Open Thread, September 15-30, 2012

OpenThreadGuy

Open Thread, September 15-30, 2012 — LessWrong

Comment Permalink

I think this is worth it's own post but in light of my last discussion catching fire and burning to the ground, I have decided to request a critique on this one before posting in discussions:

Cryonics Moral Dilemma

Since joining LessWrong, I've been thinking about cryo a lot, and have encountered a dilemma:

According to GiveWell, "We estimate that giving a few thousand dollars to AMF likely saves a person's life." (They do malaria bed nets if you're not familiar).

Cryo costs tens of thousands of dollars, and it's not guaranteed to save even one life.

I don't see how I would ever justify signing up, myself, unless I show that I'm capable of making a large enough difference in the world that rescuing my difference making abilities justifies the risk and cost.

This also means "Reddit, help me find some peace I'm dying young" is a cute puppy dog cause. :/

Does anyone relate? What are your thoughts?

please critique the proposed discussion post

Showing 3 of 4 replies (Click to show all)

drethelin14y30

For me the argument is the same as for why I don't live a pauper and give all my wealth to charity: Selfishness. I know that I can feed someone for a long time on the money I spend on a trip somewhere, and I still prefer to take the trip. I will spend a lot more money on myself than I will on a friend, and a lot more on a friend than on a stranger.

Note: I am not signed up for Cryonics.

7Nisan14y

This idea has been covered on Less Wrong before. I'll spend the next minute looking up some links. EDIT: Years saved: Cryonics vs VillageReach Against Cryonics & For Cost-Effective Charity There's already discussion about cryonics and charitable giving in the Reddit, help me find some peace I'm dying young thread. There is a discussion thread in Normal Cryonics about charity vs. cryonics. See in particular this comment.

3Mitchell_Porter14y

If cryonics works, then money spent on cryonics is much more of an investment than money spent on conventional charity. Several million people die every month. Malaria nets can only stop a small fraction of that, no matter how many are made, but cryonics can stop almost all of it - if it works. Anything done in support of cryonics in its fledgling form will help it to scale up. The future won't revive you because it needs you to solve the Y3K problem, but we also don't save children from dying in order that they can go back to work the next day. Cryonics is a way to stop a life from being cut off, with the side effect that the cryonaut wakes up as a mere human in a transhuman world. If it's a friendly place, they'll have a chance to grow into their new world as an equal and a participant.

See in context

11

Open Thread, September 15-30, 2012

11

11

11

Open Thread, September 15-30, 2012

11

11