X-Message-Number: 9941
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 23:29:29 +0100
From:  (John de Rivaz)
Subject: Letter that appeared in New Scientist - replies invited

The following appeared on the letters page of New Scientist, dated 29 June
1998. Replies may be emailed to 

Lets see plenty of them!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Rest in peace

Joseph Strout (Letters, 23 May, p 57) may or may not be justified in hoping
that in a hundred years' time humanity will be able to restore frozen bodies
to life. But even if it can be done, why should it be?

The future which Strout looks forward to will be a pretty crowded place, as
a society which can raise the dead must have long since achieved the lesser
aim of halting the ageing process. If death becomes a choice rather than a
necessity, how many people would be prepared to move on and leave their
assets and  resources to a new generation?

There would be no reason for adding to the population people that nobody
living will know or care about, who will be helpless in a strange society,
and who have in any case lived out one life already. It is far more likely
that the people of that time will give priority to the needs of their own
generation and let the dead rest in peace.

Graeme Warren
Wokingham,
Berkshire
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
-- 
Sincerely,     * Longevity Report:  http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/lr.htm
John de Rivaz  * Fractal Report:    http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/fr.htm
**************** Homepage:http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JohndeR
    In the information age, sharing can increase world wealth enormously,
        because giving information does not decrease your information.

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