X-Message-Number: 5647
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 13:01:39 -0800
From:  (Dwight G. Jones)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #5631 - #5641
References: <>

> 

> From: Mike Perry <>
> Subject: Memories
> 
> Dwight Jones (#5612, 17 Jan), responding to Peter Merel,
> responding to Dwight Jones:
> >
> >>
> >>>what is the ESSENTIAL difference between successful
> >>>cryonic rebuilding and regeneration from DNA seed?
> >>>What is it about today's memories that we MUST
> >>>[preserve] them to deem ourselves successful in this
> >>>venture?

> >I'm not denying that such memories would be nice to
> >have. But as the  years (and lifetimes) go by, we learn to
> >let go of childhood,  adolescence, and so on, just as we go
> >to sleep each night confident of  prospects in the coming
> >day. Could we not look at lifetimes, gracefully
> >surrendering each as we surrender the day?
> >
> 
> To me, memories are not simply "nice to have" but are an
> important part of the person I am today. To try to restore
> me from DNA alone would strip away this information,
> replacing me with a much earlier version of myself,
> essentially just my zygote, which would have to start all
> over again. Part of the "me" that I am today, no doubt, but
> hardly all, and hardly all that I hope to save through
> cryonics.

You argue the point most elegantly, but remember I asked for the 
ESSENTIAL difference. Memories would be consoling, convenient, 
reassuring, and so on. But if we decided that they were contingent and 
not necessary, then we have the cloning route open to us with all of its 
advantages: very low cost for indefinite storage, much higher 
probability of success- it may in fact be possible today.

That's where the Zen study comes in. You have to begin to understand 
that your clone IS you, just as rebooting your computer doesn't result 
in a different computer in any ESSENTIAL sense.

Dwight


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