Today my blog poses a serious question having to do with life and death.I want to know how people here at AMD feel about this issue.
I watched a programme on The Science Channel last night that prompted today’s question. The programme BBC Series on Time was hosted by Dr. Michio Kaku a professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York, best-selling author, and popularizer of science. He's the co-founder of string field theory (a branch of string theory), and continues Einstein's search to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into one unified theory.
In this four-programme series, Dr. Kaku goes on an extraordinary exploration of the world in search of time.
In part two of the series he reveals the forces of time that make and destroy us in a lifetime. The most powerful effect of time on our lives is the way it limits us. Our knowledge of death is so embedded in our lives and spirituality that, were immortality possible, would we lose the sense that makes us human
Why is our time limited? And does it have to be? Could our age-old dream of immortality ever be possible? In this episode he explores these questions and meets some of the key people involved in the cutting-edge research into ageing.
This episode reveals the biological changes in our cells that make our skin wrinkle and our bones become brittle. This new understanding is beginning to reveal the process of time in our bodies and, through this, scientists are now looking at ways of slowing or even stopping time. Scientists in California are studying sea urchins for clues as they not only live longer than ever thought before but they appear to show no sign of ageing. Genetic manipulation is extending the lives of mice. And a British scientist is now suggesting that the pace of advance is so fast that the first immortals are already living today; that before our children have reached the end of their natural lives, the technology to stop and even reverse ageing will exist. But what will that mean for our essential humanity?
Watch the video of how genetic research into aging has produced extraordinary possibilities for extending life. Click here
So that brings us to today’s question: If today there was an elixir that could extend your life to as much as 1000yrs. or longer, even to possible immortality. I’m not speaking of religious immortality. Religion has been promising immortality for centuries, without a shred of proof. Remarkable claims require remarkable proof. Maybe you don’t require proof but I do. Now, would you drink from that elixir or not? And why would you or wouldn’t you?
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
|
|
read more blogs!
|
shy_sexy_kitten
|
Oct 7 @ 4:40PM
|
|
Would I drink or not?
Depends on timing.... these days, it is unknown about long term side-effects of some drugs.. they are put on the market and then recalled at a later day due to adverse side-effects.
That happened with morning sickness pills for pregnancy... I was given pills and after taking only a couple.. tossed them in the garbage... months later after my son was born.. they were recalling the drug... it was causing brain damage in the fetus..
To me.. the only way I would want to live longer was if my quality of life was at a standard that I could agree to... as well, it brings up the dilemna about population growth.. would my staying alive prevent a younger member of the family from having children due to population restrictions.... no I wouldn't take the drink.
There are so many factors to that decision... financially is one of the biggest... how would someone support themselves in a system that is geared to a population that averages around 75 years old...
If my brain and body was reasonably intact and I had meaning in my life... possibly take the drink...
Interesting blog.. 
|
|
Ear2floor
|
Oct 7 @ 4:44PM
|
|
it would depend on the length of time .... if it were for 500 years .... that would be something to do but if your talking 1000 or more ... no
on this planet at this time there is a finite amount of knowledge to be learned ... after living for 500 years things "could" become very stale and once taken there is no turning back .... another reason to have a limited time is ... what would happen if you became paralyzed from the neck down ..... would you really want to live that way for a thousand years or more ... hell ... 500 would be bad enough
it would also depend on family and friends .... outliving everyone you care about can become something worse than death "for some"
in closing i would like to add this .... what would be the age of retirement if you could live to be 1000 .... the average person would work for 900 years spend 22 in school and the first 5 just growing and the government will then support you for the remaining 73 years .... not something i would want to do
Mre
|
|
spartan671
|
Oct 7 @ 4:54PM
|
|
if people in the world were as interesting as some of the people on AMD then I would give it serious consideration. But living a 1000 years or more in the world we live in doesn't seem to be the most appealing idea to me. Maybe when the world becomes a place I would want to live in for 1000 years I'd think about it. Besides I that means I would have to be about 700 before I started to collect a pension check or social security. 
|
|
BusterHymen345
|
Oct 7 @ 5:04PM
|
|
Interesting question
First of all, the population problem would be a factor...it already is according to some. Then there's old age...if the 1000 years was relative to our average lifetime...that would mean that I'd spend about 50 years as a very old man...very old. I'm not liking it one bit. Not to mention....I already feel like a slave to the system in some ways. Paying taxes, being a consumer, .paying taxes. I'm sure the government would love for me to pay taxes for 600 years.
