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

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