5 ms·
The second law of thermodynamics answers this question with a definitive "no".
by SAI_Peregrinus 12y ago
The second law of thermodynamics answers this question with a definitive "no".
- Zikes 12y agoImmortal for certain definitions of forever.
- crimsonalucard 12y agoMaybe not forever, but eons.
- darkmighty 12y agoEven if we had a "permanent" energy source, we have only a finite number of atoms. So one day we would actually also be guaranteed to cycle our thoughts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poincar%C3%A9_recurrence_theorem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poincar%C3%A9_recurrence_theore... So for me true immortality is not only about unbounded time but also unbounded size, neither of which seems achievable. For all purposes of regular human condition though, an approximation is good enough.
- jshevek 12y agoThey aren't speaking literally. From my point of view, a human who can live, say, 10,000 years is as good as 'immortal'. Sure its literally wrong, but I heard webster now defines 'literally' as 'figuratively' so I'm ready to give up on pedantry.
- cratermoon 12y ago10,000 years, hmm? Ever read Larry Niven's short story "Cautionary Tales"?
- jshevek 12y agoI read a lot of Niven's short stories as a child, but I don't remember that title. Did he illustrate some of the problems we'd have with long life spans?
- cratermoon 12y agoNot really. It was more of an exploration into different perspectives on search for life-extending technologies by aliens with different life spans. I suggest reading it.