Live Forever?

Would you? Why? Why not?

Published on February 9, 2004 By PoetPhilosopher In Philosophy

Science is quickly approaching the time when we crack the aging nut. From telomere research to DNA therapy, organ regrowth not to mention plain old prosthesis, some say that children being born now may never die from natural causes.

Sure, eventually you're going to walk out in front of a car, but living 150, 200, 300 years may be normal in another century.

So the questions is... if you could live forever, would you ? How would it affect your life? Your relationships? Your work? Family?

If "infinite life" became so common place that you'd grow up knowing you had say 200 years of active life ahead of you, how would your priorities change?

If you wouldn't want to live forever, why not? What is particularly appealing about the 80 year life we have now? Perhaps 50 years would be enough? or 35? How would you decide?

For the same of argument, assume technology allows you to be healthy and active most of your life.

Comments (Page 2)

on Feb 13, 2004

Lol! What I meant is unchanged amount of new babies per year, ignoring increase that usually follow population numbers.

psychx

on Feb 13, 2004

Having an eternity to enhance ones knowledge and relationships isn't that the meaning of life?

PoetPhilosopher

on Feb 15, 2004

Article from Feb 13 . Research continues. Will we be ready?

Lunaticus Minimus

on Feb 20, 2004

Okay, I have to get this out of the way: Living forever is unnatural. Removing the circle of life, we'd probably doom ourselves anyways..realistically, but enough aside..this is a fansical post anyways.

I've met 20 year olds who've felt like they've lived 90...and look/act like it at times. Imagine how old you might feel at 200..especially if you had a timespan that could stretch into hundred of thousand of years. We're just not mentally hardwired to handle that much time. We'd become stagnant..Stagnation leads to ruination.

A part of being human is the not knowing when or how soon. It makes for interesting people, situations, etc.,..And especially knowing we don't have forever to live.
How many George Washingtons, Thomas Edisons, Wright Brothers, would we have..if we knew we had such a long time to live that we could "do it tomorrow"..
Our short and spontanious lives have made brilliant marks on history. Inventions, heroics, etc.,.. all come about because we KNOW we won't live further..that they may NOT be a tomorrow. We had a deadline..an expiration mark.. A reason to live! Life is a reason to live and death is all the more reason to enjoy the life you have.

Erm, let me actually write about the blog's question: I would not like to live forever. It removes uncertainty...removes fear..removes blissful expectation to finally pass away. We are whom we are because of the way we are.

Want more examples? Read some fictional fantasy books (sort of like tolkiens for all you non-fiction fans) where the lives of humans are placed against those such as elves...Where humans live realitively short lifespans compared to the vast reaches of near immortality by elves.
In a way our short life spans make us human. Why rob us of our humanity?

(Heck, read anything from ToR/WoTC from the Forgotton Realms series..or Dragonlance) Heh..

Lunaticus Minimus

on Feb 20, 2004

Let me fix my post, grr.. "All come about because we know we won't live FOREVER...that there may NOT be a tomorrow"...I type too fast for my own clumsy good.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!