5 ms·
Yes, it's a synopsis of a lot of stories. But I feel obliged to point out that, in real life, I know a number of people in quest of immortality who lead quite
by Eliezer 15y ago
Yes, it's a synopsis of a lot of stories. But I feel obliged to point out that, in real life, I know a number of people in quest of immortality who lead quite awesome lives on a day-to-day basis, because the same style of rationality and nonconformity that leads you to seek world optimization and indefinite life extension also leads you to, say, polyamory.
I also know some sad people in quest of immortality, but they were generally sad before they found out about that stuff. In general, I think that seeking immortality has surprisingly little effect on your prior personality. It's just something you do if you have enough of a logical frame of mind to think "Life is good, death is bad, and Voldemort isn't a real person", but the logical mind is the cause, not the effect.
- stcredzero 15y agoIn general, I think that seeking immortality has surprisingly little effect on your prior personality. The phenomenon of people getting too involved in X to enjoy life is a common theme for stories. When X has to do with the extension of life, there's a pleasingly ironic self-reference. So really, the moral lesson of such stories has to do with life balance generally, and the ironic twist is more akin to a rhyme in a poem.
- fbailey 15y agoIf I could guess, 100% of the people are male. Polyamory is usually one guy and more women and is usually quite the sexist thing. Seeking life extension is at the current point of science not really rational.
- stcredzero 15y agoI know a polyamourous married woman. She's also one of the most intelligent women I know. Not seeking life extension at all is definitely not rational. Perhaps it's rational not to seek it personally, but that's a personal choice. I think our society should seek life extension as an ethical choice.
- Eliezer 15y ago"If I could guess, 100% of the people are male." Thank you for making a testable prediction. Your hypothesis is thereby falsified. "Polyamory is usually one guy and more women and is usually quite the sexist thing. " Good heavens, what sort of culture-free hole were you raised in? Do you know anyone polyamorous in real life? "Seeking life extension is at the current point of science not really rational." And there you have it. If you're anti-fun, you're probably also anti-life.