X-Message-Number: 21456
References: <>
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 22:09:18 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Re: plastination
From: 

> From: 

> Greg Jordan asks about plastination. To repeat, attempts to preserve
> structure, with minimal attention to function, including fancy types of
> embalming using glutaraldehyde, have not been given high priority by
> anyone
> in cryonics for the very simple reason that, to my knowledge, no specimen
> of
> any kind has been revived after such treatment.

Ironically, this sounds a lot like the standard argument used against
cryonics, and the standard answer applies: our task is merely to "preserve
to the best of our (financial!) abilities". Future scientists and
technology will take care of reconstruction & revival.

> Similar remarks apply to
> drying or freeze-drying (unless you count bacteria). This doesn't
> necessarily
> mean such things are hopeless,

Correct, this merely means that *presumably* we don't yet have the
technology to do this (which, considering that there has, afaik, never
been any serious research effort in this field, is hardly surprising).

> but we have to prioritize our limited
> resources. We will at some point investigate these questions in a more
> orderly way.

Yes, this makes perfect sense from a cryonics organization's point of
view. However, it is also a fact that plastination, freeze-drying, and
various means of chemopreservation could and *should* be used as
low-budget cryonics alternatives by those who can't afford, or simply
don't want to spend much money on, regular suspension services. It is the
rational, moral, aesthetic, and civilized thing to do, **regardless of the
ultimate outcome.** Can't repeat this often enough, really. While it is,
again, perfectly understandable that existing cryonics organizations
aren't too interested in setting up a low-budget preservation "service",
it is rather strange that the topic receives so little attention in the
immortalist community; surely, there must be dozens of people "out there"
(and "in here") who either a) want preservation themselves but can't (yet)
afford cryonics, b) have a friend or family member who has this problem,
or c) simply want to support a "good cause". What's up?

As always, see http://www.transtopia.org/plastination.html for more info
about various (potential) low-budget cryonics alternatives.

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