From: gts (gts@optexinc.com)
Date: Tue Sep 03 2002 - 16:10:23 MDT
Dan,
> In particular, presume that there are actually 32768 beings
> repairing themselves in this way, and that you're one of them.
> Furthermore, presume that you're lucky enough to be one of the
> 32767 who will survive. In that case, you WILL live forever...
>
> If that's not immortality, then I don't know what is.
So then immortality is available only to those who have good luck? :-)
This discussion goes to the philosophy of probability, which is itself a
fascinating subject and one that I have considered in the past. You have
invoked what is known as the "frequentist" interpretation of
probability. It's logically consistent, but frequentism is only one of
at least two valid interpretations of probability.
For example with respect to Eliezer's multi-repair mechanism scheme it
is also very true to state that *each individual person* has a 1/32768
probability of dying.
Webster defines "immortal" as "exempt from death" (surely this is the
common sense definition as well as the dictionary defintion). A person
with a 1/32768 chance of dying is not "exempt from death." Thus the
people in Eliezer's scheme are not immortal.
-gts
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