How Life, Knowledge, and Intelligence Shape Beliefs: Reflections on Cryonics and Nature
Science, nature, and belief: Frozen life meets future possibilities © Matt Vardy
Recently, I came across a post on Facebook about a man who chose to have his body cryogenically frozen in hopes of being revived in the future (ref: news article). As expected, the comments section on Facebook was filled with varying opinions. Many people, particularly those with religious beliefs, argued that such a concept was impossible, asserting that once the body dies, the soul moves on to either heaven or hell. This led me to reflect on how life experiences, knowledge, and our definitions of intelligence shape our views of what's possible.
What struck me was how resistance to the concept of cryonics seemed tied not just to religious beliefs but also to the experiences and knowledge people have gained throughout their lives. In colder climates, for example, nature provides clear examples of organisms—like frogs or insects—that freeze solid during winter and "come back to life" in the spring. For those of us who have witnessed this firsthand, the idea of life being paused and resumed doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But it’s not just about where someone lives. A person who has been educated on the topic or traveled to regions where such phenomena occur might have a broader perspective on the possibilities that nature presents, even if they don’t experience it in their daily life.
This realization naturally led me to reflect on how intelligence, as we humans define it, also shapes our understanding of what is possible. We often claim a unique status for ourselves, believing that humans alone possess a high form of intelligence or a soul. But what if the very way we define intelligence is limited by our own human experiences and biases? The spectrum of intelligence, both in humans and across species, may be far broader than we realize—and may even be beyond our capacity to fully define in human terms.
For example, we’ve long observed animals demonstrating behaviors that hint at complex emotional and cognitive processes. Trees, as part of a vast interconnected root system, can share nutrients with neighboring trees, particularly with those that are sick or dying. Elephants, widely regarded for their intelligence, display signs of mourning when one of their own dies, standing vigil over the body for extended periods. These behaviors challenge the notion that humans are the only beings capable of complex emotions, intelligence, or perhaps even something akin to a soul.
This begs the question: What if intelligence, as we humans have historically defined it, is an incomplete or narrow understanding of the broader spectrum of consciousness and awareness? Current research into animal behavior and plant biology continues to reveal layers of intelligence that we previously could not explain. There are forms of communication, learning, and adaptation happening in the natural world that suggest intelligence exists in ways we might not yet understand, or might not even be capable of measuring with current technologies.
For instance, octopuses exhibit behaviors that indicate a level of problem-solving and creativity that many believe might hint at intelligence close to that of higher mammals. Birds such as crows use tools and exhibit memory and social dynamics that reflect a surprisingly advanced understanding of their environment. Even microorganisms like slime molds have been shown to navigate mazes and solve spatial problems, demonstrating that intelligence can manifest in ways that don’t fit into our traditional models.
This broader reflection on cryonics, nature, and the soul ties back to the idea that our beliefs about life and death are shaped not only by our direct experiences but also by the knowledge we gain through education, travel, and exposure to new ideas. The boundaries of what seems possible or impossible can expand when we recognize that intelligence and consciousness are not limited to human definitions or experiences. Our understanding of life, intelligence, and what it means to possess a soul may be far more complex and nuanced than we’ve traditionally thought.
Ultimately, this discussion about cryonics is just one small example of how personal experience, education, and evolving understandings of intelligence shape our worldview. It opens up a larger conversation about how different life paths and the accumulation of knowledge might fundamentally alter our understanding of existence, technology, and the mysteries of life itself. The boundaries of possibility are often defined by what we've experienced, learned, and come to understand—and what might be unimaginable for one person could very well be reality for another.
As we continue to study the complexities of nature and intelligence, perhaps we’ll begin to see that life, consciousness, and intelligence exist on a much broader spectrum than we currently acknowledge. These questions challenge us to rethink our place in the world, not as its sole intelligent inhabitants, but as part of a vast, interconnected system of life that exhibits awareness and adaptability in ways we are only beginning to understand.
