X-Message-Number: 32120
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: Self-sacrifice - good or bad?
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 09:26:57 -0000

There is no doubt that self-sacrifice is observable in humans. 


The perpetrators of the 9/11 atrocity, and suicide bombers in general are 
examples. But is it a beneficial trait in evolutionary terms between species? I 
suspect that it may well not. If people were not prone to do it, or be easily 
persuaded to do it, could wars be possible? The risk of total annihilation of 
the human species through weapons of mass destruction may have reduced, but it 
is by no means zero even without the USSR.


Maybe Dr Stodolsky is correct from one point of view -- a practitioner of self 
sacrifice is not going to be drawn to the cryonics movement. Therefore no one 
with this personality trait is going to be found within it.

-- 
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
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: CryoNet 
  To:  
  Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:00 AM
  Subject: CryoNet #32114 - #32115


  From: David Stodolsky <>
  <del>.

  Self-sacrifice is observable in most organisms, at least from worms to  
  humans, evolutionarily speaking. There is good evidence for multi- 
  level evolution, which means there is also a group "survival  
  instinct".

  <del>

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