Physical Immortality - Do you believe in it?

[Immo2008]

Hi everybody!
I'm interested in physical immortality and consider it the main aim of humans' life. I want to find friends who are interested in this topic too. Will also be glad to hear all other opinions.
Thanks!
Andrew.

[iconoclast]

Immo2008,

I'm interested in the continued existence of the species - but recognize that the individual must make way for evolution to occur. I think death is what makes individual existence poignant - against the potential immortality of the species.

If individual immortality were achieved the individaul and species would remain static forevermore, and it would soon be a living death sentance, don't you agree?

iconoclast.

[Immo2008]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

Immo2008,

I'm interested in the continued existence of the species - but recognize that the individual must make way for evolution to occur. I think death is what makes individual existence poignant - against the potential immortality of the species.

If individual immortality were achieved the individaul and species would remain static forevermore, and it would soon be a living death sentance, don't you agree?

iconoclast.

Thanks for your answer, iconoclast.
I can't agree with you. With such attitude there is no sense to live at all
I think that 99% of human problems are because of aging and death. If people will find the decision of this problem - all around will change to the good side for sure.

[iconoclast]

Immo2008,

what about over-population. or if we stopped dying would we also stop breeding? never again to hear the laughter of a child...

Anyhow, are there any real world prospects of immortality - or is this a Holy Grail thing?

iconoclast.

[beyond123]

Originally Posted by Immo2008

Hi everybody!
I'm interested in physical immortality and consider it the main aim of humans' life. I want to find friends who are interested in this topic too. Will also be glad to hear all other opinions.
Thanks!
Andrew.

I'm interested in physical immortality

[beyond123]

Originally Posted by beyond123

I'm interested in physical immortality

Since an absolute nothing can not exist, imortality is assured in some form of nature or another.

would it not be as useful to be a wave of light-or any other form of nature-as a human?

[Aedes]

Immortality? We have a long way to go between our current life spans and immortality. Bristlecone pines live 5000 years, which is the closest any organism on earth gets to immortality -- maybe we can start by emulating tortoises instead.

Before pontificating about immortality as a possibility, shouldn't we entertain the loss of physiologic reserve in most of our organ systems that naturally happens with age? What kind of cost / technology do you think it would take to prevent that ad infinitum?

[VideCorSpoon]

My thoughts on physical immortality are mixed. It would be great to live a very long life, but, though it sounds cliché, things need to die. I don’t think it is so much the natural order of things but rather for the sake of a “good” existence (though this in itself is a very general statement.) The philosophical implications are numerous… for I have seen Highlander twice (LOL! Just kidding… I’ve seen it three times on TBS). But I think the philsophical scruples of a potentially long life are secondary (arguably) to the physical implications of immortality.

That is where I think Aedes hits a very good point about the deeper physical implications of what extension would have on us. This is logically the first step as it were. And there are groups that are already delving into these finer points as we speak which I think you may be interested in.

There is a branch in the bioethical community called transhumanism. I did a great deal of research and composed a thesis when I considered bioethics as a career choice a while ago. Here are a few parts of my paper that are relevant to the discussion. It was a few years ago, so forgive the Epideictics and seemingly bias nature.

This is a brief introduction to transhumanism…

“What specifically is transhumanism? Transhumanism, “…promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology.” (Bostrom, 2003) Transhumanism is complex in its definition because it basically seeks to rationalize the ethical enhancement of the human condition, or more specifically, the human entity itself. Bostrom further elaborates that, “Transhumanists view human nature as a work in progress, a half-baked beginning that we can learn to remold in desirable ways.” Nature as it would seem is already on the course that transhumanists posit humanity is heading in the evolutionary direction. If nature is already modifying the human species, no wrong is committed by transhumanists in helping evolution along the way. Transhumanists want to ensure the progression of humans by making them intellectually superior, more resistant to disease, improving the frailer parts of the human entity. It would seem this is a noble task, improving the human condition. Perhaps transhumanists do have the best intentions and visions of an improved “post” human who are, “…beings with vastly greater capacities than present human beings…” (Bostrom, 2003) and may, in the end, benefit society as a whole. But such thinking is not original, or at least not entirely.” (Transhumanism, para 4, pg 5)

And this is a little later on in regards to transhumanism and eugenics…

“It is important to note that different forms of eugenics exist. By understanding these different forms (Eugenics, 2005), one can understand why transhumanism has not been condemned and left to the winds of obscurity. The first, natural eugenics, can be explained in terms of Darwinian theory. The strong survive and the weak parish. As a result, stronger animals reproduce creating strong offspring hence natural genetics. The second, perhaps most controversial, is conventional eugenics. One need only look at the Nazi’s vile attempt for racial purity and euthanasia (Beauchamp, 467) or American sterilization activities in Lynchburg, Virginia (Beauchamp, 462) to observe different degrees of conventional eugenics. The third form, modern eugenics, is where transhumanism falls into category. Unlike conventional eugenics, modern eugenics uses genetic engineering to modify the human organism. It is also a more politically correct form of eugenics compared to the conventional approach.

Transhumanistic ideals would want us to believe they adhere to the first and third forms of eugenics. The first form, natural eugenics, is already occurring, and the third has not yet had the ability to show itself as a good or bad form, so infact they do adhere to the first and third forms, distanced from the convention approach to eugenics. Transhumanism can be given the benefit of the doubt, but drawing from historical similarities, Hitler was given the benefit of the doubt as well. “ (Transhumanism, para 3, pg 37)

At the time, I was actually quite taken with the movement. But I think this matter has too much weight to be taken in an un-bias way. There are actually transhumanism chapters at many college campuses. A good friend of mine who is studying to be a genetic counselor was a very ardent member. But the key word is "was." It is interesting to note that these chapters are almost exclusively filled with either new members or very one sided veteran members becuase as time goes on and you really consider the implications of a long life, you tend to opt out.

[Immo2008]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

Immo2008,

what about over-population. or if we stopped dying would we also stop breeding? never again to hear the laughter of a child...

Anyhow, are there any real world prospects of immortality - or is this a Holy Grail thing?

iconoclast.

Technologies (as time) are not staying at the same place.
Overpopulation problem will be resolved by populating other planets I think. Yes - this seems like a folk but look - 99% of 19th century dreams are now working...
Concerning the ways of reaching immortality - there are several routes. As for me I consider nanotech the most perspective.

[VideCorSpoon]

Immo2008,

So you would consider the merging of man and machine a means of immortality? That’s a very good observation. Is there some form of immortality forfeited when we replace fractions of man wth machine components?