jacob_cannell comments on Cryonics Questions - Less Wrong

9 Post author: James_Miller 26 August 2010 11:19PM

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Comment author: Perplexed 27 August 2010 04:27:18AM *  6 points [-]

If you answered yes to all six questions and have not and do not intend to sign up for cryonics please give your reasons in the comments.

  • I do not wish to damage the ozone layer or contribute to global warming.
  • I think the resources should be spent on medical care for the young, rather than for the old. Do you know how many lives lost to measles one corpsicle costs?
  • If I am awakened in the future, I have no way to earn a living.
  • I used to like Larry Niven's sci fi.

Yes, these answers are somewhat flip. But ...

I can easily imagine someone rational signing up for cryonics. What I have more trouble imagining is someone rational becoming evangelical on the topic. Surely there are lives easier and cheaper to save than mine. Why is it important to you to convince me on this? Why aren't you asking me to contribute to Doctors without Borders? Are you perhaps seeking validation of your own life choices?

Comment author: jacob_cannell 27 August 2010 06:06:33AM 3 points [-]

You value all lives equally, with no additional preference to your own?

If you suddenly fell ill with a disease which is curable, but is very expensive, would you refuse treatment to save "lives easier and cheaper to save than" your own?

Naturally, insurance may cover said expensive treatment, but it can also cover cryonics. Do you only believe in insurance with reasonable caps on cost, such that your medical expenses can never be more than average?

Comment author: Perplexed 27 August 2010 12:51:45PM 0 points [-]

You value all lives equally, with no additional preference to your own?

No, in fact I am probably over to the egoist side of the spectrum among LWers. I said my answers were somewhat flip.

My moral intuitions are pretty close to "Do unto others as they do unto you" except that there is a uni-directional inter-generational flow superimposed. I draw my hope of immortality from children, nephews, nieces, etc.

Do you only believe in insurance with reasonable caps on cost, such that your medical expenses can never be more than average?

I favor payment caps and co-pays on all medical insurance, whether I pay through premiums or taxes. That is only common sense. But capping at everybody-gets-exactly-the-average kinda defeats the purpose of an insurance scheme, doesn't it?

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