If one wants a more philosophical answer to this question as to whether an infinite lifespan is possible, then I can assert that if the world can be simulated in minute detail, then there should be no reason why the human brain can't be similarly simulated. — Wallows
Life forever in this world would essentially be a living hell. Death is an act of mercy. Imagine, if only you could afford the treatment to live forever, you would see your closest friends die, countless bloodshed from war and disasters, never-ending corruption. If you had any disorders or disabilities such as depression or anxiety it would be an endless battle against it. Would life even be worth living then? — Waya
I'm 67 and it is unlikely any breakthrough will be developed in the time I have left. — T Clark
I think it is much likelier that one of our current technologies will end our time on earth in the next few decades rather than significantly extending our lives. — T Clark
EDIT: I used to be a huge Kurtzweil fan, but think some of his projections are a little on the optimistic side... — Wallows
I think that death is the opposite of a waste. I think death is what gives life value, otherwise we would be what, just existing forever and ever? I abhor the thought. I do not want to live forever, I cannot imagine anything more depressing than living forever (beyond I guess, having the time to read all the books ever music/learn languages ect.)Personally, I view death as a waste. In a manner of speaking, a waste of life. We seem to live in a world full of inanimate objects and things.
If the Earth is overpopulated, then we start habitats on other worlds like Mars or Europa. I just don't see why life should be thought of as a book that all have some start and a finish.
Falling in love with someone and living together for a million years blissfully doesn't sounds that bad. I also feel as though with an unlimited lifespan our desires would also be quite easily met. Obviously, if we were to be able to live a near infinitude, then all these disorders and such would become redundant or solved.
@Bitter CrankPlants and animals DIE because they can't perpetually maintain all of the systems required for a healthy life, or life at all.
I have heard of NO developments anywhere that would lead me to think that I, or anyone else, could live far beyond the normal lifespan. — Bitter Crank
These sorts of incremental improvements may happen, IF the effects of global warming--food and water shortages, new diseases, intense environmental challenges, large die-offs from epidemic disease, etc--don't swamp our ability to support luxury-oriented bio-medical research. Luxury would be finding a really effective new antibiotic, not helping people live 200 years. — Bitter Crank
Whatever you are going to accomplish, you will most likely accomplish it before you are 80. Probably before you are 60. So, you had best get busy and do what ever it is that you are going to do (because it is what it is). — Bitter Crank
Read the Denial of Death or even Benatar in The Human Condition. Both authors talk in length about existentialist crises, our innate desire for immortality ect. ect. quite fascinating stuff. — Grre
No we should certainly not. I personally think the human species should go extinct sooner rather than later. All things considered. — Grre
I think that death is the opposite of a waste. I think death is what gives life value, otherwise we would be what, just existing forever and ever? — Grre
Doubt anyone wants to spend a "million" years with anyone, and doing "what"?? Just because death is no longer a problem doesn't mean people wouldn't have problems.
Would all our desires be met? Shopenhenauer would argue otherwise; desire begets new desires. — Grre
That is to enhance mental functioning through various means — Wallows
I just have come to accept life with all its up's and down's as inherently rewarding. — Wallows
One person is not the world.I don't know. Falling in love with someone and living together for a million years blissfully doesn't sounds that bad. — Wallows
I think that for eternal life to be possible you would have to assume that technological progress will continue exponentially. I honestly think that it will sort of plateau in the not so distant future. It'll take a radically different society to continue with technological advancement. — thewonder
Being said, I don't think that it is impossible for people to be able to live up to upwards of 200 years in, perhaps, even our lifetime. In so far that this can be done, it should be done. Heidegger was wrong about authenticity. One should not be resolute in the face of death, one should actively flee death for as long as humanly possible. — thewonder
@thewonderI doubt that almost anyone would choose not to extend their life given the chance to.
Yes, its called survival instincts; deeply biological and primal, and not logical. Benatar actually holds that if people really knew "how bad" their lives and plausible futures really were, most people would kill themselves or be a lot less positive...we are actually biased (by survival arguably) to be optimistic, its a real recorded psychological phenomenon jokingly called "pollyannanaism" that helps us adapt to difficult situations.Even if it's not really all that great, you still always want to be living
@EcharmionHow does death give life value, exactly? Is this more than a mere platitude?
I want to learn Latin. And biology. And ecology. And formal logic (better). And physics eventually. And then I want to own a yacht, and sail for awhile, and read every book I can find. My point is, I agree, there are lots of things I want to do but I think doing things, even new and exciting things, is only one facet of life, or at least, what makes life worth living and enjoyable and fulfilling.Well, I would like to learn more about mathematics. It's something that is irresistibly beautiful and edifying.
No we should certainly not. I personally think the human species should go extinct sooner rather than later. All things considered.
— Grre
Uhh, and why is that? Are you perchance a misanthrope?
I think, that if people had an extra 50 years to live longer, then the entire world would dramatically be changed for the better.
I mean, I never meant it as a platitude; just common sense. You appreciate things that much more which are rare, harder to come by, or transient. — Grre
Because life culminates inevitably in death, makes it all the more important to live it, and live it to the fullest of your ability. To live well. To change and make difference for what you can. — Grre
People can, and have, used their deaths to help more people ie. more life. — Grre
I honestly suspect that people naturally desire to live indefinitely. — thewonder
I honestly suspect that people naturally desire to live indefinitely. For me, there is no question as to whether or not anyone wants to live longer. They just simply do. No amount of reason can change this.
We all incessantly avoid death. Human beings are incapable of acting otherwise. — thewonder
Someday, it will be an actual reality. The future is so strange to think about even though it has already arrived. — thewonder
@PoeticUniverseYes, I will be receiving social security payments for zillions of years.
We DENY death. Not avoid it. If people avoided it, people wouldn't do harmful actions, like smoke cigarettes or eat junk food..and we don't always deny death. Sometimes we are confronted with it. Sometimes we even consider it as an out. I think @thewonder me and you are on a similar page, I do agree that something must occur to shake, or otherwise disrupt this "faith" in life, or as I termed in a paper, "Immortality Projects"-incidents, trauma, neurological issues, ect. But people do consciously choose to die. IN many examples. Not because they want to die necessarily, but because death is a better choice than life for them.We all incessantly avoid death. Human beings are incapable of acting otherwise.
@EcharmionBut one can just as well argue the opposite - that all you do is meaningless, because death is the great equaliser. Nothing you do matters once you're dead, and since everyone else also dies, nothing ultimately matters to them, either.
I think that a suicide actually requires an extraordinary event. All suicides must be accidents. A person can not consciously choose to commit suicide. There's that the person creates the situation that makes for suicide possible, but that it ever actually happens is simply by chance. I just think that people unremittingly desire to live. It's sort of the case that it is impossible to go against what could be regarded as human nature in this regard. — thewonder
death is the great equalizer — Grre
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