video game, but with a level of consciousness and agency that we might not fully comprehend.


How Would We Even Know?

Determining whether we are living in a simulation is incredibly challenging, and there is no definitive way to prove it. However, some potential indicators have been suggested:

 * Anomalies or Glitches: If we were in a simulation, there might be occasional glitches or anomalies that would suggest a programmed reality.

 * Fundamental Limitations: If there are fundamental limitations to our understanding of the universe, it could be due to the constraints of the simulation.

 * Consciousness and Free Will: The nature of consciousness and free will could provide clues. If our consciousness is a product of the simulation, it might have limitations or patterns.

 * Technological Advancements: If we were to reach a point where we could create simulations ourselves, it would raise questions about our own reality.

Ultimately, the simulation hypothesis remains a thought-provoking philosophical concept. While it's impossible to prove or disprove definitively, it serves as a reminder of the complexity and mystery of our existence.


Perhaps we can use AI to explore whether we are living in a simulation 

The likelihood of using AI to definitively know if we are living in a simulation is currently very low.

While AI has the potential to analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns that humans might miss, in my opinion there are significant challenges in definitively proving or disproving the simulation existence hypothesis. Here's why:

 * Lack of a clear definition: The concept of a simulation is itself subjective and open to interpretation. What constitutes a "simulation" and how would we distinguish it from our current reality?

 * Limitations of AI: Even advanced AI would be constrained by the limitations of the simulation itself. It might be unable to detect or access information outside of the simulated environment.

 * Paradox of self-reference: If we were to discover a pattern or anomaly that suggested we were in a simulation, it's possible that the discovery itself was part of the simulation's design.

 * Philosophical questions: The question of whether we are living in a simulation raises profound philosophical questions about consciousness, reality, and the nature of existence. AI, while powerful, cannot answer these fundamental questions on its own.

While AI may be able to provide insights into the nature of our reality, it's unlikely that it will be able to definitively prove or disprove the simulation hypothesis. The question of whether we are living in a simulation is a complex one that involves both scientific and philosophical considerations.


One of the key challenges and methods of using an AI program to determine a complex question like whether we are living in a simulation is how exactly do we construct the question . What are the best prompts to you is to achieve it our successful answer. Here are a few prompts or questions ww could use to explore the simulation hypothesis with AI:

Direct Questions:

 * "Is it possible that our reality is a simulation?"

 * "What evidence could suggest that we are living in a simulated universe?"

 * "Are there any inherent limitations or inconsistencies in our universe that could indicate it's artificial?"

Hypothetical Scenarios:

 * "If we were in a simulation, what might the creators' intentions be?"

 * "How would a simulation break down or malfunction?"

 * "What kind of glitches or anomalies might we observe if our reality were simulated?"

Analytical Requests:

 * "Analyze the laws of physics for any inconsistencies or patterns that might suggest an artificial origin."

 * "Examine the behavior of quantum particles for any evidence of a simulated environment."

 * "Evaluate the nature of consciousness and its compatibility with a simulated reality."

Remember that AI can only process information based on the data it has been trained on. It cannot provide definitive answers to philosophical or existential questions like whether we are living in a simulation. The prompts above aim to stimulate thought and analysis, but ultimately, the question of whether we are in a simulation remains a matter of speculation and philosophical inquiry.


References


We live in a simulation. https://youtu.be/4wMhXxZ1zNM?si=9IH_VTMzBK7LCxMw






Sunday, October 6, 2024

Thoughts on responsibilities of young American citizens - my reflections on remarks made by the great JFK at Amherst College in 1963

Thoughts on responsibilities of young American citizens. My reflections on remarks made by JFK at Amherst College in 1963.



by Donald H. Marks, physician and scientist



Let me put on my non-medical hat and speak as a casual student of history and the Arts, as I discuss remarks made by President JFK in 1963 at Amherst College upon receiving an honorary degree. I have long thought about those words from the past, and over several years I have worked to put pen to paper. JFK was, along with FDR, one of my favorite presidents. A man from a wealthy powerful family, a man of means, a politician with good intentions, someone with a global vision, a man connected to the famous, the wealthy, the powerful, the educated, the connected, a man presented at birth with the opportunity to achieve greatness by his birth, a man who put his life on the line for the United States in combat, truly a man for all seasons. To this day, I remember his greatness, the day he died, and I still grieve his loss, especially in the context of current aggressive, highly partisan, take-no-prisoners political life.


In his speech at Amherst, President Kennedy explained the responsibilities and the importance of public service for all citizens, and especially  educated citizens. Addressing the class at Amherst, JFK described his view of the role of an artist in society, noting his personal friend Robert Frost’s contributions to American arts, culture, and ideology. “When power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."


Robert Frost and other artists, Kennedy said, make a vital contribution “not to our size but to our spirit, not to our political beliefs but to our insight, not to our self-esteem, but to our self-comprehension.”


Those memorable words, as well as Kennedy’s call that day for Amherst students to consider how they might serve their country, inspired students at Amherst, and throughout the USA. Five percent of the Amherst senior class of 1964 joined the Peace Corps, the overseas service organization Kennedy had initiated in 1961.


The gridlock and dysfunctional partisanship in Washington, D.C. today poorly compares to the optimism and progressive spirit that seemed to animate the years of the Kennedy administration, at least insofar as I remember it.

 

The friendship between Kennedy and the poet Robert Frost, dating back to when Kennedy first ran for president, turned cold in the early fall of 1962 after Frost returned from a visit to the Soviet Union and a lengthy talk about cultural exchange with then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.


Frost had a cold and a bad case of jet lag when he returned to the U.S.. Many of us have been there. He gave what appeared to have been a somewhat confused interview, during which he related that Premier Khrushchev had claimed to him that the U.S. “was too liberal to fight.” Frost’s remarks angered Kennedy, causing him to cut off contact with Frost.  Only a month later, the Cuban Missile Crisis developed, with a potential nuclear war. How many of us have similarly cut off a relationship due to a hasty remark, an inopportune comment, thoughts taken out of context or misunderstood, religious or political disagreements? Breaks in friendship can mend, but the pain swirls like a memory underneath, waiting for a fitful rebirth and revenge.


Yet, Kennedy buried the hatchet when he came to Amherst, praising Frost’s poetry and his contribution to the American spirit. Frost was an artist who, Kennedy said, “saw poetry as the means of saving power from itself."


The president also told Amherst students that, given the benefits they enjoyed in attending an elite private college in a country that had great disparities in wealth, he hoped they would put their education toward some kind of public service. And back then, many did. Not at all like today.


I hope that my comments won't just be viewed as a snapshot of the past, but as how those issues and ideals that Kennedy spoke about during his visit to Amherst can apply to our lives today … across the political spectrum. The responsibilities of the wealthy, the educated, the fortunate, the artists, the creative entrepreneur, and those lucky enough to live in Western society and in America in particular are a treasure.


