Seriousness Should human life be extended?

Dr. Drib · 04-30-2009, 07:25 AM

I just finished "The Cabinet of Curiosities," an incredible read that has an amazing narrative drive.

On one level, this novel is about a serial killer who attempts (at first) to extend his own life. However, the novel - a potboiler in the best sense of the word - tackles other issues that leave room for thought. (I won't say more, because I don't want to inadvertently include any spoilers.)

In the novel, the question arises about whether one should (if one could) extend human life by...say...200 years.

Here's an interesting passage from the book:

"What about the immeasurable increase in wisdom that this discovery will bring, when you consider the one, maybe two hundred years, of additional learning and study it will afford the brilliant mind?....[Think what] Einstein could have done for humanity with a two hundred-year life span."

[Another character comments]: "The wise and good are outnumbered a thousand to one by the brutal and stupid. When you give an Einstein two centuries to perfect his science, you give a thousand others two centuries to perfect their brutality. [Ital mine.]"

This is a very interesting argument, but I'm wondering what thoughts other members have on this idea.

I must add again that this book, "The Cabinet of Curiosities," by Douglas Preston is one of the most entertaining novels I've read in years.

Don

Sparrow · 04-30-2009, 07:27 AM

Aren't physicists and mathematicians burned out by thirty?

tirsales · 04-30-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Aren't physicists and mathematicians burned out by thirty?

Why should they?
They perhaps (I really dont know) are not as brilliant with regard to the development of completely new approaches or hyphothesis - but this does not neccessarily imply that they are worthless (from a point of view that only incorporates expected publications and ideas in the future).

pdurrant · 04-30-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

[Another character comments]: "The wise and good are outnumbered a thousand to one by the brutal and stupid. When you give an Einstein two centuries to perfect his science, you give a thousand others two centuries to perfect their brutality. [Ital mine.]"

This seems a very silly argument. Can it possibly be that we have the perfect length of lifespan? Or should we take this argument further, and murder anyone over 40? After all, then the brutal and stupid have less time to perfect their brutality.

I would welcome a method of extending healthy human lifespan. Any problems it brings would be far outweighed by the benefit of not dying.

wodin · 04-30-2009, 11:00 AM

Look what happened when we doubled life expectancy. Population growth took off exponentially! Think what would happen if we tripled it again.

DixieGal · 04-30-2009, 11:40 AM

Yes, life expectancy should be extended. Me first.

tirsales · 04-30-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Yes, life expectancy should be extended. Me first.

You wanna be an alpha-tester???

Greg Anos · 04-30-2009, 11:50 AM

Give us 50-100 years for more research and we'll have it. (It'll be suppressed, of course.) For a particularly nasty version of that outcome, read Buying Time by Joe Haldeman.

tirsales · 04-30-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Give us 50-100 years for more research and we'll have it. (It'll be suppressed, of course.)

What make's you so sure of this (both statements)?

DixieGal · 04-30-2009, 12:06 PM

I honestly feel like I need an extra couple thousand years. I'm living as fast as I can, but there are still so many things I want to see and do! But only if Tim is an alpha tester also. It would all be meaningless without him.

Sparrow · 04-30-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Look what happened when we doubled life expectancy. Population growth took off exponentially! Think what would happen if we tripled it again.

Maybe only extend it for people who haven't had children.

Parents will still have to shuffle off, to make room for their offspring.

ilovejedd · 04-30-2009, 12:37 PM

I'm not sure if the planet can take it. As it is, I have a feeling we're already consuming more than our fair share of available resources.

DixieGal · 04-30-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I'm not sure if the planet can take it. As it is, I have a feeling we're already consuming more than our fair share of available resources.

We will have plenty of time, however, for a long long ride to another world. Wouldn't even have to be a fancy rocket, because what harm would hard vacuum do to us immortals?

slayda · 04-30-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Maybe only extend it for people who haven't had children.

Parents will still have to shuffle off, to make room for their offspring.

But what would you do about parents with more than two offspring? Start shuffling off the older of the offspring to make room for the younger?

Dr. Drib · 04-30-2009, 07:24 PM

I think we need to get back on track with the question.

There were religious and philosophical questions involved in the novel, ones that really do attempt to inquire into the nature of longevitiy.

Of course, there are problems of overpopulation if the process became (for example) one in which commodification was the end result.

I'm talking about the implication(s) upon the ordering of events relating to health care, contractual and legal issues, in addition to ethical and religious concerns.

And please remember: I'm not talking about immortality, but a lengthening of one's life beyond the "normal" or "typical" lifespan.

Don

04-30-2009, 07:25 AM	#1
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Should human life be extended? I just finished "The Cabinet of Curiosities," an incredible read that has an amazing narrative drive. On one level, this novel is about a serial killer who attempts (at first) to extend his own life. However, the novel - a potboiler in the best sense of the word - tackles other issues that leave room for thought. (I won't say more, because I don't want to inadvertently include any spoilers.) In the novel, the question arises about whether one should (if one could) extend human life by...say...200 years. Here's an interesting passage from the book: "What about the immeasurable increase in wisdom that this discovery will bring, when you consider the one, maybe two hundred years, of additional learning and study it will afford the brilliant mind?....[Think what] Einstein could have done for humanity with a two hundred-year life span." [Another character comments]: "The wise and good are outnumbered a thousand to one by the brutal and stupid. When you give an Einstein two centuries to perfect his science, you give a thousand others two centuries to perfect their brutality. [Ital mine.]" This is a very interesting argument, but I'm wondering what thoughts other members have on this idea. I must add again that this book, "The Cabinet of Curiosities," by Douglas Preston is one of the most entertaining novels I've read in years. Don

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Extended Warranty	vmill	Amazon Kindle	9	09-17-2010 06:46 PM
Accessories Extended Warranty	cvkemp	Amazon Kindle	5	09-11-2010 12:09 AM
Extended Warranty ??	IvoryAngel	Amazon Kindle	7	02-24-2010 05:26 PM
Extended characters	jbenny	Upload Help	28	10-12-2007 10:03 AM
How Human Life will end	doctorow	Lounge	7	04-20-2005 12:03 AM

04-30-2009, 07:27 AM	#2
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Aren't physicists and mathematicians burned out by thirty?

04-30-2009, 11:00 AM	#5
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Look what happened when we doubled life expectancy. Population growth took off exponentially! Think what would happen if we tripled it again.

04-30-2009, 11:40 AM	#6
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Yes, life expectancy should be extended. Me first.

04-30-2009, 11:50 AM	#8
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,248 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Give us 50-100 years for more research and we'll have it. (It'll be suppressed, of course.) For a particularly nasty version of that outcome, read Buying Time by Joe Haldeman.

04-30-2009, 12:06 PM	#10
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I honestly feel like I need an extra couple thousand years. I'm living as fast as I can, but there are still so many things I want to see and do! But only if Tim is an alpha tester also. It would all be meaningless without him.

04-30-2009, 12:37 PM	#12
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	I'm not sure if the planet can take it. As it is, I have a feeling we're already consuming more than our fair share of available resources.

04-30-2009, 07:24 PM	#15
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	I think we need to get back on track with the question. There were religious and philosophical questions involved in the novel, ones that really do attempt to inquire into the nature of longevitiy. Of course, there are problems of overpopulation if the process became (for example) one in which commodification was the end result. I'm talking about the implication(s) upon the ordering of events relating to health care, contractual and legal issues, in addition to ethical and religious concerns. And please remember: I'm not talking about immortality, but a lengthening of one's life beyond the "normal" or "typical" lifespan. Don

Advert

Advert