X-Message-Number: 23822
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
Subject: memories
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 09:49:11 +0100

There was an opinion poll in the UK to determine how much its citizens know
about its past.

One person was shown on television as being asked "Who was the prime
minister during the second world war?"

He answered correctly "Winston Churchill".

The pollster (as part of an experiment) said "Well actually it was Harold
Wilson"

"Oh yes, of course it was" said the subject.

(Wilson was an insignificant post war socialist PM.)

This shows how easily people can be mislead and memories "learned". Lawyers
and police do it on a routine basis in examination of witnesses in order to
reinforce their cases, some deliberately and some without realising it.

Another experiment used computer generated pictures of false events in
subjects' childhood. They quickly came to accept these as real memories.

However we are whatever we are, and that is what we are seeking to preserve.
All this discussion can lead to his how best to do this. Even if it is
discovered that  a definition or description of individuality is difficult
or impossible to achieve, this should not dissuade anyone for preserving
their existence in good health for as long as possible.

-- 
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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