Robert A. Heinlein, one of the great writers of science fiction, described the extension of human life by rejuvenation in some of his work. The issue of boredom and motivation to continue is discussed, and is quite interesting.
2006-08-15 15:29:40 · 24 answers · asked by In Honor of Moja 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
In Robert Heinlein's world, people who were rejuvenated remained the same people they had always been. Reincarnation wasn't a part of the process.
2006-08-15 15:56:16 · update #1
Do you remember the Goldie Hawn movie, Death Becomes Her? In this case, people who took the magic potion couldn't die, no matter how badly their bodies were damaged. Would this be a fate worse than death?
2006-08-15 16:20:06 · update #2
I don't see why not, especially if you can die from *trauma*.
1000 years is a lot of time but this world is so full of wonders and excitement and great times that I highly doubt you'll ever get bored. During one lifetime most people specialize only in one career/field.
You'd also be a great source of firsthand history, that's for sure.
In general I find it a little sad that some of you think life is so full of hardship that to extend it a bunch would not be worth it. But to each his own it probably won't matter in our lifetime.
BTW I would never say life is "too short" but certainly I see no real problem with life extension.
2006-08-15 15:38:36 · answer #1 · answered by d.anconia 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One should ask, why do we live?
If one is able to achieve their “purpose” within a typical lifespan, then there is no need for immortality or an additional 900 years of existence.
In the natural world, immortality is met when one reproduces – it is called genetic immortality, and flies may achieve it within 24 hours and then die, while large mammals require a few decades to make certain their genetic material will live on and on.
In the human world, one’s purpose is self defined. Some people consider this their quest in life – to first determine why they were put here, and then making certain they achieve that goal.
Some people wait for the “world” to speak to them about their purpose. Other people never even contemplate such deep concepts, and merely exist until they die.
Some people feel complete when they see their children fledge into the world and begin to make a place for themselves in the world.
Some people never discover their “calling”, others change their mind about what it might be – over and over and over again as they move through different stages of their life.
I suspect that people who have not found their “purpose” or their “calling” within the first 90 years of their life probably won’t figure that out, even if given another 900 years.
2006-08-15 17:01:31 · answer #2 · answered by Tammie R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If compared to the live of insects, ours is considered long. And if 100 years is not long enough, I doubt that we will be satisfied with 1000. Perhaps we could do more in 1000 than 100 but there will still be a lot of things that we have not done at the end of 1000.
So the thing is, try our best and do everything in our lifetime. And if we can't, we will die knowing that we lived our life to the fullest. When we live our life to the fullest, one lifespan is more than enough and we will not want more. When our lives are perfect, we are ready to die.
2006-08-15 15:58:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be very detrimental for some people to live so long, but methinks that it would give many people enough time to do something with themselves.
There are so many things I want to experience in life, there is no way Ill have time to do it all. So yes, I would like to rejuvenate, but I suppose it must come to an end sometime.
I think it would be very beneficial to society if we could take the Einsteins and Da Vincis and keep them around for much longer.
2006-08-15 17:14:29 · answer #4 · answered by Walty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not at all.I feel so thankful to be alive in the first place.We may be here for just a short while,but just look at the other matter around you that is non-living.It can't love,create,laugh or cry.It just stays as is unlike me and you....I would only accept a 1,000 year procedure to live longer,as long as all my friends and family opted to do the same.It wouldn't be to cool to at first watch all your friends pass away,your family and countless generations during your 1,000 year life....Nice question by the way....tom science
2006-08-15 15:38:56 · answer #5 · answered by tom science 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world is running out of fossil fuels and resources, companies are downsizing and laying off (my family has been laid off more times than I can count), and I barely have enough food and money to keep my family of 5 going. Death is a blessing! I don't want to be in this terrible place forever!
2006-08-15 15:36:18 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life is too short I would without hesitation accept another 1,000 years and wouldn't make the mistakes I made before. I would also want to do so many things that I haven't been able to do yet.
2006-08-15 15:35:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life is too short only in the mind of one who's facing death. It's relative.
If you find your true love at 40 or 80 and you're dying of cancer, then life is WAY too short.
We're here for the time we're here. Make the most of it in a postive way.
2006-08-15 15:35:08 · answer #8 · answered by cboni2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With improvement I like to live forever but if I half to stay like I am now, HELL NO. The older I get the faster time go that what it feel like anyway. Yes it is way too short.
2006-08-15 16:13:22 · answer #9 · answered by Tony 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, if I could continue to receive Social Security with annual cost of living expenses.
2006-08-15 16:03:54 · answer #10 · answered by JUNK MAN 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