How would you live if you were immortal?
Actually I have 3 questions. Might be seemilar in context but beg different answers.
1- What would you do in life if you had extreme longevity, if your appearance would be 30 for some decades?
2- What would you do if you knew that you never age, but were vulnerable? And finally...
3- How would you live if you were immortal? (Invulnerable biologically and / or extra-corporealy)
1- What would you do in life if you had extreme longevity, if your appearance would be 30 for some decades?
2- What would you do if you knew that you never age, but were vulnerable? And finally...
3- How would you live if you were immortal? (Invulnerable biologically and / or extra-corporealy)
Comments (13)
In the former case, I'd live as I do now. I'd not go to extremes to avoid risks, because that would make life not worth living in the first place--I'd not avoid drivin/riding in cars, I'd not avoid riding bicycles, etc.
In the latter case, depending on whether I could still be in pain or not, and assuming "not," I'd do all sorts of crazy things that I wouldn't try otherwise--jump out of an airplane without a parachute, free dive all over the ocean, hike in the middle of lion country, etc.
I find it interesting that the two answers (between can-be-killed and not) gather such opposite responses. A life with danger is worth taking the care to preserve, and the one most like the typical description of our afterlife on the new earth results in futile attempts to get back what was lost.
I'm someone who routinely uses invincibility cheats in video games.
Jumping out of airplanes, for example, would be kind of like a roller coaster in that situation. I have enough trust in amusement parks that I don't think there is any danger on a roller coaster. But it's still thrilling because of the sensations (and the airplane would be because of the views, too)
I think immortality of type 1 and 2 are becoming more and more plausible with advanced in medicine and genetics. Type 1 immortality is very much a reality with many people aging well i.e. able to lead independent and fulfilling lives and I think some in this forum prove that. I don't know about others but I see a real advantage for young folks that people live to their 90's now - the knowledge and experience they can gain are incalculable. Of course there'll be a few exceptions - some people we can do without - but overall I think we stand to gain.
Type 2 immortality is still a dream but, I think, achievable. Knowledge would grow exponentially as (some) people will invest themselves wholly in the information age - something like in type 1 but on a much greater scale.
Type 3 immortality will be a singularity. Unpredictable! Will people thirst for the vast amount of knowledge, which is growing as we speak, availabe or will we become couch potatoes. God will become redundant because the only real thing we desire from him is, well, immortality. That also raises the question of the value of morality. Also, on the flip side, since we won't be able to hurt each other, bad would also be meaningless.
As a point.
The first step might be to dispense with a fickle internet wandering in favor of performing acts and taking risks in the world of 3-dimensions.
If I was absolutely invulnerable I'd designate myself a deity and either help or hinder people. Lead a group of freedom fighters in the Congo. Become a new prophet of fundamental Islam owing to my divine or demonic powers by shear force. Destroy the Coca Cola corporation after I sit on the couch and drink coke for a thousand years.
I'd like to think I would turn down the opportunity, but I probably wouldn't. I think my answer is the same for each of the three choices. I'd do nothing. Then more nothing. And then more and more. Until something told me to do it. Then I'd do it. Then I'd do nothing until something else told me to do it.
You don't need to worry about what you'll do next if you don't have to worry about your security and don't get bored. Actually, that's what I would do - I'd teach myself how never to be bored. I've made progress in that regard already. With eternity to work with, I'd get it right eventually.
What about when the universe re-collapses or expands to its heat death? What happens to me then?
Fear of death is fear of life. "Unfinished business", feeling that one missed out on facets of the human condition at pivotal points in their development -- but they procrastinate, and fear living, and because they know that their time is limited, and the psychological future never arrives (putting stuff off until later, just makes one better and better and putting stuff off until later, and "later" never arrives), so they wish for an infinite amount of time to twiddle their thumbs in avoidance.
Short answer... if I were immortal, I'd stress test that shit... lol
There could be a danger of boredom when immortal.
:)
:)
Could we already be immortal, choosing to live dangerously as mortals?