X-Message-Number: 32782
Subject: Re: Chinese translation of "Prospect"
From: David Stodolsky <>
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:09:45 +0200
References: <>

On 20 Aug 2010, at 11:00 AM, CryoNet wrote:
> 
> Surely the publication of the Chinese translation of The Prospect of 
> Immortality is the first step, which has just been taken. They may well be 
> free media publicity surrounding it. If the Chinese government sees it as 
> being an opportunity to provide an alternative to religion, then they may 
> well provide funding to appropriate Chinese individuals and organisations to 
> advance the concept.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
> Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
> Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
> more
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> <del>
> Potentially, this could mean an opening for cryonics. Administration of the 
> Badger Survey in China would be a first step.
> 
> 
> dss



Cryonics is not an alternative to religion. It is a technique for modification 
of bodies. Religions use all kinds of techniques, such as baptism, circumcision,
scarification, mummification, etc. Some feel cryonics should be promoted as a 
medical intervention. A medical intervention is not a religion or an alternative
to a religion. This view is a logical error called a category mistake. "A 
category mistake, or category error, is a semantic or ontological error by which
a property is ascribed to a thing that could not possibly have that property" 
(Wikipedia).


In general, a religion is a "set of beliefs explaining the existence of and 
giving meaning to the universe" (Wikipedia). Religions as life philosophies 
generally invoke supernatural explanations. So, if anything, they are likely to 
be hostile to cryonics.


We know that people of many different religious beliefs have chosen cryonics. 
However, the evidence is that certain religious orientations are hostile to 
cryonics and others are positive toward it. There are life philosophies that 
support cryonics as an inherent part of their belief system, such as Cosmism, 
Extropianism, etc.


So, this relates to what I have called the packaging problem: Cryonics can't be 
marketed independently, since it doesn't provide what people need: A "set of 
beliefs explaining the existence of and giving meaning to the universe". This 
logical mistake is a barrier to the growth and survival of the cryonics 
movement. The idea that a new life philosophy incorporating cryonics will 
suddenly spring forth in the minds of the Chinese Leadership is just as 
realistic as the idea that it would happen in the West. So far we have seen at 
least two dramatic failures along these lines: CryoCare and Extropianism. If 
this is any guide, then even if the Leadership does try to use cryonics as an 
alternative to religion, it will not work and the result will be that cryonics 
will be discredited. Before the Chinese Leadership can effectively promote 
cryonics, it has to be packaged properly. I guess that some form of Cosmism 
would best fit in with current social and political developments in China. 
However, without some solid data, it isn't possible to say much about this.


dss

David Stodolsky
  Skype: davidstodolsky

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