X-Message-Number: 815
Date: 08 May 92 05:01:04 EDT
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: cryonics: #797 - #801

Dear Eric Messick:

You are quite right that recovering the PROPER structure of a frozen
brain is not an easy problem. I have been involved in arguing this 
issue with Ralph Merkle, who as you know has produced an elaborate
argument that we will certainly be able to recover its structure in
great detail AFTER it has been frozen ... but says nothing about 
recovering what that structure should have been. And examined rationally,
that REPAIR is the crux of the cryonics problem. I found and still find
no significant problem at all in just scanning (or otherwise) working
out the UNREPAIRED condition of a frozen brain. 

Naturally as seen from that angle we'll simply have to learn some
neurology, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology even to discuss it. But
of course, I've found that learning points in a direction of long term
optimism.
			Best
				Thomas


Date: 08 May 92 05:15:33 EDT
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: cryonics: #802 - #808

To David Stodolsky:

I feel a bit surprized. Up to now, you've generally said penetrating and
interesting things. But as for developing devices which can read out our
memories and brain structure, I detect a great deal of handwaving.
It's one thing to imagine such devices as available 100 or 200 years 
from now, to be applied to someone in suspension already, and quite 
another to imagine them as being developed within (say) the next 40
years. That latter I consider quite out of the question. If you have any
special reasons to believe that it is not, then by all means discuss
them .... they seem to be key to what you are saying.
			Best
				Thomas

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