Thread: Eternal Life, Would You?

Originally Posted by Think

So eternal life for me? Not my bag. Eternal life for a future, better mentally and spiritually endowed humanity? Maybe.

Many transhumanists (myself included) might argue that depending on what advances are made in the coming century, people our age--not just future generations--could eventually be part of the "future, better mentally and spiritually endowed humanity" that could make full use of eternal life.

EDIT: We should have a transhumanism thread!

Originally Posted by Think

Eternal life for our generation is not as tempting a proposition to me as eternal life for a likely soon-to-be-possible genetically altered humanity with more complex brains, affording them better memories, intelligences, emotions. I guess I am quite transhumanist.

I still don't know how I feel about something this ambitious: http://www.hedweb.com/
Would you still call these creatures humans? But I guess if you can define human as sentient life striving constantly to improve, then transhumanism makes perfect sense. The only question is, what aspects of humanity is it vital to keep?
So eternal life for me? Not my bag. Eternal life for a future, better mentally and spiritually endowed humanity? Maybe.

I am sure you remember how vehemently I argued against this idea.

I would like to live, if not an eternal then an extended existence. Though this would largely be due to a historical interest, to see how the world changes, live from one era to the next. However I am fairly sure that most people couldn't live beyond around 200 years without going completely insane.

Originally Posted by Woofness

I am sure you remember how vehemently I argued against this idea.

I would like to live, if not an eternal then an extended existence. Though this would largely be due to a historical interest, to see how the world changes, live from one era to the next. However I am fairly sure that most people couldn't live beyond around 200 years without going completely insane.

Why do you say that?

Personally, I don't want an endless existence either. Extending my lifespan in a manner similar to that which is described in this thread is what I'd like, however. Not existing isn't something I'd like in the here and now, but on the other hand after a point I'd probably get tired of existing altogether. I'd be in it to see how the world develops, and learn everything I desire to learn (because I know I don't have the time to learn all the skills I'd love to learn).