References

JFK speech at Amherst College https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/remarks-at-amherst-college-on-the-arts

You're probably misreading Robert Frost's most famous poem, "The Road Not Taken." https://lithub.com/youre-probably-misreading-robert-frosts-most-famous-poem/





Additional writings of Donald H. Marks, physician-scientist

 



  • Best Online Free Fact-Checking Tools, https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRWVlRgrRAQ9xZ-xCAdZ5mrfOHzniLT7wAJJ519qQwlGKVNRJql76ZAm-jCd8oUWQ/pub





  • My personal list of Red Flags, Dog Whistles, Buzzwords, Hot Button words and meaningless caricatures  that will drive toxic algorithms to heat and twist elections and trigger hatred on social media.  http://bit.ly/3TcuT4I







  • Undermoney. Techno economic political thriller by Jay Newman. Reviewed by Donald Harvey Marks  https://bit.ly/3Fa4wqb 





Saturday, October 5, 2024

Therapy chatbots vs living breathing human therapists. Alternative Options for hard-to-get Mental Health Support

Therapy chatbots vs living breathing human therapists. Alternative Options for hard-to-get Mental Health Support

Donald H. Marks, physician scientist

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3l3k4l_0rW4WP5200

psychiatristPhoto byRapha WildeonUnsplash

In situations where there are not enough psychiatrists, psychologist and counselors available, it can be incredibly frustrating and challenging to get the help and support needed for mental health concerns. When it's impossible to secure an appointment or obtain prescription refills, it can exacerbate existing issues and lead to feelings of helplessness and despair. It's essential to explore alternative options for managing mental health, such as seeking therapy from other mental health professionals like psychologists or licensed counselors, joining support groups, practicing self-care techniques, and utilizing online resources for mental health support. Additionally, reaching out to primary care providers for interim help or exploring telehealth options may provide temporary relief.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2UoMhI_0rW4WP5200

anxietyPhoto byChristopher OttonUnsplash

It's crucial to prioritize mental health and continue advocating for improved access to psychiatric care for all individuals in need. In situations where mental health services are scarce, individuals may face significant barriers in accessing the help they need. This can lead to a sense of frustration and isolation, amplifying the challenges of managing mental health concerns. Exploring alternative avenues of support, such as connecting with therapists, engaging in self-care practices, and utilizing online resources, can offer valuable assistance during these times of limited psychiatric availability. Additionally, seeking interim support from primary care providers or considering telehealth options can provide temporary relief while waiting for more specialized care. By prioritizing mental health and advocating for improved access to psychiatric services, individuals can work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive system for those in need.

Can AI chatbots be used to address the shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors?

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0bdQKS_0rW4WP5200

depressionPhoto byStormseekeronUnsplash

AI chatbots have the potential to help address the shortage of mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors by providing a cost-effective and easily accessible form of support. These chatbots can offer immediate responses to individuals in need, providing them with resources, guidance, and coping strategies. They can also monitor patients' progress over time and alert human professionals when intervention is needed. Additionally, AI chatbots can help reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health support, as some individuals may feel more comfortable confiding in a non-judgmental virtual assistant. However, it's important to note that AI chatbots cannot replace the level of care and empathy that trained mental health professionals can provide. They should be seen as a complement to traditional therapy rather than a replacement.

Proper training and oversight are necessary to ensure the effectiveness and ethical use of AI chatbots in mental health care. AI chatbots have the potential to revolutionize mental health care by reaching a larger population in need of support. Their 24/7 availability and anonymity can be particularly beneficial for those who may struggle to seek help through traditional means. By offering immediate responses and personalized resources, AI chatbots can empower individuals to take control of their mental well-being and access help when they need it most. However, it is crucial to integrate these chatbots into a comprehensive mental health care system that includes human professionals for more complex and nuanced issues that require deeper emotional understanding and empathy. Thus, the collaboration between AI technology and human expertise can pave the way for a more inclusive and effective mental health support network.

People who are poor, under-insured, minorities, without transportation or internet connection, and other access issues are as affected or even more so impacted by the overall lack of psych providers.

Individuals who are experiencing poverty, lack adequate insurance coverage, belong to minority groups, face challenges with transportation and internet access, or encounter other barriers to care, are significantly affected by the shortage of mental health providers, if not more so. These vulnerable populations not only have limited access to mental health providers, but they often face stigma and discrimination when seeking help. This further exacerbates their struggles in receiving the support and services they desperately need. The shortage of mental health providers also disproportionately impacts rural communities, where access to care is already limited due to geographical barriers and lack of resources. This creates a cycle of unmet mental health needs, leading to worsened mental health outcomes and increased rates of mental health crises among the most underserved populations.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1IMAaO_0rW4WP5200

chatbotsPhoto byLevart_PhotographeronUnsplash

Efforts to address the shortage of mental health providers should focus on expanding access to care in underserved areas, increasing funding for mental health services, and implementing programs to recruit and retain providers from diverse backgrounds. It is crucial to recognize the intersectionality of barriers that individuals facing poverty, discrimination, and other challenges may experience in accessing mental health support. By addressing these systemic issues and working towards a more inclusive and equitable mental health system, we can better support those who are disproportionately affected by the shortage of mental health providers.As always, your comments and feedback are welcome.

Certainly! Mental health chatbots have emerged as a valuable resource for individuals seeking support and guidance. Let’s explore a few of them:

  • Woebot:

  • Wysa:

    • Wysa is an AI chatbot designed to provide emotional support.

    • It offers coping strategies, mood tracking, and relaxation techniques.

    • Users can discuss their feelings, and Wysa provides evidence-based interventions.

    • It’s available 24/7 and can be a helpful companion during difficult moments.

  • Youper:

    • Youper combines AI with human expertise.

    • It engages users in conversations, helping them explore their emotions and thoughts.

    • Youper uses techniques from CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and other therapeutic approaches.

    • It’s interactive, personalized, and aims to improve emotional well-being.

  • Kintsugi:

    • Kintsugi focuses on resilience and growth.

    • It encourages users to embrace their imperfections and learn from challenges.

    • Kintsugi provides mindfulness exercises, self-compassion practices, and positive affirmations.

Remember that while chatbots can be supportive, they are not a replacement for professional therapy. If you’re experiencing severe distress, consider reaching out to a licensed mental health professional.


Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Favorite movies of DH Marks

Favorite Movies of Donald Harvey Marks

Physician and scientist, reason, ethics, health justice, 3rd generation veteran

My favorite movies, selected in terms of plot content, acting, adaptation, dialog, special personal meaning for impact …

  • Three days of the Condor

  • Apocalypse Now

  • Anna Karenina

  • Avatar

  • Bridge of Spies

  • Blade Runner, original and 2049

  • Captain Correlli's Mandolin

  • City of Angels, di himmel Uber Berlin

  • Death of Stalin (dark humor)

  • Deja Vu (technically perfect plot)

  • Erased

  • Enemy at the Gate

  • Gone with the Wind

  • Goodwill Hunting

  • Her

  • Inception

  • Inside Man

  • Lucy

  • Magnificent Seven, 2016

  • Manchurian Candidate

  • Meet Joe Black

  • Michael Clayton , 2007

  • Pierrot le Feu

  • Paycheck

  • Scenes from a Marriage

  • Spotlight

  • The Accountant

  • The Flight of the Phoenix

  • The French Lieutenant's Woman

  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

  • The Good German

  • The Lives of Others, Das Leben der Anderen

  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

  • The Third man

  • War and Peace

  • What Dreams May Come


Top podcasts, YouTube channels and blogs followed by Donald H Marks https://bit.ly/47VpBk8


Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Autobiography of Donald Harvey Marks

Donald Harvey Marks, an Autobiography


Donald Harvey Marks (born June 27, 1949) is an American physician, scientist, author and advocate for social justice He is a husband (Diane Christine Bingham, married 1972), the proud father of three children (Brandon Ellis, Travis Dustin and Britni Kalin), and a grandfather. He had a number of major discoveries in his life, principle of which was applying the concept of cognitive engrams for the interpretation of functional MRI data to human thought. (see Patents).

 Video bio of Donald Harvey Marks: 

https://www.youtube.com/live/fwiYM-yZcsQ?si=PP3H83wWwWVKnih8


Family: 

Parents are Dorothy Greenberg Marks and Richard Leo Marks, of Buffalo, NY.

Marks has one brother (Stephen, deceased), one sister (Sharon), three children (Brandon Ellis, Travis Dustin and Britni Kalin) and 5 grandchildren: Connor Ellis (31 March 2010)  Lukas Richard (11 May 2012), Madelyn Isaura (11 May 2012), Dylan Richard (October 22, 2015) and Rosalee Rosie Elvy (January 19, 2019) Marks. I am also blessed with two wonderful daughter-in-laws Erika and Kristie, and son-in-law Mark Bentley.

Link to Family Tree https://www.geni.com/share?t=6000000082553671440


Link to video Odyssey presentation on my life https://www.youtube.com/live/fwiYM-yZcsQ?si=W3nrw-VQJSDrfs8_



Early Life


Don Marks was born in Buffalo, New York on 27 June  1949. He grew up in Buffalo, Erie County, New York and in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of PS 66 in Buffalo, NY and of Hollywood High School (1967), Hollywood, California. He doesn't remember a lot of the details of his earlier years because he was born when he was very young.


After graduating from (now) California State University San Bernardino with a B.A. in 1972, he attended the (now) Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Human Genetics at UCLA. He received a doctorate in philosophy (Ph.D.) in 1977, on the subject of comparative immunology of graft rejection. Marks attended the David Geffin School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, and graduated in 1980 with a medical degree (M.D.). Not everyone was totally surprised that I had two doctors degrees, because some members of my family thought I was a child progeny.

He had completed Internal Medicine internship and residency at the USAF Medical Center, Keesler AFB, MS.


Don Marks is licensed to practice medicine in New Jersey. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and an Emeritus Fellow of the American College of Physicians.


Military Career


      Marks was in the Air Force ROTC and Civil Air Patrol while in high school, and served 6 years in the California Air National Guard after graduation from HS and while in undergraduate college. He attended basic training at Lack!and AFB and aircraft engine school at Sheppard AFB. He was a flight engineer on C-97 and C-130 aircraft.

     He had a military scholarship to attend medical school, and attended the Officers Candidate School Medical Indoctrination for Medical Service Officers. He also completed the Air Command and Staff College, and the Biological Warfare Courses.

     Marks was honorably discharged and is a proud third generation veteran. His father Richard and his five uncles were all veterans of World War II, and his grandfather Mortimer Marks was a veteran of World War I.


Pharmaceutical Industry Career


     Marks is the former Associate Director of Clinical Research, Antibacterials of Hoffmann-LaRoche Pharmaceuticals, and the former Director of Clinical Research for adult vaccines at Aventis Pasteur Vaccines (formerly Connaught Pasteur Merieux). Research projects centered around application of antibiotics to treat Lyme disease and adult vaccines for Lyme disease and influenza.


Biotech and Neurotech Career

He was the Senior Vice President, Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs at Emerging Technology Partners, which was the biotech division of Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. He participated in the founding and initial scientific direction for vaccine companies Vaxin Inc. (www.Vaxin.com) and Tranzyme, Inc.

He was the founder and CSO of Millennium Magnetic Technologies, MMT Neurotech, LLC http://www.MilMag.net which  commercialized his discovery of interpreting human thoughts with functional MRI.


Intellectual Property

He has been awarded the following patents, in the areas of vaccination and use of functional neural Imaging to understand thought.


     Vaccination by topical application of genetic vectors. China 98809932, November 22, 2000. D-C C Tang; D H Marks; D T Curiel; UAB Research Foundation.


     Noninvasive genetic immunization, expression products therefrom and uses thereof. US 6348450, February 19, 2002. De-Chu Tang, Donald H. Marks, et al.


     Vaccination by Topical Application of Genetic Vectors. US 06706693, March 16, 2004. De-Chu Tang, Donald H. Marks, et al.


     Noninvasive genetic immunization, expression products therefrom, and uses thereof. US 06716823, April 6, 2004: Tang, De-chu C.; Marks, Donald H.; Curiel, David T.; Shi, Zhongkai.


     Brain Function Decoding Process And System. US 7,627,370, December 1, 2009. Marks, Donald H.


     Brain Function Decoding Process And System. Marks, Donald H. Patent application filed March 25, 2010, US Serial No. 12/731,264, claiming priority to the application filed on March 30, 2009, and assigned Serial No. 61/164,724.


Academic Affiliations


     University of Alabama at Birmingham, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, and also Biomedical Engineering.


     Wallace Kettering Neuroscience Institute, Kettering, OH, former visiting Research Associate.



Non-Science PUBLICATIONS


Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics. http://bit.ly/2HC5YEN


Jonas Salk, Polio Vaccine and Vaccinating Against Hate. My take. http://bit.ly/2HE5bDl


Personal thoughts on longevity v reputation v meaningful accomplishments. "What I have not told my family about the meaning of time." http://bit.ly/2HDQDUb


Transit States. Collected poetry of DH Marks. https://www.amazon.com/Transit-States-D-Marks-ebook/dp/B011LM9NFI


A complete listing of all of his publications can be found at www.dhmarks.blogspot.com


                              Scientific Publications 


  1. TenEyck R, Schaerdel AD, Lynett JE, Marks DH, et al: Stroma-free methemoglobin solution as an antidote for cyanide poisoning. A preliminary study. Clinical Toxicology 21(3):343-358, 1984.

  1. Marks DH, et al: Pelvic hematoma after intercourse while on chronic anticoagulation. Annals of Emergency Medicine 13:554-556, 1984.

  2. Marks DH, Patressi J, Chaudry IH: Effect of pyridoxalated stabilized stroma-free hemoglobin solution on the clearance of intravascular lipid by the reticuloendothelial system. Circulatory Shock 16:165-172, 1985

  3. Marks DH, et al: Pyridoxalated polymerized stroma-free hemoglobin solution for hemorrhagic shock in dogs. Military Med. 152(5):265-271, 1987

  4. Marks DH, et al: Antibody Response to Transfusion With Pyridoxalated glutaraldehyde-treated Hemoglobin Solution. Mil Med 152(9):473-477, 1987.

