I posted the story to let folks know of a possible altruistic target: letting people live as long as they want by vitrifying their nervous systems for eventual resuscitation.
There are many, many possible altruistic targets. I think to be suitable for the EA forum, a presentation of an altruistic goal should include some analysis of how it compares with existing goals, or what heuristics lead you to believe it’s worthy of particular attention.
I second this. Research in the area of cryonics could be an effective intervention, but proposing it in this way achieves nothing, since it doesn’t do the actual work of assessing its impact per dollar. It doesn’t even try.
That’s about the total annual cost of preserving a brain and spinal cord under an Alcor cryonics contract. I assume that the price paid while the patient are alive are roughly the same as the cost of preservation when dead.
This story did not make me a more effective or altruistic person, as far as I can tell.
I posted the story to let folks know of a possible altruistic target: letting people live as long as they want by vitrifying their nervous systems for eventual resuscitation.
There are many, many possible altruistic targets. I think to be suitable for the EA forum, a presentation of an altruistic goal should include some analysis of how it compares with existing goals, or what heuristics lead you to believe it’s worthy of particular attention.
I second this. Research in the area of cryonics could be an effective intervention, but proposing it in this way achieves nothing, since it doesn’t do the actual work of assessing its impact per dollar. It doesn’t even try.
I estimate it’ll cost at least $1,000/yr to preserve a brain. That’s about the cost of maintaining a family at global poverty levels.
I should have posted such calculations first before posting the excerpts. Thanks for your comments.
Interesting! How did you arrive at the $1,000/yr figure?
That’s about the total annual cost of preserving a brain and spinal cord under an Alcor cryonics contract. I assume that the price paid while the patient are alive are roughly the same as the cost of preservation when dead.