From: E. Shaun Russell (e_shaun@uniserve.com)
Date: Thu Oct 03 1996 - 18:38:57 MDT
On 1\10\96, Ira Brodsky wrote:
>You can't conquer death (and everything else) if you are a slave to
>physical needs/desires. As I recall, someone on this list (maybe it was
>Max More?) said they would not want to be uploaded to exist solely as
>intellect. Why not?
I can't help but close my eyes, snicker, and shake my head when I
read this kind of response. I feel like I'm caught in some sort of
semi-conversant
paradox. As *I* recall, I agreed with whoever it was that said they would
not want to be uploaded to exist solely as intellect. To me, it seems kind
of edeist; that is to say, like a low-level cult mentality. No offense
intended, Ira, but would you truly like to be intellect and nothing else?
You most certainly would not be alive. Conciousness is another matter. I
seriously can't grok the concept that an extropian would want to forfeit
their life for eternal existance --such a huge line between existance and
life. I can understand that being pure intellect is "better than nothing",
but personally (and I believe I am speaking for most extropian types) I
would rather be more than that. If I could copy my conciousness as well as
my intellect, that would be almost ideal. I rather like being able to
access my information, as opposed to just having it there...stranded. Like
a person with short-term amnesia: has the memory, just can't access it. I
don't anything hedonistic about that, just optimistic objectivism.
Ingredi Externus!
-E. Shaun Russell
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E. Shaun Russell Extropian poet\musician
e_shaun@uniserve.com
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