X-Message-Number: 1573
Date: 10 Jan 93 23:09:37 EST
From: MICHAEL RISKIN <>
Subject: CRYONICS..UNLIMITED SUFFERING

First: The worst day alive is better than the best day dead.
Second: By definition, suffering implies a state of consciousness that
experiences the suffering. In addition , if it is human suffering,
then it also implies the potential existence of free will. Suffering
is experienced by humans as a relative state..that is, if the pain
continues at a steady rate, it is eventually perceived as less so
due to the getting used to it effect. By the way the same is true of
pleasure, that is if one were to be in a constant state of orgasm,
the appreciation of the orgasmic pleasure would slowly subside.
To have unlimited suffering, then there must be unlimited escalation
in the the suffering OR the suffering must fluctuate in intensity
to create the relative effect necessary for "pain". As to the latter
since much pleasure experienced by humans is really not pleasure in the
absolute sense but rather a reduction of pain (Wow do I feel good now that
my headache is gone....)then fluctuating suffering cannot be unlimited
suffering since the fluctuations themselves cause an experience of
pleasure. As to the former notion (Unlimited continual escalation of
suffering) there is an implication of a technology and motivation that
becomes exceedingly impossible to imagine, and, simultaneously states
that the human capability of free will will never achieve sufficient 
adaptability to produce counter measures. For those of you  who are
hard core determinists, I apologize for making you read this.

              Michael Riskin

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1573