Max More

Frozen Faith: Cryonics and The Quest to Cheat Death [Video]

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cryonicsMotherboard recently did a 20 min video on cryonics and I thought I’d repost it so that we can all check it out and ponder not only the issue of cryonics itself but also the way it is often represented in popular media.

Synopsis: What if we could use technology to cheat death? It’s an idea that seems like science fiction, but for a small group of people known as cryonicists, the hope of one day being able to successfully freeze and re-animate a person after death remains something worth fighting for.

In Frozen Faith, Motherboard explores the world of cryonics, and meets the people who embrace the notion that one day technology will become sophisticated enough that we can actually cheat death.

Is this modernity’s antidote to death or just pseudo-science, inspired by sci-fi?

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My Video Tour of Alcor and Interview with CEO Max More

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Last month I had the privilege of visiting Max More at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. Alcor is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 and located in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the world leader in cryonics, cryonics research, and cryonics technology. [Cryonics is the science of using ultra-cold temperature to preserve human life with the intent of restoring good health when technology becomes available to do so.]

During our visit CEO, Dr. More walked us through the Alcor facilities as well as the process starting after clinical death is proclaimed, through the cooling of the body and its vitrification, and ending in long-term storage.

Alcor 3

My selfish reason for visiting was to make sure that my big bald head fits well in the neuro-patients storage containers. Thus I was happy that Max explained the differences between neuro and whole-body preservation and showed us the cryo-tanks where 117 patients are in long-term storage.

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I owe very special thanks to Richard and Tatiana Sundvall for producing this video because without them it would not have happened. I am also obliged to videographer Carl Geers not only for doing a great job behind the camera but also for putting up with my mercilessly caustic sense of humor for three long days.

After our video tour of Alcor CEO Max More was kind enough to take another 25 minutes and answer some questions. During our conversation with Max we discuss: general affordability and prices for Alcor; long-distance membership and why minimizing cooling delays is critical for optimum body preservation; preserving pets; chemical brain preservation; the importance of preserving the neuron’s microtubules; the potential for X-prize-type of competition for minimizing tissue damage and improving preservation; the relationship between cryonics and transhumanism.

My favorite quote that I will take away from this interview with Max More is:

Cryonics is critical care medicine taken to the next step.

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation, or become a patron on Patreon.

 

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Transhumanist Philosopher Max More: Question Everything

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Today my guest on Singularity 1 on 1 is transhumanist strategic philosopher Max More. (As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full.)

As the CEO of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation Dr. More has a full schedule. Nevertheless, he generously managed to squeeze in two 30 min interview sessions in his busy day.

During our conversation we discuss issues such as Max’s early life and childhood heroes; his interest in economics, political science, and philosophy; transhumanism and extropy; the proactinary and precautionary principles; cryonics and the Alcor Foundation; his Paleo diet and exercise regimen; why it is important to question everything (and especially yourself).

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation, or become a patron on Patreon.

To find more about Max More visit his website here.

My favorite quote from Max More:

No more gods, no more faith, no more timid holding back. Let us blast out of our old forms, our ignorance, our weakness, and our mortality. The future belongs to posthumanity.

My favorite short articles: A Letter to Mother Nature; The Proactionary Principle; Transhumanism: Towards A Futurist Philosophy

What others have said about Max:

Ray Kurzweil: “Max More’s ideas are very influential among other “big thinkers,” who in turn are influence leaders themselves. Max’s writings represent well-grounded science futurism, and reflect a sophisticated understanding of technology trends and how these trends are likely to develop during this coming century.”

Marvin Minsky: “the father of artificial intelligence”, said of Dr. More: “We have a dreadful shortage of people who know so much, can both think so boldly and clearly and can express themselves so articulately. Carl Sagan was another such one—and  (partly by paying the price of his life) managed to capture the public eye. But Sagan is gone and has not been replaced. I see Max as my candidate for that post.”

 

Video Update:

A fantastic straight-to-the-point interview with Max More discussing the singularity, transhumanism, technological progress, human enhancement, etc…

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