X-Message-Number: 21333
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: For Yvan Bozzonetti, a soul's definition
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 12:57:18 -0000

> From: Francois <>
> Subject: For Yvan Bozzonetti, a soul's definition
>
> I can easily purchase all the basic elements that make up a human body. If
I
> mix them together, I will not get a human body, living or dead. Yet, the
> mixture will have the same chemical composition as a living human body.

I can easily purchase all the basic elements that make up a computer. If I
mix them together, I will not get a computer, working or defunct. Yet, the
mixture will have the same chemical composition as a working computer.
...

This does not provide an adequate definition of the soul.

A better one may be that if you see a friend's computer, and ask where you
can buy the case and the circuit boards, disk drives and monitor, and buy
the same items yourself and assemble them. The only thing this collection of
parts will do is display a message: "operating system not found". What is
needed to make a computer work is the software. As born a human contains the
equivalent of a BIOS, and it will learn whatever else is needed from its
environment. In terms of reanimation rather than birth of humans, this
learned software needs to be retained. This learned software could be
considered the soul.

--
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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