Death has always been humanity’s greatest enemy. For centuries, we’ve fought it with medicine, technology, and sheer willpower. Yet, it always wins.
Every week you will read how people have gone to extreme lengths to try and achieve increased longevity. But what if death doesn’t have to be the end? What if it’s just a problem waiting for the right solution?
Venturism is a philosophy built on the simple idea that death doesn’t have to be permanent. It’s the hope that through science, technology, a lot of money and a little optimism, life can be preserved and maybe some day, restored.
At the heart of Venturism is cryonics. It’s the practice of preserving the body (or just the brain) at ultra-low temperatures after death. Great news for me as my body is trash!
While the idea of cryonics may sound like science fiction on its own, Venturism gives it a deeper purpose – a moral responsibility to preserve life for a better future.
So, let’s explore what Venturism is, define its core principles, and explain why cryonics is the most logical step toward achieving its ambitious (some would say ridiculous) goals.
A Deeper Explanation Of Venturism
Venturism focuses on extending and preserving human life. It rejects the idea that death is inevitable and instead sees it as a challenge, and one that can be solved with the right tools, mindset, and effort.
The term Venturism comes from the word “venture,” reflecting its forward-looking, optimistic approach to life. It’s about taking risks, embracing possibilities, and never settling for the status quo.
As you can see, while the roots of Venturism are quite generic to the expansion of human existence, it can quite specifically relate to the cryonics movement.
Venturists believe it’s not just possible to fight (and maybe beat) death, but that it is necessary. If life can somehow be preserved and enhanced, then we have a duty to do just that, which is where Venturism and cryonics meet.
The Core Principles of Venturism
Venturism is guided by four core principles. These principles give it both a philosophical foundation and a practical roadmap for action:
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The ethical duty to preserve life
For Venturists, life is the highest value. It’s not just something to be enjoyed or appreciated, it’s something to be protected as the overall goal. Preserving life, even after legal death, is a moral obligation.
The key idea behind all this, the central principle is this: if we have the tools to save a life, we should use them.
Cryonics is one of those tools. It’s not a guarantee of revival, but it offers a chance that future technology could restore the life that would otherwise be lost forever. For Venturists, not using that chance would be unethical.
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Technological Optimism
Ventureim is built on a deep faith in science and technology. It recognizes that humanity has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, from curing diseases to landing on the moon. The future holds even greater potential.
Venturists believe that technologies like nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and regenerative medicine will one day allow us to repair the damage caused by aging, disease, and even death.
Cryonics fits perfectly into that group’s vision. By preserving the body and brain today, we give future scientists the opportunity to restore life tomorrow.
For me, you see echoes of this mindset in popular culture and beyond. For example, the book and film “The Da Vinci Code”, touches on the topic of the illuminati, a group of enlightened individuals who fought against the cult of God and argued for scientific progress instead.
Venturism is evidently the same idea. It’s based on science to the exclusion of all else, with a specific focus not just on the process, but the single goal of extending the life and the possibilities of doing so.
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Death as a Process, Not an Event
Traditional views of death see it as a final, irreversible event. Once the heart stops beating and the brain shuts down, that’s it.
But Venturists see death differently. They embrace the concept of something referred to as ‘information-theoretic death’. This idea says that death is only final when the brain’s structure and the information it holds is destroyed beyond repair. As long as the brain can be preserved, the person isn’t truly dead.
Again, we see this in popular culture. We have all seen programmes and films, where brains have been preserved long after the body has died. Extracted and rebooted, they are sentient and can interact through electronic voices.
Stepping back again in popular culture, look at Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It’s reconstructed life after death, it’s a form of rebirth linked to the idea of cryonics.
Cryonics is what potentially makes this preservation potentially possible in reality. By cooling the body and using cryoprotectants to prevent cellular damage, cryonics keeps the brain’s structure intact. This means the memories, personality, and identity of a person could still be recovered in the future.
For Venturists, cryonics isn’t about freezing a corpse it’s about preserving the self for later resurrection.
