X-Message-Number: 8340
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 20:55:39 -0800
From:  (American Cryonics Society)
Subject: Consciousness, Thomas, and PERIASTRON

Thomas Donaldson discussing "consciousness" in Message #8337 wrote:

"The interesting thing that has been happening about consciousness in the
neuroscientific world is that many have come to believe that it can be
studied empirically, just as any other phenomenon in the world. Yes, any
strain of scientific study does involve a philosophy about it, but that is
hardly the only thing."



Hello Thomas and all,

Laboratory studies of "consciousness" seem like a worthwhile persuit,
Thomas.  You don't give any examples of this, however.  I did read in the
May PERIASTRON your article on experimental studies on how the brain
functions in "deductive" and "inductive" reasoning situtions.  Is this an
example of emperical study of aspects of "consciousness?"

Incidentally, I think it is time for a plug for this excellent newsletter
which Thomas has published for over five years.  Those of us who don't have
time or the inclination to frequently sort through the published studies on
subjects relevant to cryonics, particularly neuroscience, can obtain a lot
of such information just by reading PERIASTRON.

Thomas will send you as many future editions as you care to receive at
$3.00 per copy, and even tell you when it's time to send in more cash!
$3.00 gets this months edition, $6.00 the next two editions, (you get the
picture?).  Here is the address:

PERIASTRON
80-Q  N. Cabrillo Hwy, #247
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

For those of you who would like to see your wisdom published in actual
letters which are on a real page and sent to other conscious beings, send
articles or letters to PERIASTRON.  Thomas has a very liberal acceptance
policy, after first making it clear that just because he publishes your
diatribe, doesn't mean agreement or endorsement.  Can readers of CryoNet
just e-mail submissions to you, Thomas?

In the May 1, 1995 edition of PERIASTON, Thomas discusses "Consciousness."
How about re-publishing that article to CryoNet, Thomas.  It will give us
some flavor of PERIASTRON and (perhaps) provide examples of empirical
investigation of consciousness.

Incidentally, Thomas, I am taken aback by your final sentence in that article:

"We would, therefore, find a separation between our consciousness and our
individuality, which is our soul."

Whoooooo Nelly!  Holy Hedonism!  Has our bombastic bush baby from Half Moon
Bay gone metaphysical on us?  Thomas, I think you have some explaining to
do, if you are going to redeem yourself in our hearts and minds as the card
carrying materialist we all thought you were.  At a minimum, it is going to
take your republishing the above mentioned article to CryoNet along with a
detailed explanation of that curious last line.  Then we will see.
Needless to say, you are also going to have to be awfully good for a long
long time.

Long life and love,

Jim Yount

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American Cryonics Society                 (415)254-2001
                      FAX (415)967-4444
P.O. Box 1509
Cupertino, CA 95015
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