Hey – Thanks Casey…
http://www.brains-n-brawn.com/default.aspx?blog=http://www.mperfect.net/blog/browse.aspx?bid=632420394809687500
Actually, I don’t think we’re too far apart. While I haven’t yet signed up for cryogenic processing upon my physical death, I too have hopes for continued life. I’m a member of the Foresight Institute and keep up to date on most of the latest trends to live past the “worm infestation” you are anticipating. The article you reference is a bit alarming, not because so many believe seemingly irrational things, but because they believe them without an educated frame of reference and do so without taking scientific inquiry into account. I admire Kurzweil too, but I recently came across a more convincing prospect for life extension from Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey as published in MIT’s Technology Review. I’m hopeful in mankind’s methods for life extension. I guess our only real difference there is that I believe that if this can happen, it’s part of God’s plan, where you see it as an accomplishment of mankind. No worries – we’re both looking forward to ultimately the same thing. It’s just seen as happening in different ways – or at least for different reasons. By all means, I encourage you and all others to see life in your own way. I have no better indication that what I believe is any better than anyone else’s beliefs. However, my only point of contention is that somehow that makes me less of a student of life than others. I feel it is important to point out that as many naïve believers as may exist, there are those who are students of the philosophy and give it its just due. Try reading The Science of God, or Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational World, or any number of other “intelligently constructed” religious books. Can I argue that most of the religious believers in the world are not simply naïve and incredulous? No, of course not. I’m part of the same world you are. Can I say that there are many who believe and who are intelligent, constructive in scientific endeavors, and who have justified and systematic proofs for their beliefs? Yes, I can and do. I would suggest that anyone wondering read a bit deeper, think a bit more, and wonder without preconceived notions just a few minutes longer than is comfortable. That’s all.
Good luck and I for one, hope that Kurzweil and de Grey are successful in making our reality a Vanilla Sky!