X-Message-Number: 24874
From: 
Subject: Wrap-up comments about Death and Immortalism
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 04:41:56 US/Eastern

  I think I am about done with this topic and can stay
out of CryoNet for a while -- after a few brief comments

  Thomas Donaldson wrote: 
  
>   no one will actually know EVER that they'll live forever.

    Yes, Thomas, the results of the clinical trial will not 
be done until death occurs. Prior to that time definitive 
conclusions are premature. 

   Michael C. Price wrote:

>   Rather than try to compare the value of 
> different, finite length lifespans, I would rather say that *all* 
> finite lifespans have the same value to me, namely zero.
>
> [......]
> That all finite lifespans are valueless.

   It seems to me that our dialog has boiled down to this, which
seems to simply be a statement of your values which I cannot
personally relate to. I love life -- I love being alive -- and I want
to live as long as possible. Thus, life to me at every moment
has value that cannot be nullified upon my death. I place value
on the the values of the moment -- I am now an alive and 
valuing creature. When that ceases to be the case, my valuing
will become "history", but will still have existed. I care about
the present in the present. 

   This is relevant to my comment to Thomas. Because you
can never know that you are immortal, you will forever be in
question about whether life has value or not -- until you die,
at which time the question will disappear. I find this not 
only sad, but unbelievable. I can remember your broad 
smile as you stuck your spoon into a huge container of
ice-cream, chocolate syrup and whipped cream. 
The moment has passed, but was not valueless to you. 

  Bruce J. Klein  wrote:

> What do you think happens after death?

   I believe that after death, existence ceases. I love existing
and I hate the thought of non-existence. Some people say
that after death it won't matter because in non-existence
there is no possibility of caring. But I don't care that I won't
care (won't be able to care) after death. What matters to
me is *now*. Valuation happens in the *present*. I want to
live as long as possible -- and I hate death and the idea
of death.

    Aging and death are my "mortal enemies". This being
the case, you may think I would be an "immortalist",
but wanting to avoid death and believing that immortality
is possible are two different things. To leap immediately
from the former to the latter is *wishful thinking*, something
I try to avoid. I believe death is inevitable, but in my case
I hope that I can avoid it for many thousands of years, 
at least. 

         -- Ben Best

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