Kill me now please...  well, in about 25 years.
|
|
Ewe_Wish
|
Oct 7 @ 5:20PM
|
|
Ok i will answer you in 3 words:
NO FUCKING WAY!!!
|
|
j1on1
|
Oct 7 @ 5:46PM
|
|
It is an interesting hypothetical situation which one could reverse.
If we only lived for 20 years as a normal life span and somebody said you could partake of an elixir that would conceivably lengthen it to 100 years; would you argue similar points about the amount of age spent as an old man, taxes, etc. Given that many people now live to a long age (unlike our prehistoric cousins who were often lucky - we are told - to make it past 20) would we now look on our lives and say we would have been happy to die at the age of 20 - somehow I doubt this. Many ideas are frightening because they are new and lead us onto an unknown path, once this path becomes beaten and familiar, the fear departs and we are left with the usual.
Of course as prevviously mentioned, it would depend on quality of life but I for one would drink the elixir heartily for once you are dead you cannot have regrets concerning missed opportunities.
|
|
StraddleMyNose
|
Oct 7 @ 6:44PM
|
|
|
I wouldn't do it. Life is hard enough in our life cycle. To love and have your heart broken, and to lose loved ones for in those 1000 years will take it's toll.
|
|
frankbarks
|
Oct 7 @ 6:51PM
|
|
I've always had the feeling since know how intelligent they are that elephants and whales might be as self-aware as people. They just haven't hands to make things and demonstrate similar traits. Elephants may, in time, evolve thier trunks into excellent tool-making appendages if allowed to live that progress.
on immortality? How would it be defined? If the recycling of the life started on earth coninuously since it emerged is used, it already happens. The infinite longevity of one individual from conception could be used as a reference. Of course some organisms have been alive for half the history of known human civilizations and continue to grow, so immorality is conceivable for any individual given that standard. Just thinkin...
|
|
31sunshine
|
Oct 7 @ 7:08PM
|
|
|
I wouldn't do it. Life needs to cyle. As it is people are living longer anyway. I wouldn't extend it for anything. When my time comes I want to go.
|
|
shy_sexy_kitten
|
Oct 7 @ 7:19PM
|
|
** KUDO delivered *** 
|
|
NachoBaby
|
Oct 7 @ 7:32PM
|
|
|
I am already Immortal. However I don't wish to inhabit this human form for more than the requisit four score and twenty years.
|
|
loveableone
|
Oct 7 @ 10:41PM
|
|
|
Great blog hun! Now if they made this some type of health elixar, where no one would get terminal illnesses through their normal life cycle, i would be all for that!
|
|
BuddhaDon
|
Oct 7 @ 10:48PM
|
|
BusterHymen345 says it quite well, "Kill me now please..."
On "Our knowledge of death is so embedded in our lives and spirituality that, were immortality possible, would we lose the sense that makes us human..." If this sense exists, then it is conditioned. So we don't lose what we never have...
On "...process of time in our bodies and, through this, scientists are now looking at ways of slowing or even stopping time..." Does this pertain to some corpuscular theory or something? Bob Marley's words echoe in my brain, "Have no fear for atomic energy cause none of them can stop the time..." [Also, E=mc2, and absolute zero (i.e., the stoppage of time) isn't possible.]
Ear2floor says that, "on this planet at this time there is a finite amount of knowledge to be learned ..." While that may be true, the avaiable knowledge still exceeds the limits of the human mind. Unless you, Ear2floor, are refering to what is essential knowledge...
Anyway, I think that alcohol is an elixer to ward of the Grim-Reaper, or a heart attack at the very least.
By the way, I love the "I EAT PUSSY" graphic.
|
|
borty293
|
Oct 8 @ 1:14AM
|
|
|
I'd love to live a thousand years if I thought our species would continue to evolve but alas ...I'm hard pressed to believe human beings will inhabit this planet one hundred years from now or even fifty for that matter...I;'m afraid greed for power will be our downfall...but just think if some miracle happened and we survive, it would be wonderful to be apart of space travel and the advancements in science...I would be happy to live a thousand years just to see that...another great thought provoking blog Don ...thanks
|
|
Pudge2you
|
Oct 8 @ 10:15AM
|
|
No and I would immediately start an underground movement to destroy the elixir and it's creators.
There are enough stupid people on the planet now. Death is the only thing that keeps it from getting much worse.
Can you imagine if the elixer fell inot the wrong hands and was given to EVERYBODY?
I mean everybody on the planet! Mistakes would no longer kill? can you imagine.....
|
|
Angel_45304
|
Oct 8 @ 4:54PM
|
|
|
Interesting blog
|
|
lifeizabitch
|
Oct 9 @ 9:13AM
|
|
|
I would not.
|
|
|