From: Rob Harris Cen-IT (Rob.Harris@bournemouth.gov.uk)
Date: Tue Aug 17 1999 - 10:34:48 MDT
>Practical Application with Human Embryo Experiments.
>Lets say I'm an embryo. An embryo that is to be tested and then discarded
>never having the chance for life.
>This is a real situation. It could of happened to me. So do I consider
>that good or bad? Neither. I'm indifferent. Here's why.
1)It wouldn't be painful
This depends on whether or not the entity is conscious, and has functioning
systems to provide pain to that consciousness. I personally doubt that
embryos are conscious, but this is merely a hunch, as the truth is we just
don't know yet.
>2)I wouldn't go through any psychological terror as it occurred
Again, can we be sure of this?
>3)At age embryo I wouldn't have experienced life and would have no desire
>to experience it. I have no knowledge of it.
The fear of death as a concept is a primal instinct - as with the vast
majority of concepts humans come into contact with, there is an associated
emotional response. This is not built on logical thought - and as such is
knowledge independent. Again, the question is does an embryo have the
necessary systems?
>4)I don't have an identity yet because I don't have any memories or
>experiences to make up my identity yet.
Identity? What is it? Ny name? How is this relevant to the fear and pain of
death?
>The consequence of such a thing happening to me is that I wouldn't be given
>a chance to experience all the things that humans get to experience.
Yeah - and what a joy it all is.....not.
That
>doesn't matter to something that doesn't know about or hasn't thought of
>those experiences. It isn't missing anything.
I'm sure that's not a concern for people either - more the combination of
the primal survival instinct and the equally primal fear of the unknown. I
think the reason that people always try to attribute some non-emotive logic
to their actions is based in the "can't let on I'm just a knee-jerk
reactionary" instinct (required for the social displays we constanly have to
dance), as we constantly seek things with attached conscious pleasure,
avoiding pain, and nothing else. (Pleasure and pain are used in the broadest
terms)....
Remember - it's logic used to act upon emotional responses as an edge -we're
still animals after all. We don't use logic to create emotions - after all,
why would EVERYONE decide to create pain, embarrassment (the whipping sticks
of that bitch mother nature), guilt, etc. etc........
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