Jordan comments on A Much Better Life? - Less Wrong

61 Post author: Psychohistorian 03 February 2010 08:01PM

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 04 February 2010 07:00:40AM 27 points [-]

That was eloquent, but... I honestly don't understand why you couldn't just sign up for cryonics and then get on with your (first) life. I mean, I get that I'm the wrong person to ask, I've known about cryonics since age eleven and I've never really planned on dying. But most of our society is built around not thinking about death, not any sort of rational, considered adaptation to death. Add the uncertain prospect of immortality and... not a whole lot changes so far as I can tell.

There's all the people who believe in Heaven. Some of them are probably even genuinely sincere about it. They think they've got a certainty of immortality. And they still walk on two feet and go to work every day.

Comment author: shiftedShapes 04 February 2010 10:35:29PM 1 point [-]

Aside from all of the questions as to the scientific viability of resurrection through cryonics. I question the logistics of it. What assurance do you have that a cryonics facility will be operational long enough to see your remains get proper treatment? Or furthermore what recourse is there if the facility and the entity controlling it does in fact survive that it will provide the contracted services? If the facility has no legal liability might it not rationally choose to dispose of cryonically preserved bodies/individuals rather than reviving them.

I know that there is probably a a page somewhere explaining this, if so please feel free to provide in lieu of responding in depth.

Comment author: Jordan 04 February 2010 11:11:55PM 9 points [-]

There are no assurances.

You're hanging off a cliff, on the verge of falling to your death. A stranger shows his face over the edge and offers you his hand. Is he strong enough to lift you? Will you fall before you reach his hand? Is he some sort of sadist that is going to push you once you're safe, just to see your look of surprise as you fall?

The probabilities are different with cryonics, but the spirit of the calculation is the same. A non-zero chance of life, or a sure chance of death.