  1. Marks DH, Hou KC, Medina F, Bolin RB. Removal of bacteria from blood. Mil Med. 1987 Mar;152(3):156-60.

  1. Marks DH, et al.: Optimization of synthesis of pyridoxalated polymerized stroma-free hemoglobin solution. Mil Med 153:44-49, 1988.

  1. Marks DH, Medina F, Hou KC et al: Efficiency of Antibacterial Membrane and effect on Blood Components. Mil Med 153(7):337-340, 1988.

  1. Davidson IJA, Drukkerr S, Hedlund B, Marks DH et al: Deleterious Effects of Stroma-free Hemoglobin Used As Resuscitative Fluid For Rats With Ischemic Intestinal Shock. Crit Care Med 16(6):606-609, 1988.

  1. Marks DH, Medina F, Lee S, Blackmon A, Schuschereba ST. Removal of bacteria from blood by charcoal hemoperfusion. Biomater Artif Cells Artif Organs. 1988;16(1-3):135-40.

  1. Moore GL, Marks DH, et al: Ascorbate-2-phosphate in Red Cell Preservation: Clinical Trials and Active Components. Transfusion 26(3):221-225, 1988.

  1. Marks DH, Cooper T, Makovec T,et al.: Effect of Polymyxin B on in vivo hepatoxicity of hemoglobin. Mil Med 154(4):180-184, 1989.

  1. Keller, D, Koster, FT, Marks, DH et al. Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Outer Surface Protein A Lyme Vaccine. JAMA, June 8, 1994, p 1764-1768.

  1. Sigal LH, Zahradnik JM, Lavin P, Patella SJ, Bryant G, Haselby R, Hilton E, Kunkel M, Adler-Klein D, Doherty T, Evans J, Molloy PJ, Seidner AL, Sabetta JR, Simon HJ, Klempner MS, Mays J, Marks D, Malawista SE A vaccine consisting of recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A to prevent Lyme disease. Recombinant Outer-Surface Protein A. Lyme Disease Vaccine Study Consortium. N Engl J Med (1998 Jul 23) 339(4):216-22.

  1. Kanesa-thasan N, Smucny JJ, Hoke CH, Marks DH, Konishi E, Kurane I, Tang DB  Vaughn DW, Mason PW, Shope RE.   Safety and immunogenicity of NYVAC-JEV and ALVAC-JEV attenuated recombinant Japanese encephalitis virus--poxvirus vaccines in vaccinia-nonimmune and vaccinia-immune humans. Vaccine (2000 Oct 15) 19(4-5):483-91.

  1. VanKampen KR, Shi Z, Gao P, Zhang J, Foster KW, Chen DT, Marks D, Elmets CA, and Tang DC. 2004. Safety and immunogenicity of adenovirus-vectored nasal and epicutaneous influenza vaccines in humans. Vaccine. 2005 Jan 11;23(8):1029-36.

  1. Marks DH, Adineh M, Gupta S: Determination of Truth from Deception Using Functional MRI and Cognitive Engrams. The Internet Journal of Radiology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2006. Volume 5, Number 1.

  1. Marks DH, Adineh M, Wang B, Gupta S, Udupa JK. Multidimensional Representation of Concepts as Cognitive Engrams in the Human Brain. The Internet Journal of Neurology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2007. Volume 6, Number 1.

  1. Marks DH, Adineh M, Wang B, Gupta S. Use of fMRI to Predict Psychiatric Adverse Effects of Interferon Treatment for Hepatitis C. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2007:3(5) 655-667.

  1. Marks DH. Cardiomyopathy Due to Ingestion of Adderall. American Journal of Therapeutics. Am J Ther. 2008 May-Jun;15(3):287-9.

  1. Marks DH. Depression Leading to Suicide As An Adverse Effect of Metoclopramide. Internet Journal of Gastroenterology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2007. Volume 5(2).

  1. Marks DH. Dangers of OTC Herbal Supplements: Dilated Cardiomyopathy after Ingestion of TRIAC (triiodothyroacetic acid, Tiratricol). Internet Journal of Endocrinology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2007. Volume 3(2).

  1. Marks DH and Milby J. Interferon and Risk for Drug-Seeking Behavior. Internet Journal of Pain, Symptom Control and Palliative Care [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2009, 6(2).

  1. Marks DH, Breggin PR, Braslow D. Homicidal Ideation Causally Related To Therapeutic Medications. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 10 (3), 2008.  

            Simultaneously published by agreement in The International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, Volume 20 (4), 2008, pp 231-240.


    25. Marks DH, Adineh M, Gupta S. MR Imaging of Drug-Induced Suicidal Ideation. Internet J Radiology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet], 9(1). 2008. http://ispub.com/IJRA/9/1/10393

26. Marks DH. Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment. Internet J Health. [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 8(1), 2008

27. Marks DH, Allison J, Ahmed S, Jeffers LJ, Morgan JR, Morgan PM. The Association of Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Comorbidity with Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Treatment Response, Internet Journal of Gastroenterology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 7(2), 2008.

28. Marks DH. Case Report: Drug Toxicity Leading to Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome and Cholestatic Jaundice. Internet Journal of Gastroenterology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2009, Vol 8(1).

29. Marks DH, Valsasina P, Rocca M and Filippi M. Case Report: Documentation of Acute Neck Pain in a Patient Using Functional MR Imaging. Internet Journal of Pain, Symptom Control and Palliative Care [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2010, Vol 8(1).

30. Marks DH. Neurologic Complications of Vaccination with Outer Surface Protein A (OspA). Int J Risk Saf Med. 2011;23(2):89-96. doi: 10.3233/JRS-2011-0527.

31. Marks DH. Drug Utilization, Safety and Clinical Use of Actos and Avandia. Int J Risk Saf Med. 2013 Jan 1;25(1):39-51. Review

32. D H Marks, A Yildiz, S Vural, S Levy. Face Recognition, Reversible Correlation Between fMRI and Biometrics Data. The Internet Journal of Radiology. 2017 Volume 20 Number 1.



Non-Peer Reviewed Articles

  1. Marks DH. Evaluation of Medical Causation, in Drug Injury: Liability, Analysis and Prevention, 3rd and 4th Editions, O’Donnell JT editor. L&J Publications, 2012 and 2016. 

  1. Marks DH and Middlekoop T. Accutane: Focus on Psychiatric Toxicity and Suicide, in Drug Injury: Liability, Analysis and Prevention, Second Edition, Chapter 20. O’Donnell JT editor. L&J Publications, 2005

Universal Basic Income UBI 

Is Criticism of Henry-kissinger-form-of historical revisionism?


