Would you like to live forever? If so, why ?

Benjamin Dovano October 26, 2016 at 18:51 4125 views 9 comments

Almost every human being on Earth has probably asked himself during his lifetime if he wants to live forever.
What is your take on this?
I am personally very comfortable with the idea of death.
Why do we see it as so scary and terrifying though?

Comments (9)

BC October 26, 2016 at 20:27 #28759 0 likes

I have always thought that the idea of never dying was horrible. I'm 70; and am planning on living another 15 years (based on parental longevity and current state of health) but were I to find out that I was going to be dead in 6 months, that would be mostly an inconvenience, not a tragedy. It would be inconvenient because I would have to wrap up all the details quickly, and I hate detail work.

I'm not in any hurry to die, but by 70 the juiciest part of life is pretty much over. On the other hand, I finally have some intellectual depth (IMHO) and a perspective that took a long time to achieve. My brain feels like it is working better now than it has in a long time, for some odd reason -- possibly an early sign of on-coming dementia.

People who only live to be 100 have outlived most of the people that were ever important to them -- friends, lovers, spouses, siblings, parents, children, even grandchildren. If one lived forever in perfect, vigorous health and sound mind, one would never be young again, and putting up with people who are more and more unlike yourself might be quite difficult. One would live to see all the horrors of our species decline, and certainly lots of other species' demises. At the end of our species, the person living forever would be alone.

Terrapin Station October 26, 2016 at 20:41 #28760 0 likes

Yes.

So I can date all of those women, visit all of those places, listen to (and write) all of that music, read (and write) all of those books, see all of those sporting events, etc.

Benjamin Dovano October 26, 2016 at 20:57 #28763 0 likes

Reply to Bitter Crank You're still young :)

Thorongil October 26, 2016 at 21:50 #28772 0 likes

As I am now? No. Something like the Christian afterlife attracts me, though, wherein one's current existence is transformed and elevated to a higher one.

jkop October 26, 2016 at 22:11 #28775 0 likes

Quoting Benjamin Dovano

Why do we see it so scary and terrifying though?

Because it kills us ;) Far more scary and terrifying is the idea of birth.

Buxtebuddha October 27, 2016 at 01:10 #28805 0 likes

Reply to Benjamin Dovano

I'd much rather love as nothing for infinitude.

Barry Etheridge October 27, 2016 at 20:40 #28917 0 likes

Reply to Benjamin Dovano

Is it death (no longer being) or dying (the process of deterioration to the point of no longer being able to sustain life) that they are afraid of (given that for many people the latter is sufficient motivation to hasten the former)?

Benjamin Dovano October 27, 2016 at 22:17 #28936 0 likes

Death is just the lost of attachments in life ( all material and personal attachments ). if you can do that while living then you are free...

MonfortS26 October 27, 2016 at 22:17 #28937 0 likes

Reply to Barry Etheridge
I would say probably a little bit of both