X-Message-Number: 16272 From: Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 02:39:47 EDT Subject: (final) Natural Selection for the Near-Death Experience Date: 05/12/2001 5:28:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: Biologist501 To: Biologist501 Cryonet: Catching pieces of a TV documentary on the Discovery Channel titled "Between Life & Death" over the last few minutes (but now watching the remainder more closely), several disparate ideas seem to have congealed to a degree of coherence for me. Hence my new theory to follow starting in the next paragraph. By the way, I hold no illusions that the following thoughts represent novel ideas and might even be recorded in print stretching back prior to Darwin (Charles). They may only be novel to me just now. In fact, I have been wondering if I will be able to finish a draft of this post (mostly writing during the commercials) before I have to blow it all out as decidedly "old news." So far, so good. I apologize in advance for the verbosity--As my grandmother use to say/write, "If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter." Here's the theory: Man's subjective experience to the biochemical mechanisms of the dying brain OR by the temporarily "impaired" brain via hallucinogenic and/or anesthetic drugs (such as the NMDA-blocker ketamine, apparently known in the druggie world as "Special K") which apparently account for the particulars of reported near death experiences (i.e., traveling the tunnel, the light, floating out of the body, meeting dead relatives, etc.) may have evolved and been conserved via natural selection. The accounts of these "subjectively supernatural" but very "real" experiences have probably been convincingly and authoritatively passed along to relatives and friends after the occasional ("permanent" or temporary) recovery from terminal bodily peril (and also from "sobering up") by the least, but also by the most, credible of a prehistoric group's tribesmen/women. Such accountings provide part of the basis for a society's/species' belief in a life after death (e.g., religion). Such beliefs are at least indirectly beneficial to the survival of the species (the argument or axiom omitted here), thus natural selection for the near death experience. Can't resist--While there are others, one benefit would be an increased propensity for self-sacrifice by some individuals for the good of the group. The knowledge that a new (and improved) life immediately awaits and that glorious credit may even be awarded for one's selfless effort is further inspiration for the sacrifice. ("Suicidal" W.W.II Japanese pilots come to mind.) Also by the way, I sure do not know whether there is a "traditional" life after death in the cards. Maybe that is my religion (i.e., just not knowing) and there is probably a name for it but I do not know that either. However, I would suggest that such an existence might not be any more improbable than our own existence here and now. Nuff of that. I had hoped to be able to pass on a time that the program would be re-showing again for today or tomorrow. That is how the Discovery Channel often does its programming. I checked their website (www.discovery.com) for the first time just now. Unfortunately this is the last showing (last of 3) for a while. I would however suggest that others consider familiarizing themselves with their website for scheduling. I plan to. The shows' titles are hyperlinked to give a review and also a listing of times of broadcast. Pretty decent site. Apparently you can even check a box for a specific time of a scheduled showing and the site will send an email reminder to you. Damn, that's nice. http://dsc.discovery.com/schedule/episode.jsp?episode=20005009 For Internet newbies, after checking out the above URL, you can navigate to the homepage or go directly to it by typing the following into your browser's address line: www.discover.com. Another BTW, like George Smith, I too have appreciated recent writings on CPR/CPS (as well as decade old Cryonet archives) by the more contemporary Darwin! Regards, David C. Johnson, Raleigh, NC Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=16272