 Medical Fiction, under the author's name of Dimitri Markov:

     "Vera Mortina" - When the patient is not the sick one! Dangerous medical fiction about violence in hospitals, so real only a doctor could have written it.. https://amzn.to/2F89yng

     Interview with the author http://bit.ly/2JkXtk5


     "The Surrogate" Greedy docs pushing false hopes in infertility business. Contemporary medical fiction by Dimitri Markov https://amzn.to/2FSzyDv

     pb http://a.co/50QyD5Y


     "BloodBird" - When the organ is not the only thing transplanted! Immortality you don't want. Dangerous medical fiction available on Amazon & Kindle https://amzn.to/2Qe2n26


     "Her Charm Was Contagious," by Dimitri Markov, on Amazon & Kindle. A dangerous doctor and a patient who just loved everyone to death. Intense medical fiction only a doctor could write. https://amzn.to/2HJinqi



Personal credo 2021 http://bit.ly/33sJ3J6

I completed the course Build Your Own Theology in 2021.

The ending assignment was for each to create their own credo - a statement of beliefs which guide our individual actions. 

My personal credo

  • I believe in reason, ethics, social justice,

  • in the not-all-knowing power of science, and of facts over truth,

  • that we were made in God’s image, however we see God - as a creator, as a universal force of love, or in a more classic sense. To me, Psalm 18 means that we should see ourselves as part of nature in God, and God in ourselves, in the universality of life, and of God as a life force,

  • that God reflects ourselves, and we can see our reflection in God,

  • that no one can fool God, but we can certainly fool ourselves and those we care about most, at least for some relative amount of time. 

  • that God, our universal spirit, knows our hearts, and is revealed to us as required. 

  • that great peace can come from harmonizing our lives and our ethics with the rhythm and flow of the universal spirit,

  • that in addition to the 4 classic forces in nature (strong, weak, gravity, electromagnetic), that love, forgiveness, pride and the spirit of life are also very strong and very important forces,

  • I believe that there are absolute moral rights and wrongs, without which society will simply collapse, 

  • I object to and reject moral relativism and its consequence uncertainty, because they undermine my confidence in how I see morality, norms and values.  

  • I am suspect of following dispassionate logic and adopting absolutist principles in my life, 

  • that as a moral citizen, I see that truth (ethical, moral, theological) can be relative and situational, not always absolute. Truth, not being fact, by it

  • s very subjective nature is quite relative, and I see a range of truths and an open set of beliefs. 

  • I tend to see life, morality and truth as finely nuanced, complex and relative things that generally do not respond well to absolute laws, rules that don’t change or inflexible statements, 

  • I believe that truth is relative in the human and moral realms that I live in, simple answers often don’t exist, absolute statements don’t always work, and eternal truths are hard to come by, 

  • I can not know and control everything, and I fight to accept this and just be at peace. I accept that most moral and human issues defy absolute answers.


I have had a number of major discoveries in my life. Principle among these are:

  1. Discovering and applying the concept of cognitive engrams for interpretation of functional MRI neuroimaging data to human thought.

Cognitive engrams are 3-D brain activation patterns seen with functional neuroimaging.

 See above pubs and Patents. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1my3jkTLblCD2e-TKG0iX9ADv8wyxwdJYXxL2FwRqIKY/edit?usp=drivesdk

This concept was first conceived by me in 2003-4.  I presented my concepts at the neuroimaging unit of NIH on May 26, 2004. 


May 30, 2005 was my first actual functional neuroimaging of persons viewing specific faces.  

I imaged for pain, face identification and also for determining response for truth vs deception. My findings verified my hypothnesis that specific thoughts / concepts resulted in specific brain activation patterns, as viewed by functional MRI.


I published my breakthrough concepts and enabling research in the following articles:  (Multidimensional Representation of Concepts as Cognitive Engrams in the Human Brain. The Internet Journal of Neurology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2007. Volume 6, Number 1). 

Other work published subsequent to Marks 2007, which also validate Marks’ concept of a library of Cognitive Engrams, include Kay, Naselaris, Prenger & Galant 2007, and also Kriegeskorte et al 2007. 

The conceptual work envisions a veritable Rosetta Stone, allowing two-way movement between actual imaging data and a database of activation maps created from neuroimaging studies. A wide range of faces, objects, places and concepts have unique activation map correlates, which are termed Cognitive Engrams. The presence of specific Cognitive Engrams within neuroimaging data allows for the identification of the actual thought which led to a specific brain activation – a form of applied mind reading. Applications under development include background and security checks, lie detection, and non-invasive interrogation (Marks DH et al: Determination of Truth from Deception Using Functional MRI and Cognitive Engrams. The Internet Journal of Radiology [peer-reviewed serial on the Internet]. 2006. Volume 5, Number 1).



2003 - 2004

Detection of multidimensional pattern activation 

Dr. Donald H. Marks developed the concept that multidimensional pattern of brain activation detected with functional neuroimaging correlated with specific thoughts.

2004 (May 26)

National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland

Dr. Donald H. Marks presented the concept of detection of multidimensional pattern activation at a meeting at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland

2005 (May 30)


Hello World… 

My first actual functional neuroimaging of persons viewing specific faces: May 30, 2005  

I imaged for pain, face identification and also for determining response for truth vs deception.



My second breakthrough concept concerns the origin of gravity, in 2016.

  1. Gravity may be a property of a non-homogenous nature of spacetime, as explained http://dhmarks.blogspot.com/2019/04/gravity-and-spacetime-irregularity.html

Following are some of my thoughts on the matter of gravity and space-time. According to current theory, small pieces of randomly moving matter in space attract each other with their individual minuscule gravitational fields and thereby eventually form increasing larger amounts of matter, eventually leading to stars and planets. The high concentrations of matter warp nearby space-time and create a gravity effect.

The Einstein field equations EFE describe the fundamental interaction of gravitation as a result of spacetime being curved by matter and energy. A re-interpretation of the EFE could lead to the following alternative explanation of how matter collects to form planets and stars, and how spacetime is warped by matter. Rather than matter  first collecting, and then distorting space-time and thereby creating gravity effect, I hypothesized in 2016 (Physics Stack)  that discontinuous areas of SpaceTime could result in concentrated areas of gravity which then attract collections of matter. In a way, this is a reversal of the classic chicken (matter) or the egg (gravity) argument.

I first noted my concept online  in 2016  DHM gravity physics 2016.pdf.PDF



Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Philip Zelikow's essay "Confronting Another Axis? History, Humility, and Wishful Thinking,"

Excellent article. Recommend reading 

https://tnsr.org/2024/05/confronting-another-axis-history-humility-and-wishful-thinking/

. Key points:

1. **Volatile Global Politics**: Zelikow warns that the United States faces a highly volatile period in global politics, with maximum danger potentially occurring within the next one to three years.

2. **Lessons from History**: Drawing lessons from past anti-American partnerships (such as those developed by the Axis powers during World War II and Moscow and Beijing during the early Cold War), Zelikow emphasizes the importance of understanding adversaries' internal divisions, historical interpretations, and potential miscalculations.

3. **Geopolitical Challenges**: The essay sheds light on the current geopolitical landscape and the challenges ahead.


