X-Message-Number: 4345
Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 21:11:03 -0700
From: John K Clark <>
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS Uploading

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For the first time I find myself agreeing with nearly everything
Thomas Donaldson said, in #4334 he wrote:
	    
		>it is difficult to argue about definitions.
		 
All too true. 
		 
		>However: if computers are to be defined as anything which
		>manipulates information, there does seem to me to be a          
		>problem in that the definition is  far too broad. 
		
Yes, that's a bit too liberal a definition for my taste also.
The problem is with the word "manipulates" (it's too broad), not
with the word "information".
		
		>The only thing an  advocate of uploading is saying, then, is
		>that someday we  can transfer ourselves to another better       
		>object  for manipulating information. 
		
Exactly, that's all I'm saying.
		
		>Biologically based objects are entirely within the ambit of
		>this definition.
		
No doubt about it, and until now  biologically based objects
were the ONLY things that did, but monopolies do not last forever.  
		    
		>seem to make the whole issue of uploading sound very strange
		     
Well it is very strange, but strange things happen. A thing can't be ruled 
out  just because it's odd, unless it violates  the laws of physics or logic.
		
		>[uploading is] saying no more than that we can someday
		>improve ourselves.
		
Yeah, that's about it.
		
		>Yes, I think we can someday  improve ourselves too,
		
Me too, glad to hear you say that. 
		
	       >but what happened to uploading?
	       
Not a thing, it's alive and well. Why do you ask?
	       

In #4336  Wrote:

		>If I read him right, John Clark's position on "free will"
		>(#4329) is that it is a non-problem. 
		
You read me right, it's a non-problem. We agree.
		
		>The statement    2 x 3 = 6  the right and left members are
		>equal but are not the same THING.
		
Is "6" the same as "six"? If you're talking about the symbols no
and for somebody leaning English the equation  6 = six  would
be a useful bit of information. The meaning, however, is the same.
		

				 John K Clark           

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