This is our monthly place to discuss relevant topics that have not appeared in recent posts.
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By Robin Hanson · Hundreds of paid subscribers
This is a blog on why we believe and do what we do, why we pretend otherwise, how we might do better, and what our descendants might do, if they don't all die.
Those were my thoughts as well.
However, Alcor's cryopreservation agreement states that "[w]hen, in Alcor's best good faith judgement, it is determined that attempting revival is in the best interests of the Member in cryopreservation, Alcor shall attempt to revive and rehabilitate the Member."
My guess was that this would be the basis of Robin's high credence. As I'm skeptical that this would constitute a sufficiently strong incentive for actually going ahead with revival – for the reasons you outline – I'm interested in Robin's response.
What contracts?
Even if a mean to revive cryopreserved people was discovered today, cryonics organizations would be under no obligation to attempt revival. Legally cryopreservation is considered a form of burial.
Hanson's imagined future is a subsistence economy where people struggle to survive. I would hardly believe that they would consider themselves bound by an obligation to invest resources to bring long deceased people back from their icy graves, even if it was technologically possible.