Calvin comments on Why I haven't signed up for cryonics - Less Wrong

29 Post author: Swimmer963 12 January 2014 05:16AM

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Comment author: passive_fist 17 January 2014 04:07:49AM *  0 points [-]

I don't assign high prior probability to the fact that we know enough about the brain to preserve minds correctly, and therefore cryonics in the current shape or form is unlikely to succeed.

Are you saying that accurate preservation depends on highly delicate molecular states of the brain, and this is the reason they cannot be preserved with current techniques?

Comment author: Calvin 17 January 2014 04:51:26AM 0 points [-]

I don't know what is conditional to accurate preservation of the mind, but I am sure that if someone came up with definite answer, it would be a great leap forward for the whole community.

Some people seem to put their faith in structure for an answer, but how to test this claim in a meaningful way?

Comment author: passive_fist 17 January 2014 07:17:49AM 0 points [-]

I don't know what is conditional to accurate preservation of the mind,

It seems like you're saying you don't know whether cryonics can succeed or not. Whereas in your first reply you said "therefore cryonics in the current shape or form is unlikely to succeed."

Comment author: Calvin 17 January 2014 07:32:15AM *  -1 points [-]

Yes.

I don't know if it is going to succeed or not (my precognition skills are rusty today), but I am using my current beliefs and evidence (sometimes lack of thereof) to speculate that it seems unlikely to work, in the same way cryonics proponents speculate that it is likely (well, likely enough to justify the cost) that their minds are going to survive till they are revived in the future.