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 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13711