Understanding Cryonics: The Alcor Perspective and the Quest for Information Preservation

Cryonics has been a topic of fascination and debate for decades. The idea of preserving a person's body or brain in a state of suspended animation, hoping to revive them in the future, challenges our understanding of life, death, and the potential for technological advancement. However, the Alcor Life Extension Foundation and the Cryonics Institute, leading organizations in the field, emphasize that the primary goal is the preservation of information, not revival.

The Current State of Cryonics

Despite numerous attempts, we have yet to thaw a frozen body completely and revive it. The primary reason is that the body is thoroughly dead by the time it is frozen, and all neuronal interconnections in the brain are irreversibly destroyed shortly after the oxygenated blood supply stops. Even if we could revive the body, the memories and knowledge stored in the brain are lost well before freezing begins, and the physical damage caused by the freezing and thawing process is extensive.

Why Bodies are Thoroughly Dead before Freezing

The process of cryonics involves freezing the body or brain to very low temperatures, hoping to preserve it until a future time when advanced technology might allow revival. However, for this to work, the body must be frozen before it is dead. In reality, the body is already dead by the time it is frozen.

When the oxygenated blood supply stops, neuronal interconnections in the brain are irreversibly destroyed within minutes. Therefore, even if the body is frozen, it is impossible to revive it because all memories and knowledge are lost. The freezing process further exacerbates the damage caused by the lack of oxygenation and physical damage to cells and tissues during the thawing process.

The Simplicity of Revival

To tackle the problem of revival, cryonicists must not only preserve the body or brain but also successfully revive it. Current preservation techniques are focused on preserving the information that constitutes the self, such as personality, identity, memories, and knowledge. Reviving a person requires not only preserving this information but also reconstituting it into a functional mind, a far more complex and challenging task.

Why Blood Supply is Critical

The process of oxygenation and blood supply is critical in cryonics. When oxygenated blood stops circulating, it leads to the rapid death of brain cells. The brain's complex structure, with its billions of interconnected neurons, is particularly vulnerable to the lack of oxygen. Even a slight delay in the restoration of blood flow can result in irreversible damage to the brain's functional integrity. Thus, the early stages of cryonics must prioritize the preservation of the information stored in the brain while the body or brain is still alive.

Information Preservation is the Primary Goal

Cryonics is not about revival but about the preservation of information. Cryonicists think about the world in terms of a set of possible futures, aiming to maximize the number of futures that contain their own existence. The primary goal is to preserve the information that constitutes the self, such as personality, identity, memories, and knowledge. This information is stored in the brain and, to a large extent, in the material that composes the brain.

The Alcor Life Extension Foundation and the Cryonics Institute have demonstrated the feasibility of preserving brain tissue. Once a slice of a brain preserved by their techniques is taken and tested, it can be examined to ensure that the material meets the requirements for information preservation. This level of assurance is unprecedented and demonstrates the potential for the preservation of a person's information years after the cessation of metabolism.

Assuring the Public of Cryonics' Integrity

While the possibility of revival raises ethical and practical questions, the organizations involved in cryonics are committed to ensuring that their practices are not a scam. The preservation of information is a significant scientific challenge, but the organizations that practice cryonics are dedicated to the goal of preserving the self-information of individuals.

Cryonics is an uncertain path to meeting the condition of preserving self-information. There are many unknowns regarding the brain and the best way to preserve it. However, it is clear that cryonics, as practiced by Alcor and the Cryonics Institute, is not a sham. The foundation and the institute conduct detailed testing and examination to ensure that the preserved material meets their strict criteria for information preservation.

In conclusion, while the concept of cryonics may seem like a long shot, it represents a significant step forward in the preservation of human information. As technology continues to advance, the possibility of revival may become more than just a pipe dream. For now, the primary goal is to ensure that the information that defines a person is preserved, no matter how uncertain the future may be.