Cryonics

[ciphergoth]

I'm considering signing up with the Cryonics Institute. Are you signed up? I'd be interested to hear your reasons why or why not. It does of course sound crazy, but when you press past that initial reaction to find out why it's crazy, I haven't heard a really satisfactory argument yet, and I'm interested to hear what people think. There are many reasons it might not work, but are there reasons to think it's really unlikely to work? How likely does recovery need to be for it to be worth it?

Comments

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Have you read Hofstadter and Dennett's "The Mind's I"? It's a collection of essays, short stories, and story extracts exploring issues around philosophy of mind. This is almost exactly the question it opens with - using a teleporter rather than WBE, but to the same end. If you haven't, I really recommend it, I think you might really enjoy it.

[djm4]

Yes, I'm not convinced that there wasn't a 'me' in that sense that died last year when I was under anesthetic. Of course, I have his memories, but then I would.

But then, that's true moment-to-moment. As you know, I tend to the view that 'consciousness' itself is an illusion in the sense that most people (including me) think of it, so I'm not sure that I'm saying anything stronger than that with my anasthetic example.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing you've already read how general anaesthesia played a key role in Greta Christina's deconversion?

[ergotia.livejournal.com]

I dont get that one little bit. Drug can put you out as oif you had been mind wiped = cant be life after death? What? Am I just being dumb here? She *was notdead*, she was under anaesthesia!

[seph-hazard.livejournal.com]

I'm not convinced that there wasn't a 'me' in that sense that died last year when I was under anesthetic. Of course, I have his memories, but then I would.

Oh my god - how genuinely, utterly terrifying. Blimey. *shiver* I don't know that thinking that about myself wouldn't send me utterly, utterly barmy.

[akicif.livejournal.com]

I'm not convinced that there wasn't a 'me' in that sense that died last night when I went to sleep. Of course, I have his memories, but then I would.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Don't worry - it seems like the distinction means something, but it doesn't really.

[wight1984.livejournal.com]

Puts me in mind of John Hicks' Replica theory of the Resurrection, which explores a similar issue.