X-Message-Number: 1865
Subject: CRYONICS Desire to survive
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 93 10:20:29 EST
From: 

The entity calling itself Clarissa Wells states or at least hints at
several conclusions about the cryonics community (this is not intended
to be a complete list):

1. We don't cooperate enough because we are too concerned about
   personal survival and lack concern for the group as a whole.
2. Deciding to expell a suspension member is not a practical way to
   defend against the actions of that member. 
3. Deciding to expell a suspension member is unjust, unethical,
   unscrupulous, and evidence of lack of reverence of life in general.

I agree with the conclusion of 1 but not the reasoning.  The problem
is compulsive shortsighted behavior.  Concerns about long-term
survival, if pursued rationally, would lead to more cooperation.

I think I agree with 2, although my opinion doesn't seem very reliable
or relevant because I wasn't there.

3 is clearly wrong.  Have a look at Axelrod's "Evolution of
Cooperation".  Unconditional cooperation promotes the growth of
parasites, so any reasonable notion of "reverence for life in
general" isn't going to require unconditional preservation of all life.  

Life is not something that you measure by counting people
or by weighing the total amount of living protoplasm.  Living things
are special because they manifest behavior and pursue goals.  The
reverent way to deal with living things is to promote linkage between
the behavior and the goals, which may mean making the goals
unachievable when the behavior is inappropriate.  Playing a version of
tit-for-tat that is suitably adapted to the real world is correct
behavior whether you are concerned with your personal survival or the
well being of the system as a whole.

At this point I tend to agree with those who think that Clarissa Wells
is a false front.  Are there any real people out there who agree with
her, or am I preaching only to the converted and the nonexistent?

Tim Freeman <>    
When they took the fourth amendment, I was silent because I don't deal drugs.
When they took the sixth amendment, I kept quiet because I know I'm innocent.
When they took the second amendment, I said nothing because I don't own a gun.
Now they've come for the first amendment, and I can't say anything at all.

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