X-Message-Number: 30789
From: 
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 12:21:53 EDT
Subject: DSS errors

Although it's probably a waste of time, I'll respond briefly yet again to  
some of DSS's mistakes.
 
1. He continues to inject his brand of politics, apparently just for the  fun 
of it. Regardless of the validity of his ideas about terrorism etc, this  

stuff is not appropriate in a discussion centered on cryonics. War and terrorism
are beyond any appreciable influence by cryonicists, in addition to 

gratuitously  stirring up ill feeling among cryonicists. Any internecine fight 
over 
politics  will tend to reduce cooperation within cryonics.
 
2. >The 'exclusive validity of self interest' is a previous assumption  and  
>one that is detrimental to cryonics.

No, the validity of self interest is not a "previous assumption" of our  
tradition, and for me it was not an assumption but a carefully thought out  
conclusion. 
 
As for it being detrimental to cryonics, that is an opinion for which I see  
no appreciable evidence. Some people already accuse us of selfishness merely 

for  choosing to try to live longer. We are not going to change the mind-set of
any  large number of people any time soon, but what we can do, and have done 
and are  doing, is motivate some at the margin. 
 
3. >The science is now clear that self-interest is not an   
>adequate explanation for human behavior
 
Again missing the point. We know that behavior is often the result of  habit, 
indoctrination, or/and evolutionary psychology that belittles our value  to 
ourselves as individuals. Once more, DSS himself decries the influence of  

religion, which (sometimes, by no means always) tends to elevate institutions  
and 
"ideals" above the welfare of the individual. And yet again, the issue is  

not just what does influence or has influenced human behavior, but what OUGHT to
 influence OUR behavior based on logic and biology.
 
4. >It also makes clear that an  
>effective way of escaping  previous assumptions is to enter a new  
>cultural  framework.

We're not going to reorient majority world views any time soon. What we can  
do and have done and are doing is tip the balance for a number of people that 
is  significant on our scale of operation.
 
5. >reanalysis of the Badger data showed that such a breakthrough   
>would have hardly any effect on the acceptance of cryonics (except   
>among atheists).

Improvement of cryopreservation procedures is intended not only or even  

primarily to help recruitment, but to give ouselves, those already involved or  
to 
become involved, a better chance. 
 
6. >The reanalysis shows that this individualistic approach will only  work  
>with atheists, if at all.
 
DSS's "analysis" means very little. What people say and what they do are  

very different. A significant number of our members call themselves religious.
And a large majority of "atheists" nevertheless share most of the prevailing  
traditions. 
 
Robert Ettinger




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