Volume 3, Issue 2 
2nd Quarter, 2008


An Experiment to Test the Ability of Digitally-Stored Mindfiles to Regenerate the Consciousness from Which It Came

Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D.

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The second medical ethics precept is to intend benefit to the patient. In this case we are trying to provide the patient with longer life, an indefinite life.  We are reminded of the ancient Irish saying:

 “May you live as long as you like, and may you like as long as you live.”  

The third medical ethic precept is to respect autonomy. As mentioned, it's very important to get the informed consent of everyone if one intends to ultimately be revived.

Finally, medical ethics requires one to act fairly to all patients. It would not be fair to revive some patients and not others. Once we have mindware that we believe would reliably revive patients, it should be applied to all patients whose mindfiles have been deposited, to the extent resources make it possible.

Image 10: Avoiding Harm

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A good question is whether or not neurons are a necessary basis for consciousness. Of course, the premise of this experiment is that they are not needed in a copy of consciousness.  Today the scientific paradigm is that neurons are needed for consciousness, but at one time the prevailing paradigm was that feathers were a necessary basis for flight. That paradigm was shattered by the Wright brothers and the hypothesis described today may shatter the paradigm that neurons are a necessary basis for consciousness.

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I'd like to provide acknowledgement to Alex Grey [1] for the visionary art provided as a backdrop to my presentation.  

Footnotes

1. Alex Grey - (born November 29, 1953 in Columbus, Ohio) is an artist specializing in spiritual and psychedelic art (or visionary art) that is sometimes associated with the New Age movement. Alex Grey is a Vajrayana practitioner. His oeuvre spans a variety of forms including performance art, process art, installation art, sculpture, and painting. Grey is a member of the Integral Institute. He is also on the board of advisors for the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics, and is the Chair of Wisdom University's Sacred Art Department.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Grey  April 1, 2008 3:34PM EST

Bio

Dr. RothblattMartine Rothblatt, J.D., MBA, Ph.D., started the satellite vehicle tracking and satellite radio industries and is the Chairman of United Therapeutics, a biotechnology company headquartered in Silver Springs, Maryland. Dr. Rothblatt is also the President of Terasem Movement, Inc. and has written several books, including The Apartheid of Sex, Two Stars for Peace, Unzipped Genes, and Your Life or Mine.

 

 

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