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> What kind of monster are you that you don't think thats a laudable goal? I think there are many compelling ethical and philosophical arguments one can make a

by objclxt 13y ago

> What kind of monster are you that you don't think thats a laudable goal? I think there are many compelling ethical and philosophical arguments one can make against wanting everyone to live forever. We shouldn't confuse live extension with living forever. Oddly enough, David Attenborough is in the news today for suggesting population control is a huge and growing problem[1]. You could argue that research into extending human life when we are looking at significant problems with population overcrowding and competition for resources in the near future is putting the horse before the cart. I am not sure which side of the fence I fall on. Medical research can allow people with previously incurable conditions to live full lives. This is a laudable goal. But that's not what you said - you're talking about living forever. Is that so laudable? I would certainly not call someone who thought that was a truly awful idea 'a monster'. Indeed, there's lots of speculative fiction based around how awful it would actually be to live forever (or even a very long time). [1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10316271/Sir-David-Attenborough-If-we-do-not-control-population-the-natural-world-will.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10316271/Sir-D...

eli_gottlieb 13y ago
Admittedly, you do have to laugh at the sheer irony. Research into life-extension is taking place in advanced countries that can't even maintain their current population levels without net immigration. And also, at the same time, cannot be bothered to raise labor wages. What the fuck?
- lmm 13y ago
  > Research into life-extension is taking place in advanced countries that can't even maintain their current population levels without net immigration. Sounds perfectly consistent to me. > And also, at the same time, cannot be bothered to raise labor wages. As long as the immigrants keep coming, why bother raising wages?
  - eli_gottlieb 13y ago
    Right, the inconsistency is: the First World goes tsk tsk at the Third World for its overpopulation and poverty; meanwhile, it critically relies on the Third World to breed a neverending supply of cheap immigrant labor to exploit.
    - lmm 13y ago
      You could just as well say it offers people suffering from those circumstances the chance of a better life.

by objclxt 13y ago

eli_gottlieb 13y ago

Admittedly, you do have to laugh at the sheer irony. Research into life-extension is taking place in advanced countries that can't even maintain their current population levels without net immigration. And also, at the same time, cannot be bothered to raise labor wages. What the fuck?

lmm 13y ago
> Research into life-extension is taking place in advanced countries that can't even maintain their current population levels without net immigration. Sounds perfectly consistent to me. > And also, at the same time, cannot be bothered to raise labor wages. As long as the immigrants keep coming, why bother raising wages?
- eli_gottlieb 13y ago
  Right, the inconsistency is: the First World goes tsk tsk at the Third World for its overpopulation and poverty; meanwhile, it critically relies on the Third World to breed a neverending supply of cheap immigrant labor to exploit.
  - lmm 13y ago
    You could just as well say it offers people suffering from those circumstances the chance of a better life.