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


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