X-Message-Number: 19377
From: "Brett Bellmore" <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #19366 
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 10:11:54 -0400

Thomas Donaldson: "If we look at cryonics in those terms, the very first
conclusion is
that it cannot EVER work in the sense that a medical procedure works. Yes,
if we someday reach a state in which we know how to fix ALL POSSIBLE medical
conditions, then cryonics can be said to work ... but it would also cease to
be used."

I think perhaps you misunderstood my point, Thomas; It's not that cryonics
would have to be demonstrated to work for the purpose of saving the
presently untreatable today. I agree with you that, at that point, *long
term* cryonics would no longer have much application. (It might still have
some short term applications, and might also be used as a form of one-way
time travel.)

Rather, my point is that cryonics will be accepted when we can demonstrate
reversable suspension of a HEALTHY higher organism, under ideal
circumstances. At that point, people in large numbers would be able to make
the infintesimal conceptual leap to suspending unhealthy people until
treatments are available for them. The large leap, suspending people today
in the expectation that a cure for having been suspended will also be
developed, is beyond most people. Even though WE obviously consider it
reasonable.

Granted, it's a failure of imagination, a deadly one. But it's a failure
almost everyone, religious AND secular, is guilty of.

Brett Bellmore

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