Slashdot Mirror
Mitochondria and the Prevention of Death
H_Fisher writes "Research into mitochondria — small structures within a cell that have their own DNA — suggests that they may be a cause of cellular death, according to Newsweek. The article The Science of Death: Reviving the Dead reports on people who have recovered from sudden death due to cardiac arrest through the use of medically induced hypothermia. The cooling process may help stop the death of brain and heart cells initiated by the mitochondria once they are deprived of oxygen. The article goes on to probe delicately at the question of where a person's personality 'is' between death and later revival, and describes several ongoing scientific studies of near-death experiences."
Ah. Do you trot out the same eloquent sensibilities for people who buy a new pair of leather shoes at some point before their last pair wears out? Oh, that's fashion - that's different, I guess.
It is different, but the difference isn't that it's fashion, it's that (s)he doesn't have to get h(er|is) hands bloody to get said shoes (or anything else you mention). When you have someone else to do the killing for you, it's not your psyche that is damaged, and it's easy enough to ignore the moral responsibility for killing done on your behalf.
There is also a difference between hunting animals for sport and killing the animal for food, or other utilitarian purposes. Perhaps OP's outrage is directed to killing as a form of entertainment?
What I don't understand though is how any of this is on topic?! Still you got your +5 insightful mod, so I guess your set.