X-Message-Number: 9585
From: Ralph Merkle <>
Subject: Re: Failure of the Cryonics Movement
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 12:07:01 PDT

Saul's recent post said:

> I'll get back to what Ralph Merkle has deemed "The Golden Era of Cryonics"

I did not describe the period from the 1980's to the early 1990's as
"The Golden Era of Cryonics," nor do I think this characterization is
accurate.

I did point out that Alcor sustained an annual growth rate during this
period of somewhat under 30%.  This suggests that it is possible to
achieve such a growth rate even in the absence of perfected suspended
animation.

Saul said:

>Until we have solid evidence that we can 
>preserve the brain well enough to retain enough information to 
>maintain our identities, it is inappropriate, I believe, for us to 
>criticize cryobiologists over their opinion that future repair of 
>today's frozen patients will be impossible.

In general, the statement that "X is impossible" is very different from
the statement "I do not know if X is possible."  If someone asserts that
"X is impossible" it is reasonable to ask them for their proof.  If they
fail to advance such proof, it is reasonable to criticize them and suggest
that they should, instead, say "I do not know if X is possible."

My views on the technical feasability of cryonics are available at:
http://www.merkle.com/cryo/techFeas.html
and
http://www.merkle.com/cryo/cryptoCryo.html

Ralph C. Merkle
www.merkle.com

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