“Pseudoscience” isn’t the only possible criticism of cryonics. One could believe that it may be scientifically possible in theory, still without thinking that it’s a good idea to sign up for cryonics in the present day. (Basically, by coming up with something like a Drake equation for the chance of it working out positively for a current-day human, and then estimating the probability of the terms to be very low.)
You’re right, that most of the popular criticism of cryonics is mere non-technical mocking. Still, there’s a place for reasoned objections as well.
Maybe it’s the correlation between believing in cryonics and being a smart rationalist, but for my money the most rational arguments against cryonics [Edit: or how cryonics is being practiced] don’t come from people against cryonics. They come from cryonics supporters exploring the other side of the argument, or confronting what’s wrong so they can try to fix it. I take that as strong evidence that those against cryonics are getting something badly wrong.
I nominate the appropriate bits of the above Alcor article as currently the best anti-cryonics article in the world.
Maybe it’s the correlation between believing in cryonics and being a smart rationalist, but for my money the most rational arguments against cryonics don’t come from people against cryonics. They come from cryonics supporters exploring the other side of the argument, or confronting what’s wrong so they can try to fix it. I take that as strong evidence that those against cryonics are doing it wrong.
I nominate the appropriate bits of the above Alcor article as currently the best anti-cryonics article in the world.
“Pseudoscience” isn’t the only possible criticism of cryonics. One could believe that it may be scientifically possible in theory, still without thinking that it’s a good idea to sign up for cryonics in the present day. (Basically, by coming up with something like a Drake equation for the chance of it working out positively for a current-day human, and then estimating the probability of the terms to be very low.)
You’re right, that most of the popular criticism of cryonics is mere non-technical mocking. Still, there’s a place for reasoned objections as well.
There certainly is. Please point me to them.
This article http://www.alcor.org/printable.cgi?fname=Library%2Fhtml%2FWillCryonicsWork.html gives something like a drake equation for cryonics
Maybe it’s the correlation between believing in cryonics and being a smart rationalist, but for my money the most rational arguments against cryonics [Edit: or how cryonics is being practiced] don’t come from people against cryonics. They come from cryonics supporters exploring the other side of the argument, or confronting what’s wrong so they can try to fix it. I take that as strong evidence that those against cryonics are getting something badly wrong.
I nominate the appropriate bits of the above Alcor article as currently the best anti-cryonics article in the world.
Ben Best is also now talking about taking on the challenge to write the best anti-cryonics article.
Did he ever write it? It’s been 2 or 3 months, and I don’t see anything in http://www.benbest.com/cryonics/cryonics.html
Not that I heard about. I don’t think there’s much point to be honest, he wouldn’t have credibility with disbelievers.
The first 4 minutes of this is another good example. The guy on the left is Mike Darwin.
Love love love this article! A ton of interesting questions to chew on as I wrestle with this problem.
Thanks very much for the link. I bookmarked it and will return to it.
Maybe it’s the correlation between believing in cryonics and being a smart rationalist, but for my money the most rational arguments against cryonics don’t come from people against cryonics. They come from cryonics supporters exploring the other side of the argument, or confronting what’s wrong so they can try to fix it. I take that as strong evidence that those against cryonics are doing it wrong.
I nominate the appropriate bits of the above Alcor article as currently the best anti-cryonics article in the world.