4 ms·

What specific claims does, e.g. Alcor, make that are scientifically sketchy? Just the implication that resurrection might be possible sometime in the future?

Analemma_ 9y ago
Resurrection, while not impossible, is sufficiently unlikely that taking people's money while promising it-- even with a disclaimer that it is not guaranteed-- seems exploitative, akin to people promising homeopathic cancer remedies. It is preying on people's fear of death.
- trevyn 9y ago
  No cryonics organization promises it.
  - Analemma_ 9y ago
    I used to get in a lot of arguments online about cryonics back in the day (it's very possible that you and I have had this debate under different usernames on that other site for Valley nerd-types); they always went nowhere and I'm not interested in getting back into them. Suffice to say that I'm not convinced by cryonics organizations' "we're not promising anything" disclaimers: I think these are done with a knowing wink and that they use Pascal's mugging-style "what have you got to lose?" arguments to bypass concerns about their feasibility to get your money.
    - iamatworknow 9y ago
      At the end of the day, why does it matter to you? If they have the money and it's something they, in sound mind, want to do, why not just let them do it and not let it bother you?
  - walrus01 9y ago
    I don't know where you're getting that. Alcor calls itself a "life extension" foundation, and right on the front page, says: "We believe medical technology will advance further in coming decades than it has in the past several centuries, enabling it to heal damage at the cellular and molecular levels and to restore full physical and mental health." This is not a promise from them but is surely worded like resurrection is a certainty.
- joefourier 9y ago
  The cryonics companies only promise preservation of body/brain tissues, not resuscitation.
  - s73v3r_ 9y ago
    The implication is that the preservation is there so that you can be resuscitated.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
- nylonstrung 9y ago
  Homeopathy is a false analogy as it is outright dangerous, where cryonics is not. I don't think it is 'preying' on the fear of death. A <.1% chance at eternal life is more or less what they offer and is a more reasonable investment than how many wealthy people spend their money. I could spend that money on a marginally nicer apartment for $100/mo and no one would bat an eye even though the expected value is almost certainly lower. It seems appealing to me to come to terms with mortality while also being able to have some small hope that you will get lucky and have another chance at life.
- kelnos 9y ago
  After reading the FAQs and other material on Alcor's website, it's very clear to me that they're entirely frank about having no real idea when or even if resuscitation will be possible. I don't see them promising anything, and I think their website is very clear on what you're getting for your money.

Analemma_ 9y ago

Resurrection, while not impossible, is sufficiently unlikely that taking people's money while promising it-- even with a disclaimer that it is not guaranteed-- seems exploitative, akin to people promising homeopathic cancer remedies. It is preying on people's fear of death.

trevyn 9y ago
No cryonics organization promises it.
- Analemma_ 9y ago
  I used to get in a lot of arguments online about cryonics back in the day (it's very possible that you and I have had this debate under different usernames on that other site for Valley nerd-types); they always went nowhere and I'm not interested in getting back into them. Suffice to say that I'm not convinced by cryonics organizations' "we're not promising anything" disclaimers: I think these are done with a knowing wink and that they use Pascal's mugging-style "what have you got to lose?" arguments to bypass concerns about their feasibility to get your money.
  - iamatworknow 9y ago
    At the end of the day, why does it matter to you? If they have the money and it's something they, in sound mind, want to do, why not just let them do it and not let it bother you?
- walrus01 9y ago
  I don't know where you're getting that. Alcor calls itself a "life extension" foundation, and right on the front page, says: "We believe medical technology will advance further in coming decades than it has in the past several centuries, enabling it to heal damage at the cellular and molecular levels and to restore full physical and mental health." This is not a promise from them but is surely worded like resurrection is a certainty.
joefourier 9y ago
The cryonics companies only promise preservation of body/brain tissues, not resuscitation.
- s73v3r_ 9y ago
  The implication is that the preservation is there so that you can be resuscitated.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
nylonstrung 9y ago
Homeopathy is a false analogy as it is outright dangerous, where cryonics is not. I don't think it is 'preying' on the fear of death. A <.1% chance at eternal life is more or less what they offer and is a more reasonable investment than how many wealthy people spend their money. I could spend that money on a marginally nicer apartment for $100/mo and no one would bat an eye even though the expected value is almost certainly lower. It seems appealing to me to come to terms with mortality while also being able to have some small hope that you will get lucky and have another chance at life.
kelnos 9y ago
After reading the FAQs and other material on Alcor's website, it's very clear to me that they're entirely frank about having no real idea when or even if resuscitation will be possible. I don't see them promising anything, and I think their website is very clear on what you're getting for your money.