Ben Best

Ben Best's Opinions

Futurism Is living forever or having a greatly extended lifespan desirable? Agree The majority of people regard a greatly extended lifespan as personally undesirable. Interviewers seem genuinely baffled when they ask cryonicists, "Why would you or anyone want to live forever?" Cryonicists too are baffled by the question -- why would anyone want to die? Edit Pitches 18 Apr 1998    Source Is cryonic restoration technically feasible in the future? Agree Although steps can be taken to minimize freezing-damage, such damage cannot be completely eliminated. Nonetheless, damage is distinct from destruction. A structure that is merely damaged can ultimately be repaired. ... At liquid nitrogen temperature, biological structures in need of repair can be preserved many millions of years with virtually no change. Most cryonicists expect the necessary molecular repair technology within 50 to 100 years -- but are prepared to wait as long as it takes. Edit Pitches 18 Apr 1998    Source

Science Is deterioration of the brain after death slow enough for cryonics to be worthwhile? Mostly Agree It is commonly and erroneously believed that more than six minutes of no heartbeat results in immediate destruction of brain capacity. Some scientists who criticize cryonics are concerned about postmortem degradation of brain structure. ... This analysis of peer-reviewed literature will attempt to answer that question. Edit Pitches 06 Feb 2006    Source Does cryonic preservation with today's best technology cause irreversible brain damage? Neutral A number of possible explanations for cryoprotectant toxicity have been proposed, but the exact molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Insofar as cryoprotectants do not destroy molecules, the damage they cause may not be irreparable. Moreover, considerable success has been made in reducing the toxicity of vitrification mixtures and there is no reason to believe that further toxicity reductions cannot be made. Edit Pitches 11 Apr 2008    Source Philosophy Is cryonics worthwhile? Agree The scientific justification for the practice of cryonics is based on several key concepts: 1. Low temperature can slow metabolism [virtually stopping] chemical changes for centuries. 2. Ice formation can be reduced or even eliminated by the use of vitrification mixtures. 3. Legally dead does not mean "irreversibly dead". ... 4. Damage associated with low temperature preservation and clinical death [is] theoretically reversible in the future. Edit Pitches 11 Apr 2008    Source

Comparisons with Other Experts and Influencers

The similarity between Ben Best and each expert and influencer is calculated by looking at how the same questions were answered. These figures are used to calculate conforming, nonconforming, and projected opinions. The accuracy of the analysis depends on Ben Best's coverage, which grows with the number of their opinions entered into TakeOnIt.

Conforming Opinions

Ben Best's conforming opinions are opinions that align with the group of experts and influencers Ben Best typically agrees with.

Projected Opinions

Ben Best's projected opinions are opinions Ben Best is expected to have if their opinions align with the experts and influencers that they typically agree with.