RE: Jack London kinda got it wrong

From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Feb 03 2003 - 20:37:50 MST

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    Eliezer wrote:

    > gts wrote:
    >> It's poetry, guys -- not a statement about the pros and cons of
    >> life-extension.
    >>
    >> Jack London's idea is that it is better to live an active and
    >> memorable life, even one that entails great risk, than to live a
    >> boring and unremarkable life.
    >
    > And Damien correctly pointed out that this is a false dualism.

    If the activity and excitement and risks of an action are related to its
    memorability, as they certainly are, then I fail to see any false
    dualism.

    An astronaut who risks becoming a BBQ item each time he re-enters the
    atmosphere certainly has a less boring and more remarkable life than
    someone who flips hamburgers at McDonald's. And it is certainly better,
    according to Jack London, to be the astronaut rather than the
    burger-flipper.

    But, anyway, I was only feeling sentimental about the fate of the
    Columbia's astronauts when I quoted Jack London. My post was not
    intended to initiate a philosophical debate.

    -gts



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