Abstract

Cryonics offers certain individuals the opportunity to preserve their bodies or brains with the potential for future revival. Proponents of this technology often invoke Pascal’s wager to argue that we all have a prudential reason to embrace cryonics: if future technology enables the revival of those who have been frozen, they stand to gain immense benefits; if not, undergoing cryonics is no worse than facing death directly. However, the cryonics wager carries hidden risks, not only in terms of whether future generations will be able to revive us, but also in terms of how they will choose to treat us. Given that the potential returns of the cryonics wager are not necessarily positive, it is not a guaranteed investment but rather an uncertain venture. I demonstrate that the risks of cryonics vary from person to person, making it a safer option for those who are talented, kind, and hold a weak view of personal identity. This leads to a paradoxical conclusion: those most suited for cryonics might be those least keen on this technology.