Immortality

[nailit]

Here's a question for the non-religious (the religious already have their answer though I doubt they have thought about the implications that much)
If you could become immortal on the condition you would NEVER be able to die or kill yourself, would you choose immortality?

[nailit]

atalanta...
Just why it doesn't appeal to me personally! Some people might like the idea though.
Each to their own I guess....

[Khandro]

Mr Thomas Gradgrind is the notorious school board Superintendent in Dickens's novel Hard Times, but enough of that.

According to the notion of a "block universe", the past and the future are no less real than the present, (see physicist, David Deutsche). Why believe that consciousness can not exist in the future as well as the past, and why should it only abide in the present?
Conscientiousness might exist in space/time at every instant, past, present and future, in which case 'immortality' already exists.

[RobNorth]

I think it's all about reproduction - the clue's in the word.
We are all part of an unbroken chain going back to the beginning of human life. If just one of an individual's many many ancestors failed to reproduce then he or she wouldn't be here, ergo, you need to reproduce to be immortal.

[keyplus90]

There is an old saying "happily forever after", what does that mean? Did they live forever?

[jno]

as to what I'd choose if I really knew what it entailed ... well, I don't know what it entails, so I'd have to make a choice on the basis of ignorance.

But imagine a future in which your body ceased to age. At some point your body slowly switches off, wounds slow down in repairing themselves, your flesh loses elasticity etc etc. But suppose the switch was found and was, so to speak, taped in the On position so that your body remained much as it always was, your consciousness was undimmed by age - that would mean you could go on living as you are now.

And that's what gerontologists are constantly working on. It's not science fiction (which is not to say it's happened yet), there really is something that starts to make you age - at about the point when evolution assumes you've had and raised your children so that your genes have been passed on and your body is no longer of genetic use. Could the trigger for this ageing be found and stopped? It seems quite possible.

[Theland]

We should be a little more humble, and recognise that we only have five senses to experience the whole universe. We can only detect a tiny bit of the electro magnetic spectrum. Are we not arrogant to dispel the existence of that we cannot detect? A spiritual dimension can only be revealed, not experienced. Yet.

[Khandro]

^^22:14 "Conscientiousness" should of course read "consciousness" - spellchecker!

[Old_Geezer]

The universe will be a cold boring place when the last of the stars burn out. Still the trip into the black hole might provide some excitement. It's one thing to hope for continued existence in places of interest; quite another to forever be stuck here. No sane person would volunteer for an eternity of isolation. They'd not stay sane.

[Theland]

So? An eternity of isolation is the hell promised to those who reject God.

[waterboatman]

Theland. Once again you are wrong. Your 0500 post, The spirit world is all around you. My wife left this world in 2011, she still comes back to see me.

[1ozzy]

Immortality, no thanks.

Imagine trying to blow out the candles on your birthday cake.

It's difficult enough at my age, a neighbour called the fire brigade to assist me on my last birthday.

[waterboatman]

I wouldn't dare put candlers on mine, It'd burn the place down!

[david small]

Waterboatman. I’m so pleased that Vera occasionally checks in on you. As you so rightly point out the spirit world IS all about us. Your comment made my day.

[waterboatman]

Thank you David. My pleasure.

[mibn2cweus]

There were moments when knowing I would die eventually was the only thing keeping me from suicide.

[1ozzy]

You are not the only one mibn2cweus.

[david small]

Mibn2cweus. I would like to reply with some profound comment. But, suffice to say, I understand you well.
Life is but a dream. Hang in there. This too will pass.

[mibn2cweus]

At the very least while we're still alive we have a choice.

[waterboatman]

mibn2cweus. I've thought about it too. Vera told me I'm in trouble with her if I do. Apparently I still have things to do. What, I have no idea!

[david small]

Boaty, amazingly you don’t realise the good that you do so naturally. Your very personality generates warmth and concern for others. Vera is right. The world needs many more like you. From those that haven’t, I thank you Waterboatman.