Robert Ettinger: Dying for Immortality

A short documentary on the process of Cryonics vs Cryogenics. Interview with Pete Paulin of 300 Below and Robert Ettinger of The Cryonic Institute.

Dirty Cricket
Writer/Director: Jeph Porter
DP: Ryan Speers
Producer: Scott Sachtner
AD/Sound: Jamison Acker
Gaffer: Colin Durbin
Grip/PA: Adam Koleges

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Robert Ettinger
• cryonics cryogenics
• cryonic institute
• ben best
• jeph porter
• life extension

[darcon81]

I'm researching about cryonics for my sci fi novel and came across this documentary. this is a great study of life and death and quest for immortality. Ettinger's words at the ending were the very sentiments that my main character was troubled about. this is moving, and inspirational. I love this.

[MrAdvancedAtheist]

@hawkman350 Ettinger makes it clear in his books, which you can read for free online, that we'll have rejuvenation technologies in the future so that nobody has to "grow old," except in the sense of living a really, really long time in good physical and cognitive shape.

[hawkman350]

Trees are immortal.

[hawkman350]

There could be a lot of downsides to this. What about when your eyes go and you go deaf? Plus you'd be old and decrepit and impotent and smelly. I wouldn't like to see the condition of someone who was 300 plus years old and still living.

[LeeFCreations]

@TheSunmanho

It would be illegal and unethical to freeze/kill a living person and then try and restore them. Most importantly because we don't yet have the technology that can repair all the damage from the freezing process.

To get an idea of when we can expect such technologies that can restore our bodies and allow us indefinite lifespans, I recommend looking into the work of those I mentioned.

I view cryonics as a backup plan if all else fails. It offers a chance. The alternatives don't.

[TheSunmanho]

@LeeFCreations

I'm interested in cryonics so don't be angry at me for arguing back! You could only remain frozen for thousands of years if all the future generations don't pull the plug. You need a permanent flow of electricity. I would feel quite unsafe in a freezer, thinking that Alcor can't pay it's electricity bill and I die.

and another thing. all the frozen people are declared dead by a doctor. that's a big risk! why don't anyone try to get frozen alive and re-thaw next week?

[LeeFCreations]

@TheSunmanho

While it's true (strangely so) that those of us interested in immortality are currently a minority, such ideas are continuing to gain more mainstream recognition and acceptance. Look into the work of Ray Kurzweil and Aubrey de Grey.

While a person could remain in cryonic suspension for thousands of years without decay, it's expected that the technology required for revival will be here much sooner than that. So soon that it may not be necessary to die in the first place.

[TheSunmanho]

@LeeFCreations

yes it does make sense...but....who will carry out the necessary progress when all the best people get frozen? they are the only ones interested in their survival, the rest of humanity doesn't care at all.

[LeeFCreations]

@TheSunmanho

The idea is not to remain frozen forever. Cryonics preserves the body, and the idea is that when technogoly has advanced to a point where all damage to the body can be repaired, the patient will be thawed out and revived.

The amount of time that passes before this happens is irrelevant, as the body is essentially "frozen in time" untill such other technologies are available for revival to occur.

Make sense?

[TheSunmanho]

@EntertainmentOdds

Cryonics is not real immortality. What's the use of sleeping in an ice cube forever? You may be not dead but you are not alive either.