Given current knowledge of diseases, I think it would be reasonably easy to avoid the worst health problems that killed of people in 1700.
One question would be what form your wealth would be in, and how you'd hold onto it.
Mark Twain's novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is an interesting parallel: what effects late 19th century knowledge would have on a medieval society (the results were not pretty).
I don't believe wealth in 1700 would give a more attractive lifestyle than that of the middle class 21st century. The main attraction for someone who had already had the latter would be intellectual, like a form of tourism. I'd like to meet Isaac Newton and Liebnitz personally.
I haven't done the research yet, but I'm guessing there's no toilet paper in 1700, even if you're the wealthiest person in 1700. I wonder how long it would take to put together the manufacturing process needed to make good quality toilet paper?
Re: What would Deyoung do?terrencechanApril 2 2011, 13:56:14 UTC
Yes, I think it does differ substantially because I've specified that "1700-you" is still you. I pose it as a mere quality-of-life question, not a philosophical one or one of self.
Now, it's still not clear that my asking the question in this way tackles the quality-of-life issue because there are going to be those who say, "no, I love my wife and kids blah blah blah", but realistically, parallel-universe 1700-wealthy-you is going to have a smokin' wife (or ten, if that's your thing) and bright kids too.
But, of course, if you need a blood transfusion for whatever reason you might get fucked.
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One question would be what form your wealth would be in, and how you'd hold onto it.
Mark Twain's novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is an interesting parallel: what effects late 19th century knowledge would have on a medieval society (the results were not pretty).
I don't believe wealth in 1700 would give a more attractive lifestyle than that of the middle class 21st century. The main attraction for someone who had already had the latter would be intellectual, like a form of tourism. I'd like to meet Isaac Newton and Liebnitz personally.
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http://www.rapideyereality.com/archives/2010/08/17/the-dennis-deyoung-dilemma/
--Brad
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Now, it's still not clear that my asking the question in this way tackles the quality-of-life issue because there are going to be those who say, "no, I love my wife and kids blah blah blah", but realistically, parallel-universe 1700-wealthy-you is going to have a smokin' wife (or ten, if that's your thing) and bright kids too.
But, of course, if you need a blood transfusion for whatever reason you might get fucked.
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