Monday, May 20, 2024

Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics

Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics 

Does God play dice with the universe?

by Donald Harvey Marks, physician scientist




personal blog https://bit.ly/3PyR6aP

as a podcast; https://bit.ly/3fQDsNE

With all the uncertainty and turmoil in our lives, many have wondered whether there is meaning to the world, and whether God Truly Does Play Dice With The Universe. In many ways, Einstein and his findings of Relativity can help us answer these questions. This presentation on   Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics presents my thoughts on the early history of Einstein’s life and his key concepts, where they fit into history, and then addresses whether some or all ethical decisions have moral absolutes or are simply relative to their context. Emphasis is given to decisions made in medicine and public health, and the consequences of relative ethics are explored.

This full article is also available on my podcast The Existentialisthttps://bit.ly/3fQDsNE


And now  the presentation.



Let's first talk about Einstein – The Person

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany and he died 1955. He was a brilliant Scientist, who thought outside the box. The phrase “All things are relative” is often attributed to him, but Einstein never said that, nor meant that. Einstein originated the concepts which led to the Atomic bomb. He was a German, a Jew and an atheist. He was a man uncertain with his scientific findings, and self-aware of his fallibility. Einstein was a mere mortal, a husband, a divorcee, a father and grandfather (Thomas). He was a funny looking guy with messy hair, who almost never wore socks.


When Einstein quit school at the age of 15, his teacher claimed there was nothing left to teach him. At 17, he applied for early admission for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He passed the math and science sections of the entrance exam, but failed the rest (history, languages, geography, etc.) His scope of knowledge was relatively intense in math and physics, but very restricted otherwise. As Einstein said, Knowledge is limited, but imagination circles the world.

Einstein had to go to a trade school in 1896 before he retook the exam and was finally admitted to ETH a year later. During that time, he often missed classes and preferred reading about physics and playing his violin. 

To the public, Einstein presented himself as being a humble man, and said of himself, “I have no special gift - I am only passionately curious.” Although he may have been sincere when he said this, Einstein was not known for his humility or his understanding of his fellow humans.

At the turn of the 19th century, the world was changing rapidly, with many scientific achievements.

In 1901 Guglielmo Marconi developed a radio system and could transmit Morse code over the Atlantic ocean.

In 1903 Henry Ford produced the model A car, and the Wright Brothers make their first flight.

Around this time, Einstein took a job as an examiner at the patent office in Bern, which provided him with financial security while in grad school, and an opportunity to hone his analytic skills

Some three centuries earlier (1564 – 1642), Galileo's principle of relativity had stated that all uniform motion was relative, and that there was no absolute and well-defined state of rest. We are all familiar watching a person on the deck of a ship which is passing us by. To the person on the deck, he may be at rest, but from the view of someone observing him from the shore, he appears to be moving. His movement is relative to the observer.

In his Special Theory of Relativity STR, Einstein in 1905 expanded the understanding of relative motion of Galileo into a more general principle of relativity which includes many laws of nature. Einstein called his theory “Special” because it did not discuss Gravity, which he addressed later in the General Theory of Relativity. As Einstein said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” 

Special relativity makes some quantities relative, such as time, that we would have imagined to be absolute based on our everyday experience. It also makes absolute some others, like the speed of light, that we would have thought were relative. Is this true for ethics too?


The speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, is a universal constant, a property of the physical universe, absolute, immutable, but whose very property is counter-intuitive. The STR does not prohibit faster than light motion, and just within the last few years we have detected evidence of particles that travel faster than light. As it is, light traveling 2.5 years could reach the nearest star, and 179 thousand years to the nearest galaxy. Of course, at the time of the STR, scientists knew of only one galaxy in the universe - our Milky Way.

Einstein joked, “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity.” 


 Einstein reasoned that small amounts of mass may be converted into a very large amount of energy and visa versa. This is because Einstein saw Mass and Energy as different manifestations of the same thing, as pointed out in his famous equation E=MC2. Commenting on the pairing of mass and energy, Einstein said, “This thought is amusing and infectious, but I cannot possibly know whether the good Lord does not laugh at it and has led me up the garden path."

 In 1915, Einstein revealed his Theory of General Relativity GTR, which predicted that: Gravity is a property of curved space and time, and this curvature of space-time is produced by the mass itself.  Raising further questions, I am postulated that irregularities in space time may favor collection of matter


Until recently, Einstein’s theories had not been proven or validated in the scientific sense. And so, in an address to the French Philosophical Society at the Sorbonne (6 April 1922), Einstein quipped, “If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.”


1919-22 the German, Russian and Turk Ottoman empires collapsed. That year, Einstein’s Mother died, he divorced his wife Mileva Maric Einstein, and remarried five months later to the widow Elsa Einstein (a relative). 

In 1921 Einstein was awarded Nobel Prize in Physics, for his work on the photoelectric effect, not for relativity. Although Jews represent only 0.1% of the world’s people, they have earned 22-36% of Nobel Laureates

1925, Edwin Hubbel discovered that galaxies other than our Milky Way galaxy exist within our universe. We now think that there are 250+ billion galaxies. Out own galaxy is thought to contain 100 billion stars. Seven years later, in 1932, Cockcroft and Walton demonstrated experimentally that mass and energy are equivalent, the first experimental validation of Einstein’s theories.


Einstein felt that he had made a number of Great Mistakes in his life. He disliked uncertainty, but was plagued by it his entire professional life. Much in science is unknowable, and his most important equations did not work unless he added fudge factors called constants to “fix” things. Einstein developed the idea of a cosmological constant, which he thought shortly thereafter to have been a terrible mistake but which turns out may not have been a mistake at all. How many times have we made what we think is a wrong decision, but which turns out to be the right one? How many times have we tried to fix things by adding something to the mix? Candy for a tearful child, the keys to the car to a pestering adolescent, ignoring signs of dependency in a loved one? The right way may not be absolutely knowable, but I often think we can sense it.


During the dark days of the second world War,  Einstein signed a letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs should be made. Years later, he lamented this move, but at the time, it was certainly the best decision possible, relative to the evil that would have persisted otherwise. To agonize over past decisions and their consequences is a common malady. Einstein said, "The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking...the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker."


Einstein didn't fully develop his interpersonal side. In fact, Einstein said, “My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities. I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude.” Although I never met Einstein, who died while I was a child, I did go to medical school with his grandson Thomas, who confirmed to me that, as a person, his grandfather Albert was difficult to get close to or relate to.


I find it so hard to understand how one could be passionate for social justice and still remain a lone traveler. I don’t think that Einstein even knew himself. Certainly, his ethical lamentations smack of both insincerity and regret. People used Einstein for his capabilities as a theoretical physicist, not because of his ability to transform his ideas into practice. He was valued as a spokesperson for causes, and often quoted, but his influence outside of physics was probably relatively small. People like Einstein with remarkable talents are often boxed into their specific areas by society and by themselves.


