# The Ethical Dilemma of Cryonics: Resurrecting Extremists?
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Chapter 1: The Promise of Cryonics
Imagine a future where it's possible to be brought back to life after death, and any illness that caused your demise could be cured on the day of your revival. This is the aspiration of a growing community known as cryonicists, and I count myself among them.
Organizations like the Cryonics Institute and Alcor Life Extension Foundation offer individuals a third option for post-mortem treatment. Instead of traditional burial or cremation—both of which guarantee no chance of revival—cryonics aims to preserve clinically deceased individuals with the hope of reanimating them in the future.
Although the concept is met with skepticism from many in the scientific community, we cryonicists are motivated not by certainty, but by the slim hope of a second chance at life. Larry King, a beloved talk show host, encapsulated this sentiment when he said, “I don't believe in an afterlife... the only hope — the only fragment of hope — is to be frozen. And then someday they cure whatever you died of and you're back.”
However, my intention is not to persuade you to consider cryonics. Instead, I want to challenge the notion that everyone deserves a second chance at life.
Chapter 2: The Risks of Resurrection
Suppose cryonics becomes a widespread success, enabling the revival of individuals with no health issues. Sounds appealing, right? But consider the possibility of resurrecting a white supremacist or neo-Nazi. Would that still feel acceptable?
This scenario may not be far-fetched, particularly with the case of Robert Whitaker, whose cryopreservation by Alcor was publicly acknowledged in June 2017. He was declared dead after being found by his personal assistant, who promptly informed Alcor. They were able to preserve his head the very next day.
Section 2.1: Who Was Robert Whitaker?
You might wonder why this matters. Alcor is bound by law to keep patient information confidential, yet Robert Whitaker shares several traits with the notorious white nationalist, Bob Whitaker. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Bob Whitaker was known for his extremist views and authored a racist manifesto that became a rallying cry for white supremacists.
Both men not only share the same name but also lived in Columbia, South Carolina, and died on the same date—June 3, 2017. As the saying goes, "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck."
Section 2.2: The Ethics of Second Chances
This brings us to a critical question: Should individuals like Robert Whitaker be given the opportunity for revival in the future? Many cryonicists argue that the practice is akin to emergency medicine and that everyone deserves life-saving interventions, regardless of their character.
However, equating the responsibilities of medical practitioners who provide care with those of a private company that knowingly engages with individuals holding extremist views is a problematic leap.
Some might argue that while figures like Adolf Hitler should be barred from revival due to their crimes, a person like Robert Whitaker, who primarily expressed harmful beliefs without direct action, should be treated differently. Yet this line of reasoning fails to recognize that both Hitler and Whitaker's ideologies stem from a belief system that justifies horrific acts against humanity.
As a member of the United States Transhumanist Party (USTP), I note that our Constitution explicitly condemns discrimination based on race, gender, or ideology. Given this, it's perplexing that Alcor, a transhumanist organization, would not have a similar policy regarding individuals like Whitaker. My attempts to contact Alcor for clarification have gone unanswered.
Chapter 3: Science Fiction Meets Reality
While I do not entirely oppose Alcor's decision to offer services to Robert Whitaker, the situation brings to mind an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled "The Neutral Zone." In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise-D discovers three humans from the 20th century preserved in cryogenic pods.
While two of them adapt to the changes of the 24th century, one, a capitalist named Ralph Offenhouse, struggles to comprehend the new reality. Captain Picard manages to persuade him to think beyond his profit-driven mindset, but in real life, such an adjustment would likely be much more challenging.
This presents a compelling argument for the potential benefits of resurrecting someone like Whitaker. Given the backwardness of his ideology in our time, one can only speculate how outdated his views would appear in a far more advanced future. He envisioned a society based solely on racial purity, yet he would awaken to a world rich in diversity and innovation.
However, there's also the risk that he might reject this new reality and respond with hostility. This leads us back to the initial question: Should figures like Whitaker be given the chance to return? The potential consequences make this a complex and concerning issue.
Time, as they say, will ultimately reveal the answers.