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

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