As a philosophical point, Einstein did not think that all things were relative. Einstein did believe that all things are knowable, not mysterious or left to chance like the roll of the dice. I for one am not at all convinced that all things that really count can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. Heisenberg, another great physicist and a contemporary of Einstein, developed what is commonly referred to as the Uncertainty Principle. Heisenberg proposed that one cannot simultaneously know the mass and the position of a particle. I think that this is more a technical issue than a basic law of nature. But as a concept, that degree of uncertainty was absolutely unacceptable to Einstein. 


Einstein was an absolutist in many things. He said, “It is hard to sneak a look at God's cards. But that there should be statistical laws with indefinite solutions, laws that compel God to throw dice in each individual case, I find highly disagreeable.” I too strongly disagree with the uncertainty principle, but for different reasons, both in physics and as applied to interpersonal relations.


How does all this relate to us as individuals and to our own interpersonal affairs? Perhaps the Uncertainty Principle means that sometimes the correct Moral and Ethical choices really are relative and uncertain. Uncertainty in ethical decisions can lead directly to Situational Ethics, commonly known as, “whatever.”


Does God Play Dice With The Universe?

I think not. Not all can be known, but important things can be known.


Einstein accepted a teaching position at Princeton in the 1930s. Carved into the mantelpiece in the old Fine Hall is the German saying -

"Raffiniert ist der Herr Gott, aber boshaft ist er nicht." Translated, this reads: “Shrewd is the Lord, but malicious he is not.” Perhaps it is true that very little said has not been said before, for Psalm 18 reads: 

    “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

    to the pure you show yourself pure,

    but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.”


There is little doubt that Einstein had seen this German phrase, and that he had read Psalm 18. What does this Psalm mean?

First, that we were made in God’s image, however we see God. As a creator, as a universal force of love, or in a more classic sense. To me, Psalm 18 means that we should see ourselves as part of nature in God, and God in ourselves. When viewed in the sense of universality of life, and of God as a life force, this is entirely consistent with modern ethical principles.

 Second, God reflects ourselves, and we can see our reflection in God.

 Third, no one can fool God. But we can certainly fool ourselves and those we care about most, at least for some relative amount of time. God, our universal spirit, knows our hearts, and is revealed to us as required. As Gandhi noted, to the hungry, God will appear as a loaf of bread. Great peace can come from harmonizing our lives and our ethics with the rhythm and flow of the universal spirit.


There are many things which Einstein was not aware of. Although he told us that his knowledge was limited, his hubris seems insincere and for public consumption. I don’t think that he seriously considered how reliance on scientific principles truly limited his knowledge of the universe.

Einstein did not know of the existence of many things which he could not see, touch or measure and yet which exerted huge powers in his life. 

    dark matter and dark energy which may constitute 90% of the universe and hold it together,

    galaxies in addition to our Milky Way,

    String theory, cell phones, computers, transistors, transplantation, DNA, the internet and social networking media.


Physics defines four forces in nature: strong, weak, electromagnetic and gravitational. Einstein never knew that Love, forgiveness, pride and the spirit of life are also very strong and very important forces


But what does all this have to do with us as individuals?

Moral Relativism holds that moral decisions are relative to the social, cultural, historical or personal circumstances surrounding each situation, and don’t represent universal truths. Moral Relativism claims that no universal standard exists by which to assess an ethical proposition's truth. Moral values are applicable only within certain cultural boundaries or in the context of individual preferences. An extreme relativist position might even suggest that judging the moral or ethical decisions or acts of another person or group has no absolute meaning at all. But as I will show, there are absolute moral rights and wrongs, without which society will simply collapse, as did France during the revolution, Soviet Russia, China during the cultural revolution, and Cambodia during Pol Pot.


Some moral relativists hold that a personal and subjective moral core lies at the foundation of an individuals' moral acts. In this view, public morality reflects social convention. In this mindset, whatever everyone thinks is right must be.

Moral relativism differs from moral pluralism, a more contemporary and universal version of relativism. Moral pluralism acknowledges the co-existence of opposing ideas and practices, but accepts limits to differences, such as when vital human needs get violated. It is very progressive to acknowledge the co-existence of opposing ideas and practices, and very progressive to accept limits to differences. Compromise is a form of relativism, as opposed to an absolute approach to life. In fact, acceptance of other people's values and agreeing that there is no one "right" way of doing some things really has little to do with the philosophical idea of relativism. It’s more to do with survival in a society, making a family work as a unit, thriving inside a relationship. Further, relativism does not necessarily imply tolerance, just as moral objectivism does not imply intolerance. We need to reject these simplistic labels, with their implied pre-fab meanings. Remember, if everybody’s right, than no one is wrong. Otherwise. we could say that all beliefs (ideas, truths) are equally valid, or just as well say all beliefs are equally worthless. Whatever !!!

For me, Moral Relativism and its consequence Uncertainty can undermine our confidence in how we see morality, resulting in a breakdown of norms and values. Complete Social Darwinism follows – the survival of the fittest. You can see this within a society, but also within a family, a marriage, a friendship, a job. The principles of social justice are ignored, violating some of the basic concepts of pluralism and social justice. We have seen for the last 50 years the call to Social Darwinism in American politics, ironically supported by the very poor, the less educated, the disenfranchised, the religious fundamentalists, those most likely to be harmed by those very precepts of Social Darwinism.


In the extreme, relativism denies that harming others is wrong in any absolute sense. In general, progressives consider it immoral to harm others, but relativist theory allows for the opposite belief. If I can believe it wrong for me to harm others, I can also believe it to be relatively right – no matter what the circumstances. Very few of us are willing to turn the other cheek when we or our most loved ones are being physically attacked, and neither should we. More than simple survival instincts, all life forms will react to protect themselves. Einstein witnessed the logical consequences of moral relativism in the form of the widespread popular support by German citizens for the Nazi movement and of communism under Stalin and Mao.

Theoretical arguments on moral relativism ignore or overlook Reality. As Einstein said, “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” He also said, “We should take care not to make the intellect our God; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.” In this way, Einstein was cautioning us against following dispassionate logic and adopting absolutist principles in our own lives. Yet, Einstein adopted his intellect as his personal God.


But What if God did play dice with the Universe? There are several predictable results.

    Of course, not everything would be knowable.

    Mystery could be acceptable, as it should be.

    Unfortunately, situational ethics could be acceptable

 

 How does all this relate to us?

As moral citizens, we see in general that truth (ethical, moral, theological) are relative and situational, not absolute. Truth, as distinguished from scientific facts, is found in all religions, not just Bible-based Christianity. And truth, not being fact, by its very subjective nature is quite relative. We can therefore embrace a range of truths and an open set of beliefs. True, we can hold a few absolute principles and ideals that guide us, as a movement and as a tradition. We have overwhelmingly tended to see life, morality and truth as finely nuanced, complex and relative things that generally do not respond well to absolute laws, rules that don’t change or inflexible statements. Who is least able to function in society, in the workplace, in a relationship, than the absolutist?

