I agree with Russell. I think the expression is, 'What goes around comes
around'
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Russell Standish [SMTP:R.Standish.domain.name.hidden]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 1:51 AM
> To: marchal.domain.name.hidden
> Cc: everything-list.domain.name.hidden
> Subject: Re: Real Decisions based on QTI
>
> >
> >
> > Russell Standish wrote (last week):
> >
> > >The second issue is in relation to euthanasia. I used to be in favour
> > >of this, on the basis that I grew up on a farm, and understood the
> > >phrase "putting it out of its misery". However, the process of
> > >attempting to kill someone is only likely to increase their suffering
> > >in those worlds where they survive. So now I'm against euthanasia, at
> > >least until someone can convince me they can control the outcome of
> > >the "merciful death" well enough to ensure that the patient is almost
> > >always in a better world because of it.
> > >
> > >On the same vein, it would take a lot of convincing to get me to ge
> > >through one of Bruno Marchal's teleportation devices.
> >
> > It would take a lot of convincing me either. I guess you know this
> > doesn't change the conclusion of the thought experiments.
> >
> >
> > Russell Standish wrote also:
> >
> > >I agree that QTI seems to imply both heaven and hell are in the here
> > >and now, and which version of eternity you experience depends on how
> > >you conduct you life (maybe Christians have got it half right!).
> >
> > >> [BM] QTI justifies a "death" as smooth as possible. It is natural
> > >> to think that, in a society where Quantum (or comp) immortality
> > >> will be believed by the general public (if ever), euthanasia
> > >> will be the rule (after all, [cf Russell Standish]).
> > >>
> > >
> > >Except that I think I was implying the opposite conclusion (Euthanasia
> > >is a form of torture).
> >
> > I know. But I'm still astonished. By definition "eu-thanasia" is
> supposed
> > to
> > mean "soft-death". With comp/MWI there are reasons to think that it is
> > the very
> > way we die wich could influence the immediate quality of the
> > "continuation".
> > So, in case you are dying+suffering, euthanasia could perhaps
> > prevent your going in hell.
>
> I should qualify this by saying that I'm thinking in terms of
> euthanasia as practised today (ie under the concept that there really
> is death, and that this would end suffering). If, instead, euthanasia
> could be developed so as to produce a positive outcome for the
> "continuation", then this is a different story.
>
> > And for the same reason, when you say the version of eternity you
> > experience depends on how you conduct your life, I really would like you
> > to be true, but I'm afraid that with comp/MWI only the quality of the
> > last instants will determine the quality of, let us say a significant
> > initial segment of that *eternity*.
>
> There is a very long memory in the world we exist. For example, if I
> chose to go around murdering people, I should expect to experience
> many years of confinement, and possibly attempts on my own life, which
> would quite possibly put me in crippled state for a long time, if not
> eternity.
>
> On the other hand, if I go around being nice to others, and being
> generous, then other peoples actions tend to be positive towards
> you. This "law" goes by many different name - Judeo-Christian ideas of
> justice and the "Golden Rule" of Christianity; the principle of
> humanism; Bhuddist karma and so on. Evolutionary Biologists use this
> principle to explain the existence of altruism in the natural world
> (otherwise altruism is rather hard to explain). Whatever you call it, it
> is
> roughly true (perhaps in a statistical sense, rather than an absolute
> sense), and the time constant of that memory is at least several
> generations, although presumably one can outlive bad deeds
> eventually. The time constant could not be described as an "instant".
>
>
>
> > (Note that some taoist seems to have similar believes).
> > I have no definite opinion on these matters, I would be very glad if
> > you are correct, but at this stage, it seems to me that your saying
> > is not justified neither by comp nor MWI, and may even be in
> > contradiction with it.
> >
> > Bruno
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> Dr. Russell Standish Director
> High Performance Computing Support Unit,
> University of NSW Phone 9385 6967
> Sydney 2052 Fax 9385 7123
> Australia R.Standish.domain.name.hidden
> Room 2075, Red Centre http://parallel.hpc.unsw.edu.au/rks
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
Received on Tue Jun 29 1999 - 02:00:25 PDT