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