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A Vision for the Future
Venturism is inherently optimistic. It imagines a future where death is no longer inevitable. Instead, it’s a future where diseases are cured, aging is reversed, and life can be extended indefinitely.
This isn’t just wishful thinking. The pace of scientific progress makes it a real possibility. Technologies that once seemed impossible, such as organ transplants, vaccines, artificial intelligence, are now everyday realities. Cryonics is just the next step.
Just look at the incredible advances of AI in the past three years, since the pandemic. Everyone can now use AI chat in a way that was not possible, and although basic, these are semi-thinking and semi-sentient digital organisms.
Imagine what will be possible in three decades rather than three years.
How Venturism And Cryonics Are Interconnected
Cryonics is the practical application of Venturism’s principles. It’s the tool that turns the philosophy into a structured action.
This is where they overlap and connect:
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Preserving Life in the Present
Venturism’s ethical duty to preserve life aligns perfectly with cryonics. When someone is declared legally dead, their life doesn’t have to end. Cryonics offers a way to preserve the body and brain until science finds a solution.
It’s not about creating false hope, it’s about seizing an opportunity. As Venturists see it, a small chance of revival is better than no chance at all (although, like me, I’m sure a lot of people would be slightly concerned by the idea of waking up in 200 years – forced upon you – into a world and situation you have no control over, knowledge of, or ability to change your situation).
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Technological Hope
Cryonics depends on future advancements in science and technology. Venturists believe that these advancements are inevitable. Whether it’s nanobots repairing cells at the molecular level or AI-driven medical breakthroughs (which are already happening), the tools to restore life are definitely coming.
By choosing cryonics, Venturists are betting on the future and they believe it’s a bet worth taking.
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Redefining Death
Cryonics preserves the brain’s structure, keeping the information of the self intact. This aligns with Venturism’s belief that death is a process, not an event. The idea is simple: if the brain can be preserved, the person can be restored. Cryonics makes this preservation possible, turning Venturism’s philosophy into a tangible reality.
Preserving the brain isn’t such a far-fetched fantasy. The latest research has found that in some instances, the brain still shows activity several hours after death.
That’s both incredible, hopeful, and terrifying all rolled into one. It brings forward the possibility that after the body has died, the person in the brain is still conscious and thinking for some time, maybe even aware that they are dead.
But whatever the real situation, it shows that the brain and the body in some ways already naturally, are not the same, they can be uncoupled and separated and the brain still functions.
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A Community of Support
Venturism isn’t just an abstract philosophy, it’s a community. Organizations like the Society for Venturism actively support cryonics patients and their families. They provide resources, advocacy, and even financial assistance for those who want to pursue cryonics but can’t afford it.
This community reflects Venturism’s core belief: preserving life is a shared responsibility.
Addressing The Critics
Of course, cryonics and Venturism have their critics. Some call it science fiction. Others see it as a futile or even unethical pursuit. But Venturists have answers to these concerns, although whether you agree with them or see it as an elitist justification for rich people pursuing a future life is another topic.
- Many technologies started as speculation. Flight, organ transplants, and artificial intelligence were once considered impossible. Progress begins with possibilities.
- Venturists argue that preserving life is a moral responsibility. If we have the tools to fight death, why wouldn’t we use them?
- While cryonics can be expensive, Venturist organizations work to make it more accessible. They believe everyone deserves the chance to preserve their life, regardless of financial status.
Venturism doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But it offers a perspective and a path that challenges us to rethink what’s possible.
So How Does Venturism In Practice
Ventureism isn’t just a set of ideas—it’s a philosophy in action. Here’s what that looks like in easy to understand terms:
- Community Support – Venturist organizations provide emotional and practical support for cryonics patients and their families.
- Advocacy – Venturists raise awareness about cryonics and life-extension technologies
Overall, this is where sites and organisations like this one come into play. I hope this outline has been helpful to you on where these two crucial topics relating to the future of humanity overlap and unite.