Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Secular Elation · 07-31-2003, 09:42 PM

(NOTE: this scenario is of course pure fantasy, and it is intended that way. Please only consider what you would do in such a situation.)

One night, you are visited by an alien, which informs you that its species has the technology to bring someone back from the dead. It confronts you and asks you who you would want to bring back to life. However, this alien claims that you can choose only ONE person to return to life.

So, knowing that you can choose only one person, who would you have brought back from death? What are your reasons? What difficulties do you encounter when trying to answer this question?

Alonzo Fyfe · 07-31-2003, 09:54 PM

In other words . . . at least as I see it . . . what historical figure would make the greatest contribution if he were alive today.

And, I assume that, in bringing him back to life, that he is in good health with a fair amount of time ahead of him -- that he does not come back as a vegetable.

Okay, anybody from the distant past is out. They would not be able to make a meaningful contribution because it would take them too long to catch up with the advances of our day and age. The likes of Socrates and Jefferson would not be able to handle the culture shock. The person best capable of making a meaningful contribution is somebody who has died recently, and who knows and understands the events of the day.

If in the scientific field, it would have to be somebody with unique insight who was on the verge of an important breakthrough. But I don't know anybody who was in that type of position.

More likely, it would be somebody who could make a great contribution on the political or social field. Somebody who could bring peace to a war-torn region, or who could advance the understanding of a society. Somebody admired, and who used that admiration for good purpose.

In the cultural arena, perhaps Carl Sagan had a great deal left to contribute -- at least with respect to promoting a more rational society. His impact was just starting to increase, significantly, when cancer claimed him.

Yet, ultimately, his name gets replaced at the top of the list with Ghandi. As a person admired on both sides of one of the world's most dangerous conflicts, I think that he, more than anybody, has the power, prestige, and character to make a significant contribution if one could bring him back and give him another 40 years or so to act.

Secular Elation · 07-31-2003, 09:57 PM

In other words . . . at least as I see it . . . what historical figure would make the greatest contribution if he were alive today.

No. That is not what I intended. The question was, if there was any one person you could bring back to life, who would it be? The fame or the significance of the person is irrelevent, unless you incorporate such things into your decision. You could choose Thomas Jefferson or your own grandmother, it doesn't matter, for whatever reason you choose.

But you raise interesting points.

Godless Wonder · 07-31-2003, 10:13 PM

Hey, who needs aliens to help us bring back ancient dead people when we have these lunatics:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...8611/page2.htm

Koyaanisqatsi · 07-31-2003, 11:09 PM

I'm not sure what the moral dillemia is here?

That said, I'd bring back President Kennedy, arm him like Rambo and have him open a can of righteous whupass!

Odemus · 08-01-2003, 01:40 AM

Adam

Alonzo Fyfe · 08-01-2003, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secular Elation
In other words . . . at least as I see it . . . what historical figure would make the greatest contribution if he were alive today.

No. That is not what I intended. The question was, if there was any one person you could bring back to life, who would it be? The fame or the significance of the person is irrelevent, unless you incorporate such things into your decision. You could choose Thomas Jefferson or your own grandmother, it doesn't matter, for whatever reason you choose.

But you raise interesting points.

However, you posted the question in an ethics forum.

In answering a moral question, I hold that the fame and the significance of the person is of the highest significance. Should I be bringing a personal friend or family member back to life when I have an opportunity here to bring a great benefit to the world? Morally speaking, that is.

I answer that question with a "no."

Odemus · 08-01-2003, 04:42 AM

What would benefit the human race most is the knowledge of whether or not there is a god/afterlife. Does the alien have this knowledge given that it has power over death? Will the person resurrected be able to recall if there was any life beyond the grave or will he/she simply be a facsimile created from DNA remnants?

Koyaanisqatsi · 08-01-2003, 04:50 AM

EDITED BECAUSE I POSTED SOMETHING: nevermind.

Furby · 08-01-2003, 05:52 AM

Would it be possible to bring back Jesus?

Cos' that would solve a lot of problems and answer many questions.

07-31-2003, 09:42 PM	#1
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	A difficult question (NOTE: this scenario is of course pure fantasy, and it is intended that way. Please only consider what you would do in such a situation.) One night, you are visited by an alien, which informs you that its species has the technology to bring someone back from the dead. It confronts you and asks you who you would want to bring back to life. However, this alien claims that you can choose only ONE person to return to life. So, knowing that you can choose only one person, who would you have brought back from death? What are your reasons? What difficulties do you encounter when trying to answer this question?

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07-31-2003, 09:54 PM	#2
Alonzo Fyfe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 920B Milo Circle Lafayette, CO Posts: 3,515	In other words . . . at least as I see it . . . what historical figure would make the greatest contribution if he were alive today. And, I assume that, in bringing him back to life, that he is in good health with a fair amount of time ahead of him -- that he does not come back as a vegetable. Okay, anybody from the distant past is out. They would not be able to make a meaningful contribution because it would take them too long to catch up with the advances of our day and age. The likes of Socrates and Jefferson would not be able to handle the culture shock. The person best capable of making a meaningful contribution is somebody who has died recently, and who knows and understands the events of the day. If in the scientific field, it would have to be somebody with unique insight who was on the verge of an important breakthrough. But I don't know anybody who was in that type of position. More likely, it would be somebody who could make a great contribution on the political or social field. Somebody who could bring peace to a war-torn region, or who could advance the understanding of a society. Somebody admired, and who used that admiration for good purpose. In the cultural arena, perhaps Carl Sagan had a great deal left to contribute -- at least with respect to promoting a more rational society. His impact was just starting to increase, significantly, when cancer claimed him. Yet, ultimately, his name gets replaced at the top of the list with Ghandi. As a person admired on both sides of one of the world's most dangerous conflicts, I think that he, more than anybody, has the power, prestige, and character to make a significant contribution if one could bring him back and give him another 40 years or so to act.

07-31-2003, 09:57 PM	#3
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	In other words . . . at least as I see it . . . what historical figure would make the greatest contribution if he were alive today. No. That is not what I intended. The question was, if there was any one person you could bring back to life, who would it be? The fame or the significance of the person is irrelevent, unless you incorporate such things into your decision. You could choose Thomas Jefferson or your own grandmother, it doesn't matter, for whatever reason you choose. But you raise interesting points.

07-31-2003, 10:13 PM	#4
Godless Wonder Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,197	Hey, who needs aliens to help us bring back ancient dead people when we have these lunatics: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...8611/page2.htm

07-31-2003, 11:09 PM	#5
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	I'm not sure what the moral dillemia is here? That said, I'd bring back President Kennedy, arm him like Rambo and have him open a can of righteous whupass!

08-01-2003, 01:40 AM	#6
Odemus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Easy Street Posts: 736	Adam

08-01-2003, 04:42 AM	#8
Odemus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Easy Street Posts: 736	What would benefit the human race most is the knowledge of whether or not there is a god/afterlife. Does the alien have this knowledge given that it has power over death? Will the person resurrected be able to recall if there was any life beyond the grave or will he/she simply be a facsimile created from DNA remnants?

08-01-2003, 04:50 AM	#9
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	EDITED BECAUSE I POSTED SOMETHING: nevermind.

08-01-2003, 05:52 AM	#10
Furby Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southeast Asia Posts: 322	Would it be possible to bring back Jesus? Cos' that would solve a lot of problems and answer many questions.

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