Immortality creates a whole set of other problems. The world population is increasing faster and faster. If people became immortal, we'd need to decide on a number of people to cap ourselves off at, otherwise we'll overpopulate the shit out of the planet. Then the problem with that would be, the only people who died would be the non augmented, eventually leading to a world made up entirely of immortal, aug'd humans. That would pretty much mean that the race would just kind of stop. There wouldn't be any new humans. Just the ones who've been around forever, unless some kind of malfunction happens or they just kill each other off or something.
You don't understand how immortality could become a curse? Imagine that you're driving down the road and there's no end in sight. You've been driving as long as you can remember, so long that most of the details of the trip have blurred together. You want nothing more but to stop but you can't. You can't stop the vehicle, you can't get out and you can't bring it to an end. All you can do is keep going.
If it were possible to end the journey when you chose that would be one thing but immortality implies that it isn't possible. If we download human consciousness to machines, will we maintain our current morality about ending life? Will it become unethical to end their machine existence the way it is to end their organic existence?
Forced immortality, yes. But even then it might not be so bad. I understand the whole point about lines blurring, but over time you would gain much more than you lose, and I'm sure eventually you'd find a way to combat the monotony or the possible madness.
If people could be turned to androids, that by no means signifies forced immortality... after all, it just means they won't die of old age or sickness. Memory wipes, short circuits and even good old grievous bodily harm can end a robot.
I know I've worried enough about death to know it would take me centuries to get bored with life. And during those centuries... I could benefit myself and the world a lot.
I think my trouble with it would be: are my loved ones going to join me in my immortality? If I'm in the minority (if the immortality is just beginning its ascent into normalcy), than you have to make peace with seeing all the people you get close to die off. If they DO join you in your immortality, won't you get board after the 1000th year of hanging out with the same people? Especially considering only a small amount of people would be able to do it in the beginning anyhow. Plus, you may even outlive the planet you are on. And if there is nowhere to go from there...then what?
Forced immortality, yes. But even then it might not be so bad. I understand the whole point about lines blurring, but over time you would gain much more than you lose, and I'm sure eventually you'd find a way to combat the monotony or the possible madness.
These are not assumptions I'm willing to make. Essentially the problem is that we don't know what kind of quality of life machine immortality will offer. Even if it's eternal bliss, how do we know how we'll respond to that? What will happen to my sanity if my existence stretches on for a trillion years with still no end in sight? We can't predict how we'll respond one way or another.
If people could be turned to androids, that by no means signifies forced immortality... after all, it just means they won't die of old age or sickness. Memory wipes, short circuits and even good old grievous bodily harm can end a robot.
Unless part of the process of immortality involves regular backups, which means in the event of accidental damage or destruction of your old shell you get restored to a new one.
I know I've worried enough about death to know it would take me centuries to get bored with life. And during those centuries... I could benefit myself and the world a lot.
Sure, extra centuries sound nice. Millennia even sounds good. But will I be sane at the end of ten thousand years of unending existence? A hundred thousand? When you're talking about immortality, you're talking about time frames that far exceed what you're talking about here.
To be honest, I'd prefer being immortal alone. Better to see them die and mourn for a long time than see them betray you or go after someone else. I mean, it sounds really insensitive and douchey, but I'd rather not be cheated on by the only other immortal being on the planet. You spend enough time with them and love will turn to lukewarm affection, which will turn to neutrality that can turn to anger and hate with anything you do.
No, either make everyone immortal or only one person. Worst case scenario, two lovers become immortal, devolve to hating each other with time, raise armies over the years and spiral into a war of the gods. Nice story, but not so much for mortals everywhere.
Ah. That is were we differ than, I suppose. I'd rather die after 90 years, spending the last portion of that time with someone I love, than live forever, alone, after watching everyone I cared for die off.
Immortality creates a whole set of other problems. The world population is increasing faster and faster. If people became immortal, we'd need to decide on a number of people to cap ourselves off at, otherwise we'll overpopulate the shit out of the planet. Then the problem with that would be, the only people who died would be the non augmented, eventually leading to a world made up entirely of immortal, aug'd humans. That would pretty much mean that the race would just kind of stop. There wouldn't be any new humans. Just the ones who've been around forever, unless some kind of malfunction happens or they just kill each other off or something.
Lets cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, I'd like to not die. I honestly don't understand why people say it'd be a curse.
You don't understand how immortality could become a curse? Imagine that you're driving down the road and there's no end in sight. You've been driving as long as you can remember, so long that most of the details of the trip have blurred together. You want nothing more but to stop but you can't. You can't stop the vehicle, you can't get out and you can't bring it to an end. All you can do is keep going.
If it were possible to end the journey when you chose that would be one thing but immortality implies that it isn't possible. If we download human consciousness to machines, will we maintain our current morality about ending life? Will it become unethical to end their machine existence the way it is to end their organic existence?
Forced immortality, yes. But even then it might not be so bad. I understand the whole point about lines blurring, but over time you would gain much more than you lose, and I'm sure eventually you'd find a way to combat the monotony or the possible madness.
If people could be turned to androids, that by no means signifies forced immortality... after all, it just means they won't die of old age or sickness. Memory wipes, short circuits and even good old grievous bodily harm can end a robot.
I know I've worried enough about death to know it would take me centuries to get bored with life. And during those centuries... I could benefit myself and the world a lot.
I think my trouble with it would be: are my loved ones going to join me in my immortality? If I'm in the minority (if the immortality is just beginning its ascent into normalcy), than you have to make peace with seeing all the people you get close to die off. If they DO join you in your immortality, won't you get board after the 1000th year of hanging out with the same people? Especially considering only a small amount of people would be able to do it in the beginning anyhow. Plus, you may even outlive the planet you are on. And if there is nowhere to go from there...then what?
These are not assumptions I'm willing to make. Essentially the problem is that we don't know what kind of quality of life machine immortality will offer. Even if it's eternal bliss, how do we know how we'll respond to that? What will happen to my sanity if my existence stretches on for a trillion years with still no end in sight? We can't predict how we'll respond one way or another.
Unless part of the process of immortality involves regular backups, which means in the event of accidental damage or destruction of your old shell you get restored to a new one.
Sure, extra centuries sound nice. Millennia even sounds good. But will I be sane at the end of ten thousand years of unending existence? A hundred thousand? When you're talking about immortality, you're talking about time frames that far exceed what you're talking about here.
To be honest, I'd prefer being immortal alone. Better to see them die and mourn for a long time than see them betray you or go after someone else. I mean, it sounds really insensitive and douchey, but I'd rather not be cheated on by the only other immortal being on the planet. You spend enough time with them and love will turn to lukewarm affection, which will turn to neutrality that can turn to anger and hate with anything you do.
No, either make everyone immortal or only one person. Worst case scenario, two lovers become immortal, devolve to hating each other with time, raise armies over the years and spiral into a war of the gods. Nice story, but not so much for mortals everywhere.
Ah. That is were we differ than, I suppose. I'd rather die after 90 years, spending the last portion of that time with someone I love, than live forever, alone, after watching everyone I cared for die off.