X-Message-Number: 4819 Date: Sat, Aug 95 12:44:51 From: mike <> Subject: Cryonics non-signups and self-worth In my last posting (#4790) I speculated that most people have "too frail a sense of self-worth" to make a try for an extended life through cryonics. Tomas Donaldson, in #4816, has made what I think is an important clarification of this point. In effect the reason people's sense of self-worth is "too frail" is that it is derived from their perceptions of how others see them. They thus lack an *intrinsic* sense of self-worth. Perhaps this is the long-sought explanation for why there are so few in cryonics. To get more signups, we would not merely have to convince them of their self-worth, but to view themselves from a whole new perspective, something that seems a pretty tall order. I suspect that natural selection and social pressures both contribute substantially to a lack of intrinsic feeling of self-worth. A little reflection seems to show many reasons for this, ranging from reproductive interests to the willingness of people to allow themselves to be led into battle by others, or to work at jobs they don't find intrinsically rewarding. These have traditionally been important in perpetuating one's species and society, and they must contribute powerfully to most people's outlook. All of this seems to suggest that we will probably convince only a very small minority to sign up for cryonics, at least until the scientific case for cryonics becomes much harder to ignore. Until that day, we might focus on those borderline cases that could be convinced, particularly those who, with a little gentle persuasion, might be converted to a much stronger and healthier sense of self-worth than they now possess. Some preliminary thoughts on a "healthy sense of self worth": 1. It is intrinsic and does not derive from the opinions of others. 2. It recognizes that others are also valuable and their interests should be respected. 3. It recognizes that one is not perfect, but is rightly engaged in a process of development and improvement. 4. It can serve as the foundation of a philosophy that is noble and enlightened. 5. It encourages high standards of morality and virtue. 6. It recognizes that the proper future for oneself is a happy immortality, and seeks the most reasonable means to further that aim, which there is at least some reason to think is scientifically feasible. 7. It recognizes that preservation of one's physical remains after clinical death for eventual reanimation, as by cryonic suspension, is preferable to physical disintegration. Thoughs from others on this subject would be welcome. Mike Perry Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4819