BBC Home

Explore the BBC

h2g2
28th December 2009
Accessibility help
Text only

.

Conversation Forum


SEARCH h2g2
Edited Entries only
Search h2g2Advanced Search


New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in
BBC Homepage
The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything.

This is the Conversation Forum for The First Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture
Contact Us


Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
Conversation list
<< For goodness sake
I wish I could get this on CD or DVD >>

My rather pedantic point
Post: 1
Posted Apr 23, 2003 by Researcher 225685
Firstly may I say how much I enjoyed this lecture.

Regarding humans as waves, in point of fact the enamel of your teeth is non-labile (which is to say that it is not broken down and re-deposited as a result of life processes, although there is an amount of surface exchange and re-calcification/fluoridation). The formation of certain secondary teeth occurs prior to birth so there are quite a lot of atoms in your body that are still present (as long as you are not edentulous or nearly so) that were present at the time of that childhood memory it was suggested that you bring to mind.

This does not affect the sense or meaning of the argument of course, anything that distinguishes your mental or intellectual identity is not defined by the identity of the matter that forms its' substance at any one time but strictly the one constant is found in the visible portion of your adult teeth.

As an aside I was once watching The Osmond Family on a black and white television and decided to turn the brightness down and, like the Cheshire Cat, the last thing to be seen was their teeth.

If I may attempt an unworthy parody:-

Humans had always assumed that what distinguished them from their rodent ancestors was their brains, their manipulative digits and opposable thumbs or even their digital watches but ultimately what really made the difference was that humans needed dental floss and mouthwash.

Celebaelin


Reply 

No Previous PostNo Next Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Key
Navigation Example
A: An older reply to the parent Posting
B: The parent Posting, to which this is a reply
C: A newer reply to the parent posting
D: The first reply to this Posting
Click to Make a Complaint
 Click on this icon to make a complaint about a specific Posting
Conversation list
<< For goodness sake
I wish I could get this on CD or DVD >>






Disclaimer

Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please click on the Feedback button above.




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy