The geniuses at Oxford have been very busy plotting against criminals in general.
Could we condemn criminals to suffer for hundreds of years? Biotechnology could let us extend convicts' lives 'indefinitely'
This is the scenario being explored by researchers at Oxford University
They claim life extension tech could mean prisoners serve longer sentences
Philosopher Dr Rebecca Roache also writes in her blog that a time distortion pill could make people feel like they were in prison longer
Another scenario the group looked at was uploading mind to a digital realm
Running it a million times faster than normal would enable the uploaded criminal to serve a 1,000 year sentence in eight-and-a-half hours
Sentencing a criminal to 1,000 years in an artificial hell may one day become a reality.
At least, that is the claim of scientists at Oxford University who have been exploring controversial technologies that could extend human life.
They say billions are being invested in techniques that could mean the cruellest criminals will be kept alive indefinitely in condition befitting their crime.
Last year, a team of scientists led by Rebecca Roache began exploring technologies that could keep prisoners in an artificial hell
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Last year, a team of scientists led by Rebecca Roache began exploring technologies that could keep prisoners in an artificial hell
According to their research, prison firms could also develop drugs that make time pass slowly, making an inmate’s sentence feel like an eternity.
Last year, a team of scientists led by Rebecca Roache began exploring technologies that could keep prisoners in an artificial hell.
‘Some crimes are so bad they require a really long period of punishment, and a lot of people seem to get out of that punishment by dying,’ Dr Roache told Ross Andersen in Aeon magazine.
Dr Roache highlights what she describes as the ‘laughably inadequate’ sentence of 30 years in prison for Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek.
The pair were convicted of murdering Luczak's four year-old son, Daniel, who was beaten, starved and tortured before his death.
On her Practical Ethics blog, Dr Roache notes that Luczak and Krezolek will receive the humane treatment that Daniel never did.
‘They will, for example, be fed and watered, housed in clean cells, allowed access to a toilet and washing facilities, allowed out of their cells for exercise and recreation,’ she writes.
Turning to human engineering as a possible solutions, Dr Roache looks at the idea of life span enhancements so that a life sentence in prison could last hundreds of years.
‘Dr Aubrey de Grey, co-founder of the anti-ageing Sens research foundation, believes that the first person to live to 1,000 years has already been born,’ she said.
‘The benefits of such radical lifespan enhancement are obvious - but it could also be harnessed to increase the severity of punishments’
As well as extending life, Dr Roache noted that there are a number of psychoactive drugs that distort people’s sense of time.
She said that society might not be far off developing a pill that could make someone feel like they were serving a 1,000-year sentence.
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Turning to human engineering as a possible solutions, Dr Roache looks at the idea of life span enhancements so that a life sentence in prison can last hundreds of years. The technology could be used on the most serious crimes, such as those committed by Adolf Hitler
‘Of course, there is a widely held view that any amount of tinkering with a person’s brain is unacceptably invasive,’ she said. ‘But you might not need to interfere with the brain directly.’
Time distortion, for instance, is already a technique used in interrogation, where people are exposed to constant light, or unusual light changes, so that they can’t tell what time of day it is.
Another scenario being explored by the group is uploading the criminal's mind to a digital realm to speed up the 1,000 year sentence.
‘As the technology required to scan and map human brain processes improves, some believe it will one day be possible to upload human minds on to computers,’ Dr Roache said.
This means that with sufficient computer power, it would be possible to speed up the rate at which an uploaded mind runs.
Prison firms could also soon develop drugs that make time pass slowly, making an inmate¿s sentence feel like an eternity
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Prison firms could also soon develop drugs that make time pass slowly, making an inmate¿s sentence feel like an eternity
Similarly, uploading the mind of a convicted criminal and running it a million times faster than normal would enable the uploaded criminal to serve a 1,000 year sentence in eight-and-a-half hours.
‘This would, obviously, be much cheaper for the taxpayer than extending criminals’ lifespans to enable them to serve 1,000 years in real time,’ said Dr Roache.
If these technologies are developed, one crime that could ever justify eternal imprisonment was something that would endanger mankind.
‘Suppose there was some physics experiment that stood a decent chance of generating a black hole that could destroy the planet and all future generations,’ said Dr Roache.
'If someone deliberately set up an experiment like that, I could see that being the kind of supercrime that would justify an eternal sentence.’
Replies
nobody would work and pay taxes feather
It's nice to see that the reincarnation of Dr. Mengele is flourishing so well in his new life here on earth.
I can't wait to see what he'll become in even the next one. Give him access to space technology and he'll become the by the future only rumoured "Menace of The Galactic Dr. Frankenstein". ;)
Absolutely, Eddie! I've been in the 'frying pan' for 27 years! Hanuman's symbol is also the swastika and he carries the giant club around-I have a comic book for children written in English about the story of Hanuman and the prince-the princess is captured by the bad guys (un-Godly) and taken to a desolate island then the quest begins as the prince and Hanuman search for the Princess. Ater awhile they find her and the God Hanuman delivers Justice on the bad guys with his club
Pet Rock: I know your above comment wasn't addressed to me, but I am curious, what are you talking about?
here's a good one darkstar-I do contracting and at a jobsite the other day another contarctor that I think I've seen around at other sites over the years said to me, in an excited tone, 'hey what''s up-what are you doing here?", I have this job", I replied, " I thought you worked in (a local chain retail store)?" No" said I. He then got serious and said "you were wearing the company shirt and we were talking about business," etc. and I swore to him it wasn't me-I was hurrying around and didn't ask him which store location so I could go there and see if there is someone who looks like me or one of my alternate selves is working there and he happened to cross over momentarily or I did-sorry if this sounds like a 'lets' talk about me' reply but I wanted to share it-and I'm from th '70's ME generation
Pet Rock: Very interesting. Back in the 70's someone I used to know ran into someone who LOOKED JUST LIKE ME. He kept calling this woman by my name over and over again, and this woman said that that wasn't her name. He told her to stop joking around. TO THIS DAY I do not believe that he thinks it WASN'T me! (I've always wondered whether or not that person was a twin or a clone or WHAT???!!! I also don't feel very "grounded". I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I'M IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE - do you think that that has anything to do with it?)
I do-it may have been one of your alternates, I bet he was positive he spoke to you-this happened to me in the san francisco area also back in the 80's while watching the 4th of July fireworks in san fran. Next day I drove down the coats, stopped for gas, and went in the store for a coffee-the clerk was surpised to see me and said that he and I were talking at the local fireworks (about an hour south of san fran) and I had the same wind breaker and glasses! I swore it wasn't me and he started to get mad
Pet Rock: How BIZARRE!
it was darkstar
I've been in a Christ Light cleansing for 27 years and acording to a psycic that I've known of for 25 years he said, in a reading, that I did some things in another life 1000's of years ago, where I thought I was helping but overstepped the boundaries by moving Light around and here it is now! I believe our spirits are constructs of our soul and we reincarnate over and over as different personalities with a certain amount of free will to choose our actions-there are 13 other me's in slightly different alternate dimensions doing different things that our soul wants to experience-same for everyone-now I mentally ask those above me before any Light working
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