X-Message-Number: 21045
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 06:53:47 -0500
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #21037 - #21044

For Michael C Price:

Sorry, Michael, but I was citing (as I think you know) some suggested
theories which might join relativity and quantum theory. It is not
that we could detect fundamentally different particles which we
now see only as electrons, but that if electrons are composite then
their energy levels in various situations might differ from those
we'd expect if they were not composite. They would be different in
that sense.

And no, I strongly doubt that whatever future physical theories 
we settle down with in the future (if we ever settle down with
one physical theory!) must necessarily treat electrons as our
current quantum mechanics treats them. Depending on the circumstance,
composite particles don't behave exactly like noncomposite ones...
though of course there will some circumstances in which they
do.

I'm not advocating any of these theories. I am simply pointing out
that contrary to what you claim,. some of them will predict
differences between electrons depending on their state which others
will not. You are free to decide that the electrons are the "same",
whatever that means. But if they have different traits (say, a 
property called "hyperspin") on different occasions, your thinking
should take account of that.

As for cryonics, other than the interesting question of just how
the attempt to make a theory including both general relativity
and quantum mechanics works out ... which we will no doubt learn
after our revival... nobody really wants to remain the same
on a quantum level, not does our sense of continuity depend
on such sameness.

             Best wishes and long long life for all,

                 Thomas Donaldson

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