[extropy-chat] Transhumanism mentioned in "Skeptic" re: cryonics

[Joseph Bloch]

In response to last month's hit-piece on cryonics in "Skeptic" magazine, 
they have published a few pro-cryonics responses. One, by NASA scientist 
and science fiction novelist Gregory Benford, mentions transhumanism in 
a perhaps-not-so-flattering way:

"Of course, cryonics is a huge gamble, and I think it is best viewed 
that way. The recent piece by Kevin Miller in Skeptic (Vol. 11, No. 1) 
follows common practice: interview a cryobiologist, who then cites a 
transhumanist (not a cryonicist) about techno-optimism. Miller's 
scientist, Kenneth Storey, cites extreme standards (cells must cool "at 
least 1000 degrees a minute") without backing up that statement; he then 
says "it will never work fororgans," and "they claim they will overturn 
the law of physics, chemistry and molecular science," again using the 
argument from authority but providing no evidence." (Skeptic Vol. 11, 
No. 2, p. 28).

The Transhumanist in question, btw, is George Dworsky of the Toronto 
Transhumanist Association, who was quoted in the original article as 
saying "I can't sit here today and look you in the eye and tell you we 
are going to bring people back. Amupme who is going to tell you that is 
either deluding themselves, or they're not being realistic. But I think 
there are enough clues now to give us some hope. ... [the thawing 
process will need] a radically futuristic technology [that] could 
resuscitate or revitalize the person."

Joseph

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