X-Message-Number: 13711
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 09:36:59 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #13696 - #13706

For Dr. Grossman:

Unfortunately the moon is a bit too warm (unless there is a special 
region in one of its poles which NEVER receives any sunlight.

The basic idea that we might store ourselves somewhere other than 
Earth, however, is quite realistic long term. If we stored people
on one of the moons of Neptune, the problems about warmth would
simply fail to exist ... it is already cold enough. In fact, most
of the Universe is cold enough; the problem is getting suspendees
there and back.

As for preservation of identity, to try to make that the same
as any particular state of memory etc will clearly fail. It may be
more appropriate to consider our identity as an ongoing process in
our brain which RESPONDS TO but is not the same as our experiences
and our memory. Clearly the response will depend on our previous
memories, among other issues, but should not be identified with 
them.

Incidentally, quite a number of neuroscientists have started to
look at how identity and consciousness work, and their theories 
look to me more sophisticated than anything any one on Cryonet
just puts together without lots of thought. Yes, that does not
make them correct, but does make them worth learning and thinking
about.

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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