Vital Vidal

SFW: Some people believe that the concept "God" refers to the immutable moral force we as human beings are born with. Others believe that "God" is a humanlike being with conscious thoughts and a physical presence. Which of these would best describe your understanding of the concept "God"?

VIDAL: I think the first. My, that's a long subject. I'm 69, and we ponder God from the day we can think. Deism has the sense that God is omnipotent, that he must have been present at his own creation. Others believe there is a spirituality out there that comes from our very nature. From my point of view, there is a tremendous amount to be said for secular humanism. Realizing our society as it is, without theology dogmatically telling us how we should react to it, and being humane toward that society, that is all that we're sure of. The rest is all possibility and maybe.

SFW: Do you believe it would be wise to replace our money economy with a pure barter system?

VIDAL: I believe it would lead to chaos. Especially in a global economy. But I do believe that the U.S. monetary system is a damn good one, and the fact that Europe is having the thoughts that they are, on a Euro-dollar, to me makes enormous sense.

SFW: Traditionally, the results of scientific research are hidden from the public until they are reviewed and evaluated by a panel of scientific peers. Some researchers, particularly fans of the Internet, feel that results should enter the public domain as soon as they are available. Which best furthers the cause of science?

VIDAL: Well, when you saw the consequences of thalidomide, which was an extraordinary thing, I mean children with no arms, no legs, just born totally humiliated. When you see the results of something that isn't truly put to the thorough test, you have to sit back and think, "Wait a minute, should the public have the knowledge of something that hasn't been certified as the truth?"

And I think not.
SFW: Do you believe physicists will soon find the unified field theory? If so, what will it be?

VIDAL: It's very interesting that even Einstein, whose theory was unquestionable, has been now questioned by Stephen Hawking. I think what comes into play here is Hegel's thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. Once a synthesis is found for both arguments -- thesis and antithesis -- that synthesis itself becomes a thesis. And when somebody evaluates it, somebody attacks it, then there's a new thought, a new added dimension. So, the reality is that a new thought will be there to haunt us, or help us.

SFW: To fend off potential scalpers, Procter & Gamble, owner of www.sassoon.com, has reserved more than 100 domain names, including diarrhea.com, according to unconfirmed reports on Internet bulletin boards. Do you think this creates an inappropriate association for your product line?

VIDAL: Well, to be associated with diarrhea isn't absolutely, really appropriate, no.