X-Message-Number: 7277
From: 
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 1996 11:39:54 -0500
Subject: SCI. CRYONICS biology & values

Thomas Donaldson's Cryonet #7270 again makes it evident that I have failed to
express myself clearly enough. But comments such as his are helpful to me in
attempting to clarify expositions in my work in progress. Mind-sets and
language usage seem to get in the way to an astounding extent. Just a couple
of very quick remarks here:

Thomas says our biology and intelligence are "one and the same." Only in the
sense that intelligence depends on biological processes in the brain. When
people speak of our "biology" they usually mean our genotype and our generic
physiological processes, not our processing of data and evaluation of goals
etc. on an individual  conscious level, which is closer to the usual notion
of "intelligence."

Thomas also says that "...we may be evolving toward something different from
CroMagnon man..." and then he says, "...regardless of the future, we remain
human animals." That  was a trifle careless. If we change enough, surely we
will no longer be "human" in the sense of CroMagnon man, or in most senses.

Thomas also refers to mechanisms of insect societies, and the notion that
workers "benefit" by actions that help to propagate their genes.  Once more,
my viewpoint is that of the individual, and the criterion of choice is always
what will best promote my own long term enlightened self interest
(satisfaction, or maximum pleasure and minimum pain, in a sense requiring
extended discussion, and in a sense that will evolve as we learn and change).

Certainly societies--insect or human--have evolved along with the genotypes
of their individuals, and much can be learned by studying the interactions.
But all that is secondary detail. 

The main questions concern our BASIC values or wants or needs; how/when they
may conflict (if there is more than one; this is not obvious, and depends on
understanding of the mechanism of subjectivity or qualia ); and which
values--especially the derivative ones--may be modified to our overall
benefit. 

Our satisfactions occur at many levels. There are "basic" wants such as food,
yet these can often be overridden by derivative wants such as the drive for
achievement or even mere habits. Lorenz' "parliament of instincts" is usually
unruly and often self-destructive. In short, I am a mess, and you too; we
desperately need a rational basis for personal strategies and their
development, with the least possible dependence on accidents of birth or
upbringing.

Robert Ettinger


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