X-Message-Number: 21236 Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 07:24:30 -0500 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: CryoNet #21222 - #21234 For Michael Price: Now hold on for a minute. If we suppose that the problems of really producing a true duplicate have been solved and methods to do so have been implemented, then it will also be perfectly easy to work out from their history and observing their creation that one person is a duplicate of another. To say simply that the problem is purely philosophical and without meaning is simply wrong. I will add here, though, that the notion of duplicating someone, either as a means of reviving them from cryonic suspension or for any other reason, raises lots and lots of practical problems --- so many that I strongly doubt that it will be used to revive anyone in the geologically near future. Other methods either using nanotechnology or simple medicine combined with vitrification, or some other simple method not yet defined, is likely to solve that problem far sooner. And not only does it raise practical problems of implementation, it raises large problems of ownership IF two duplicates (or one duplicate is created while the original remains) are made. The problems are those of ownership and attachment (not the same things) and should be obvious. The only real solution is to also duplicate the wife, the children, the dog, the cat, the house, the job, the boss, the company, and ultimately the entire planet and universe --- until we come to the idea in quantum mechanics that such duplication is exactly what happens along the different paths someone may take. Put simply, those who want to talk about duplicates are fooling themselves if they believe that their ideas have any relevance to cryonics or any of the real, practical problems we have with sickening and dying. Best wishes and long long life for all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=21236