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Youniverse: Toward a Self-Centered Philosophy of Immortalism and Cryonics

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Youniverse is one of the most important works of philosophy of this and the last century because it reveals the ideas and convictions of a visionary who foresees the possibility of a blindingly bright future for the human race. Projections of current scientific knowledge support his belief that the aging process which destroys us will be halted and reversed. People will live as long as they want and be able to accomplish their goals without consideration of time. For those who were born too soon to enjoy indefinite lifespan, Ettinger has invented cryonics. We will be preserved at low temperatures until we can be revived and rejuvenated..

Ettinger is a man who loves life, perhaps because he has had more experience than most with death. As an infantry officer in World War II, he saw the death of comrades and was wounded so badly that he spent four years in an army hospital. Death is not to be feared because "the dead do not suffer - but they do not have much fun either." Life and health are not the most important things. They are everything.

Hence Ettinger's formula for living, his personal philosophy, summarized in the one-word title, Youniverse. The subtitle, Towards a Self-Centered Philosophy of Immortalism and Cryonics, reveals more. Each person is at the center of his or her own youniverse. To try to behave otherwise is to invite misery. Quoting Auden: "We are all here to help others. What I can't figure out is, what the others are here for." Occasional quotations of this sort lighten the tone of Ettinger's very serious book.

Ettinger's four-word summary of his philosophy, "Me-first, Feel-good." is valid but is misleading when taken out of context. It is not a variant on the pleasure principle. It does not suggest that the best life would be one of perpetual orgasm.

The required context for Me-first, Feel-good comes from an extended review of the work of many of the best known philosophers from antiquity to the present. In most instances, Ettinger is not kind to them, siding with those who believe that, too often, philosophers are playing word games rather than solving problems. He stipulates that the primary goal of philosophy is to provide guidelines for real life - especially life in the face of death. By applying scientific information and tools not available in earlier times, he shows the way to important advances toward this goal. The guidelines which he proposes are notable for their wisdom and their good practical common sense. They are accompanied by many examples of applications which are useful and sometimes entertaining.

In short, if one were limited to reading a single book on philosophy, this would be the book.

a great book from a great man...I recomend this book for anyone interested in philosphy and science.