X-Message-Number: 13327 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: Re: predictions of cryonics' future Date: Tue, 29 Feb 100 11:12:52 +1100 (EST) Hi everyone! I note that at least one (and probably several) writers for this last Cryonet have decided that we are totally ignorant and the notions that 1. Current research might greatly improve our suspensions 2. Research has gone much further than 15yrs ago in explaining just how brains work and thus we can use this information both for revival and (possibly) for choosing just what must be preserved are both conjectures. While it's always possible that ANY of our beliefs in science may turn out to be wrong, that point means nothing at all when we must seriously think about what we can do NOW. Even to decide that we can do nothing now involves assumptions about the correctness (or even approximate correctness) of our current scientific ideas... and such notions are just as faulty as any beliefs that they are true. In that particular sense, I DO believe in both those propositions. There are things we can do NOW to greatly improve our suspensions. It behooves us to do them rather than descend into religious or philosophical discussion. Unless those skeptical can come up with much more than simply philosophical arguments ie. for instance, experiments showing that (say) common beliefs among neuroscientists about how our memory works are false, then their beliefs remain no more than philosophical and do not deserve action... which is a fault of their beliefs. It is essential to cryonics that we CAN do something about "death". That requires DOING something, regardless of philosophical or religious arguments. Best and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13327