Would You Opt for Immortality Despite the Universe's Limits?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around the philosophical implications of immortality, with participants expressing diverse opinions on whether they would choose to live forever. Key arguments include the fear of loneliness as loved ones pass away, the potential for boredom after centuries of existence, and the desire for the ability to choose death. Some participants, particularly those with religious beliefs, view eternal life positively, while others emphasize the potential suffering of living without an end. The conversation highlights the complexities of human emotions and philosophical beliefs regarding life and death.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of philosophical concepts related to immortality
  • Familiarity with existentialism and its implications on human experience
  • Knowledge of religious perspectives on life after death
  • Awareness of psychological effects of prolonged existence
NEXT STEPS
  • Research philosophical theories on immortality, such as those by Epicurus and Heidegger
  • Explore psychological studies on the effects of prolonged life and existential dread
  • Investigate religious doctrines regarding eternal life and afterlife beliefs
  • Examine literature and media that depict immortality, such as "The Myth of Tithonus" and "Highlander"
USEFUL FOR

Philosophers, theologians, psychologists, and anyone interested in the ethical and emotional implications of immortality and the human condition.

If you could Would you Live Forever

  • Yes

    Votes: 30 58.8%

  • No

    Votes: 21 41.2%
  • Total voters
    51
Tom McCurdy
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If you had the chance, would you live forever... meaning that if you did choose yes, you would never die. You could never choose to die you would simply live forever.
 
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I'm not really sure, but I voted yes because I think I'd end up selecting that option. The possibility of ceasing to exist is difficult for me to fathom - I don't want non-existence even though it wouldn't matter logically if I didn't exist.
 
Because i am a theist, i would rather spend eternity in eternal bliss rather than on Earth.
 
If I couldn't self-destruct, then I wouldn't want immortality. If peace is something I know I can never have, then I can never have peace of mind knowing this.
 
i wouldn't want to live forever because 1) i wouldn't want to live forever with loved ones just passing me by and 2) think of how many enemies you would suddenly have. people would either worship you or want to kill you because they'd think you're either jesus or satan living forever now in human form. :bugeye:
 
I voted no. If there was no way to ever choose to die, this planet could turn into a pretty miserable and lonely place, and there'd be no way out. I mean, it might be fun for the first 500 years or so, but once you seen and done everything and history starts to repeat itself for the 10th time, you'd probably get pretty bored with it.
 
Back in the days when I was a kid, I used to ask my father this question. He would answer no because he would eventually get very tired of the world. I couldn't understand his choice, and even now, at 15, I still can't comprehend it fully.

I chose not to vote on this poll because I feel that the question should only be answered by people who have been in this world longer.
 
oh Yesh! Why the heck doesn't everyone agree with me? :)
 
I went with YES. I don't think I'll ever get bored. I'd also like the capabilities of a 25 year old for the rest of my eternal life - thanks !

I'm sure all the "wise folks" here picked NO.
 
  • #10
yes, I would never get bored. I would also learn so much, and become so wise!
 
  • #11
A better question would be "Would you want to have the power to choose when you die?"

I suspect that most people would answer that question in the affirmative.
 
  • #12
I chose no for a simple reason, wouldn't want to give myself another reason to procratinate. And as a buddhist I also believe the end is also another beginning. Would be nice to have a bit of variety in the circumstances one finds oneself in.
 
  • #13
we have to have some inevitability in our lives, it sounds morbid, yes but death is the only one...
 
  • #14
No. In short, "to live is Christ, to die is gain." I trust I'm going somewhere better after this life.
 
  • #15
I went with "Yes". I'm very happy with living and I'm fascinated by life in general. History may have some amazing similarities crop up, but it never repeats itself. Maybe for most of human history, things have changed so slowly that one could feel that living forever meant living today over and over. Not so today - things change too fast to get bored with life.
 
  • #16
Of course, I will live forever. Its a fact, not a wish.
 
  • #17
MiGUi said:
Of course, I will live forever. Its a fact, not a wish.
I am assuming you are religious, then the option about living forever is on Earth (in our universe) not in any afterlife.
 
  • #18
NO

I'm not religious !

I don't believe in something like that !
 
  • #19
I voted no. The Earth isn't going to last forever and it will be uninhabited long before then. Eternal life without any quality would be eternal torture.
 
  • #20
C'mon Evo, you're getting into technicalities now. Perhaps the Universe itself will cease to exist at some point (Big Crunch)...but I would go on ?
 
  • #21
No, the sun will die, the Earth may disappear, and I'd still be floating out there, suffering every second of my never-ending life.
 
  • #22
I'd go for the 1000 year subscription with free annual renewals if I send in the lousy little card :biggrin:

Oh and try the black angus + hot sauce, it's great!
 
  • #23
Gokul43201 said:
C'mon Evo, you're getting into technicalities now. Perhaps the Universe itself will cease to exist at some point (Big Crunch)...but I would go on ?
Yeah, but you would continue to live, hey Tom's making the rules, not me. :biggrin:

We don't even know the details. Tom said you would live forever, but he didn't say you wouldn't age. It would be like the Myth of Tithonus. The Goddess Eos fell in love with the human Tithonus and asked that he be made immortal and Zeus granted her wish. Unfortunately, she forgot to ask that he also have eternal youth. He ended up as a grasshopper.

Be careful what you wish for. :wink:

Singleton said:
I'd go for the 1000 year subscription with free annual renewals if I send in the lousy little card
Now that I might go for.

Also, once the cows are gone, will life even be worth living?
 
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  • #24
Living forever, but changing the "universe" around you after "life" ended on earth, is a good idea if you are ahppy afterweards. but if you are in deep... [fill in the balnks] thus hoping death is extremely logical...

Simply as the situation now, happy want more...not happy ..not anymore you want.. :biggrin:
 
  • #25
There's a philosophy called deathism that has this definition
"The set of beliefs and attitudes which glorifies or accepts death and rejects or despises immortality"
http://www.orionsarm.com/eg/d/De-Dh.html
I think that I consider myself a not deathist
 
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  • #26
Me neither :smile:
 
  • #27
I would love to life forever. Sure...this planet won't be here forever, but that means I would still have a few billion years to nail interstellar travel. I mean, I wouldn't even have to worry about life support, would I?

I would hope at some point though, that the universe collapsed back onto itself, and was reborn again. Being able to live to see multiple cycles of an entire universe would be...awesome.
 
  • #28
you guys are nuts, i would never want to live forever. After about the first 500 years, you will probably wish you were dead.
 
  • #29
decibel said:
you guys are nuts, i would never want to live forever. After about the first 500 years, you will probably wish you were dead.
I think people aren't understanding this. They seem to think that along with the inability to die they assume other superhuman powers.

Honestly people, if you could not change ANYTHING, and you could not die, would you want that?
 
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  • #30
Evo...there are some technical difficulties to be overcome, but if you take them too seriously, no one would answer "yes".
 

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