4 ms·

I'm certain immortality is possible, and it's also likely to be achieved, because we always do everything we can do, regardless of consequences. But I think th

by bambax 2y ago

I'm certain immortality is possible, and it's also likely to be achieved, because we always do everything we can do, regardless of consequences. But I think this is the acme of selfishness. I don't want to be immortal, and I wouldn't want to live in a world with 500-year-old know-it-alls running around "oldsplaining" everything to everyone else. I have, thankfully, a fairly good chance of dying before that happens.

thinkingtoilet 2y ago
It's funny people always talk about this in extremes. "Do you want to live longer?" "Yes" "OH YOU WANT TO LIVE A MILLION BILLION YEARS?!?!" There are values in between immortality and ~80 years.
- bambax 2y ago
  Oh and when we have defeated death, when will people decide it's time to go? And how will they do it?
  - thinkingtoilet 2y ago
    They'll decide when they're ready. I would love a little more time on this planet. And when it's time, I'll hop in the nitrogen pod. People are already making that decision in some parts of the world.
  - kelnos 2y ago
    > when will people decide it's time to go? They'll decide when they want to decide. Some might choose to actually live forever, and that's fine. Others will choose a more current-human type lifespan, and that's fine. Some will choose 150, some 300, some 1000, some 10,000. All of those numbers are fine. > And how will they do it? There are already humane forms of medical euthanasia performed in progressive places in the world; this question already has answers, and likely more will be developed over time. I don't think it's an important question or issue to discuss, as long as people have legal options.
  - ljsprague 2y ago
    Car accidents.
- mrguyorama 2y ago
  Which do you think the Jeff Bezos of the world will choose?
jaco6 2y ago
How is immortality selfish? Selfishness requires taking from other “selves” who have unmet needs of their own. But there’s every reason to believe a society of immortals could either function perfectly well without producing new selves, or that it could choose to reproduce at a slow rate sustainable with its ability to extract resources to support itself. Any new selves that were born would be provided the same opportunities that we provide new selves in the present day—breastfeeding, education, healthcare. How would that be “selfish?” Is it selfish when a centenarian lives past 100? Is each additional year of life obtained by a centenarian “selfishly” stolen from some hypothetical unborn self?

by bambax 2y ago

thinkingtoilet 2y ago

It's funny people always talk about this in extremes. "Do you want to live longer?" "Yes" "OH YOU WANT TO LIVE A MILLION BILLION YEARS?!?!" There are values in between immortality and ~80 years.

bambax 2y ago
Oh and when we have defeated death, when will people decide it's time to go? And how will they do it?
- thinkingtoilet 2y ago
  They'll decide when they're ready. I would love a little more time on this planet. And when it's time, I'll hop in the nitrogen pod. People are already making that decision in some parts of the world.
- kelnos 2y ago
  > when will people decide it's time to go? They'll decide when they want to decide. Some might choose to actually live forever, and that's fine. Others will choose a more current-human type lifespan, and that's fine. Some will choose 150, some 300, some 1000, some 10,000. All of those numbers are fine. > And how will they do it? There are already humane forms of medical euthanasia performed in progressive places in the world; this question already has answers, and likely more will be developed over time. I don't think it's an important question or issue to discuss, as long as people have legal options.
- ljsprague 2y ago
  Car accidents.
mrguyorama 2y ago
Which do you think the Jeff Bezos of the world will choose?

jaco6 2y ago

How is immortality selfish? Selfishness requires taking from other “selves” who have unmet needs of their own. But there’s every reason to believe a society of immortals could either function perfectly well without producing new selves, or that it could choose to reproduce at a slow rate sustainable with its ability to extract resources to support itself. Any new selves that were born would be provided the same opportunities that we provide new selves in the present day—breastfeeding, education, healthcare. How would that be “selfish?” Is it selfish when a centenarian lives past 100? Is each additional year of life obtained by a centenarian “selfishly” stolen from some hypothetical unborn self?