My own worldview is that our creations (and everything both natural and human within it) are very complex matters. They are marked not so much by simplicity and clarity, but by complexity and subtlety. It would be nice and reassuring if life and truth and morality came to us in straightforward and absolute clarity. It usually does not, because of the incredible intricacy, complexity, and changeability of life and of being a thinking caring person and member of society.


Centuries ago Sir Isaac Newton and other early scientists first postulated the basic laws of physics and the other natural sciences. Then, the scientific community thought it had identified forces and mechanisms (like gravity, and the velocity of things like light and sound) that were absolutes. Science became for some the new religion. In the following centuries, science has evolved and matured, with the findings of Darwin, Einstein, Heisenberg, Hubble, Watson and Crick. Scientists have realized that the once apparently clear and immutable truths and laws that had been identified are, in fact, often imprecise and mysterious, not fully understood, subject to change, vulnerable to cultural bias, and dependent upon each context in which they operate. Most scientists today hesitate to make absolutist statements about the laws of the natural world. Scientists see the world in increasingly relativistic terms, depending on their context. And so should we.


How then is the dice analogy important?

 If we now understand a great deal of scientific truth to be relative and contextual, then how much easier it is to see how truth is also relative in the human and moral realms we live in! In my professional world of HEALTH CARE, simple answers often don’t exist, absolute statements don’t always work, and eternal truths are hard to come by. Life itself often seems to be a collection of factors which change based upon floating circumstances. We can not know and control everything, and perhaps we should accept that and just be at peace. What is the best way to live ethically and morally with one another? I know many people try to. Some manage to persuade themselves and others that they alone have all the answers. I have found in my own life that most moral and human issues defy absolute answers.

What makes something just?...how will it work? who will decide?...and how will we know when we truly, once-and-for-all achieve real or pure or absolute justice? Only an absolutist can answer these questions.


Let’s look at another human characteristic everybody believes in and wants to understand... love. Everybody says love is good...but does anyone know precisely -- in all human contexts, situations and relationships -- what absolute love looks like? We may think we know something about what love often feels like or looks like in our lives, and there is lots of poetry that attempts to describe it. Take for example, “Love Is Not All”, by Edna St. Vincent Milay. But do we really know with absolute certainty what love is? Sometimes love needs to wear a face that is almost totally counter-intuitive. Many parents have had to love their out-of-control children by sending them off to "tough-love" boot camps or even not interfering with their going to prison as a way of loving and protecting and best serving all parties. Sometimes, also, love means withholding gentleness and affirmation, or fiercely restraining individuals from doing what they want, so that they don’t hurt themselves or others. What is real and pure love? Who amongst us can be sure we are in any given complex human situation or relationship expressing love? Many of us have the gift to feel love. I pity to those who can not.


There are many moral absolutists in this country who declare themselves to be pro-life, which to them means that they by their actions are staunch and righteous defenders of human life. Pro life with respect to abortion, and pro death as it applies to the death penalty. Their opposites are labeled pro-choice, in effect the pro-choice have been unwillingly transformed to being anti-life. But I think that those who are pro-life have done so out of their own choice, and therefore they are pro-choice, not anti-life. The pro life are therefore pro choice. Similarly, those who are pro-choice do so because they feel deeply that this is how they can most honor their inner most beliefs to save and protect life, so are not the pro-choice simultaneously pro-life? I detest the terms Pro-Life and Pro-choice, which misrepresent their opponents positions. Space and time become space-time. Matter changes into energy, becomes anti matter, and then back again. We love, become indifferent, are consumed by hate, turn cold, and then die. We can see how Pro-Life and Pro-Choice are relative labels, but their consequences absolutely do matter.

Most morally absolutist positions are not reasonable. This is because the reality of life and existence comes to us in a context that is mostly relative, with lots of uncertainty. The relativity in most human relationships is something that the absolutist's truth cannot handle! We must struggle in our lives and in this complex world of ours to seek truth and goodness and moral responsibility. In our lives, we must almost always recognize the situational and not absolute. We cannot know simultaneously the position of our heart and the energy of our beliefs, but we can live with the uncertainty because we must.


Yet, I think that we can all agree on moral ethical situations for which an absolute yes or no can arise. Let us consider the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Forced sexual assault by a mob of men on two visiting men, or a father offering his daughters to that very mob of men as an appeasement to their bizarre violent sexual lust, and the complete destruction of a city because of the moral failure of some of its citizens are all examples where one can easily say No, I do not agree, none of this is acceptable. Neither are honor killing, spousal abuse, and thousands of other examples. We do have moral absolutes.


And so I arrive at the core of my arguments. If we are to be fully human and humane, we must regularly use our reason and our conscience and our freedom in every unique situation we face. Conservative, legalistic and absolutist thinkers suggest that to take a relative approach to truth in each situation is somehow equated with having no moral standards or principles at all. Nothing could be further from the truth! BOTH a relativist and an absolutist finally can arrive at a firm moral decision making point...and both act on principle and with purpose ...the difference is simply how they get there: what moral methods they use to get to what is right, how many aspects of each problem they are willing to consider, and whether they are afraid of human freedom and reason or embrace them.


Absolutist thinking only requires that you: 1) know what the law is, and then 2) precisely follow its dictates. Situational or relative thinking (on the other hand) requires that you: 1) articulate first principles for your living, and then 2) struggle to serve those first principles as best you can in the messy mix of real, situational life.


If I am right that truth in this complex world of ours is almost always relative and subject to the situation then you and I as responsible citizens have a lot of work to do as we strive in our daily lives to live the path of love and right. The fact that truth and morality are relative means that we are obliged in our ethical and interactive lives to:

    struggle with life's shifting complexities, contradictions and uncertainties,

    do the hard work of trying to discern what is right and good in each particular life situation,

    weigh in our hearts and minds the values and principles which demand our allegiance yet often come into conflict with one another. 


 We must then act almost always without complete certainty, if we are honest with ourselves, but yet with clarity of purpose and principle as we are given to see them.

Is doing the hard work of considering life's relativities scary? Absolutely! Is there room for error? Yes! Everyday and all the time. But in a world like ours, in the end, we have no other choice. Legalistic absolutes almost never work in the real world. Principled relativism and moral pleuralism alone can best serve us as we stumble toward that which is good and loving and right. We are human beings, obliged by a messy and uncertain world to use our freedom, our reason and our first principles situationally, relativistically every day. I do not believe this world gives us any other choice. We simply must use reason and freedom, and be as fully and bravely human as we can.


So, the answer is that God, however we know God to be, does not play dice with the universe. All this is not a game. We are not pawns on some meaningless chess board. God is not indifferent to our lives and our choices. What we do and how we relate are relatively important to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to our community. Of this there is no uncertainty.


With love 

Donald Harvey Marks 



Related Articles by DH Marks 

Salk, Polio Vaccine and Vaccinating Against Hate.  http://dhmarks.blogspot.com/2019/02/jonas-salk-polio-vaccine-and.html

Gravity and space-time irregularity.  http://dhmarks.blogspot.com/2019/04/gravity-and-spacetime-irregularity.html

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