Immortality: If It Became Possible, Would You Want It? Should Anybody Have It?

I came across some articles on what is becoming one of my favorite websites, livescience.com. 

LiveScience Article One on Immortality
LiveScience Article Two on Immortality

In this series of articles about immortality, the writer explores how the study of aging is leading science in the direction of drastically extending lifespans.  To some scientists, it's only a matter of time before this becomes possible.  The articles also examine how the world would change if humans lived significantly longer than they do today.  He's not just talking about an extra ten years, more like an extra hundred.  It's something to consider, and consider thoroughly.  What would be the implications of having a portion of this earth's 6 billion people living to be 200, or possibly even forever (until an accident or a hip fracture does them in)?

There would be many positives including more time to do the things you always wanted to do before you died.  Medical technology advancements would probably keep your body in decent shape.  You would also get to live through more of history to see how the world changes and to see your 115 great great great grandkids grow up, (although remembering all their names would be a problem).  Four marriages might become the norm because 170 years with one person might be a bit too much.

But there would be enormous consequences in terms of global population, housing, resource depletion and a host of other issues.  The length of one's career would have to be much longer to save for a much longer retirement and some people might have four careers instead of one.  Fewer people would be able to count on inheritances and newer workers might not find room in the job marketplace.  Social security would simply become a joke.  The young would not be given proper attention since there would be so many more old people to cater to and to attract votes from.  We might become a society that has to kill off people once they reach a certain age as in the movie "Logan's Run."

I've always said that I want to live to be a hundred just to see how the world changes, but I'm not sure where I would draw the line if I were given the opportunity to choose my lifespan.  At what age would you want to cap your lifespan if at all?  How much would you pay to have the option?

+ Atul

Comments

[Incurable Insomniac]

One part of me reacts with a resounding, "Hell, yes. I want to be frickin' immortal!", but another part of me realizes that we were never meant to live beyond 40 anyway, and we're already pushing the envelope. The issues you raise are important ones.

When my more spiritual side speaks up, it tells me that staving off death, while full of personal possibilities, would really mess up my personal beliiefs in reincarnation and evolution of the soul.

But the spiritual is seldom a strong point of debate.

So would I opt to live a v-e-r-y long life? Yes. In my mid-fifties I am only now beginning to understand life and my place in it. Seems a shame that as soon as we really "get it" we have to shuffle off the mortal coil. There's so much more to learn and do, and people to meet, places to go, lives to live. If I knew that I was actually only one-quarter into my life, instead of three-quarters, I'd plan and do things much differently.

[Dave P]

It would depend upon the quality of that extended life. A number of older people endure aches and pains that make getting through each day very difficult. You make good points with the resource and income issues Can you setup a simulation of this first for me to try and then I'll let you know.

[Stephen V Funk]

Hm. I think if I make it to about 75 that's a good enough run. Anything after that is a bonus (if I'm still healthy, that is.)

The desire for immortality (via science, religion, reincarnation, whatever) seems to be a uniquely human concept that just won't go away.

Logically, though, it just doesn't make sense. Eventually all these beings and/or souls would just have nowhere else to go. Unless space is also infinite, which doesn't work either.

Hey, did somebody spike my scotch with LSD?

[Lauren]

I've always thought the fact that we are living longer and longer to be a bit frightening. Our bodies start decomposing after age 20 (Thank you Life of Ageing 101) which basically means the majority of us are walking corpses. The older we live, the more diseases we battle. Perhaps having more time to get things done will in reality mean you don't do anything. A sense of urgency and appreciation for the few precious moments we have on this earth make for a much more intersesting life.

[MSCJ]

I don't know that I'd want to be immortal, but as long as I can look good and make myself happy on earth of course I'd like to live.

I'm good and alive as long as I feel good and alive and that is forever. I can't help but feel that some of the received wisdom---yes, even the stuff that is supposed to be based upon scientific certainties---is a load of piffle.
You may consider yourself a walking corpse after 20, HOLLYWOOD most assuredly does, but damned if I or my son consider ME that way.
I'm as wonderful as I am for as long as I can be.
Immortality? Bring it ON!

[RW]

I have too much intellectual curiosity to NOT want to die at some point. The whole struggle of the world is predicated on what people say happens after you die.

At the end you get to find out. Even if you don't.

I want to know that.

[prego]

I think the fear of mortality is at the heart of this. Living for a long-ass time will lose it's appeal after a while for all those amusing reasons you mentioned.... but you leave with an unexplored dilemma.

"How much would you pay for the option?"

I'd imagine the cost of prolonging your life indefinitely must would be rather substantial. Given this country's shitful health care coverage, it's likely that only the wealthy would have this option, which would give scientists a moral conundrum. All that research to keep a couple rich old f*ckers like Warren Buffet, Harpo Winfrey and some Arab shiekhs around? Meanwhile, we po' folk keel over at 51 from lack of proper care.

Nah... Count me out.

At age 92.

p

[Incurable Insomniac]

Very well said, RW. Damn.

[Atul]

Sorry for not taking part in the discussion. I was traveling, working in Philadelphia and then traveling and thanks to NWA and the storms and Philly airport, I didn't get home until very late.

Great points (or perspectives rather), that people brought up. I know that for me to sign up to living longer, it would have to include not physically feeling too old for me too. The whole concept of wanting to be immortalized is a human trait which is interesting and somewhat unreasonable when you think of it. There have probably been 20(?) billion people on this earth so any one of us is totally unique, yet not that special. And yes, most religions wouldn't accept human immortality. That is the place for God. I would like to know what happens after I die, but sticking with what I know might be better since the after-life could be a disappointment or non-existent. As for the rich being the only ones who would be able to afford the immortality pill, for them and their stuff, I would have to say, "You CAN keep it with you."