Has the First Person to Achieve Immortality Already Been Born? • Hacker News Board

Re: Has the First Person to Achieve Immortality Already Been Born?

#51

Post by crimsonalucard » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 7:24 AM UTC

xjia wrote: post #49

crimsonalucard wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be really hard to convince me that immortality is even possible. So it's unlikely I'd get into a situation where I'd be violating certain ethics.

Let me rephrase it like this... How do you face death then? It seems really hard for me now

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Re: Has the First Person to Achieve Immortality Already Been Born?

#52

Post by Delmania » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 12:05 PM UTC

xjia wrote: post #49

crimsonalucard wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be really hard to convince me that immortality is even possible. So it's unlikely I'd get into a situation where I'd be violating certain ethics.

Let me rephrase it like this... How do you face death then? It seems really hard for me now

It's hard for many people. There's plenty of theories out there that state that much of what we do and much of what we by are motivated by our fear of death and our desire to ignore it. The best way to face death, however, is head on. Look at yourself in the mirror and firmly remind yourself you will die. Find some way to remind yourself of this every day. St. Thomas Aquinas is said to have kept a skull on his desk to remind himself of his morality. At first, you will feel many emotions, fear, anxiety, depression, anger. You may rush around for a bit, trying to get things done. But the more you think about your death, the more you meditate on it, eventually, things will settle down, and you'll ask yourself the right questions: "What do I want to be remembered for? What do I want to achieve before I die?"

Re: Has the First Person to Achieve Immortality Already Been Born?

#53

Post by jshevek » Tue, Apr 21, 2015, 8:29 PM UTC

cratermoon wrote: post #41

jshevek wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They aren't speaking literally. From my point of view, a human who can live, say, 10,000 years is as good as 'immortal'. Sure its literally wrong, but I heard webster now defines 'literally' as 'figuratively' so I'm ready to give up on pedantry.

10,000 years, hmm? Ever read Larry Niven's short story "Cautionary Tales"?

I read a lot of Niven's short stories as a child, but I don't remember that title. Did he illustrate some of the problems we'd have with long life spans?

Re: Has the First Person to Achieve Immortality Already Been Born?

#54

Post by jshevek » Tue, Apr 21, 2015, 8:35 PM UTC

crimsonalucard wrote: post #47

jshevek wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't you usually avoiding something, though, when you do that?

The thing I'm trying and failing to avoid is boredom. In short I try to alleviate boredom by going on the internet, however I am still quite bored.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just trying to understand. I can't relate to this. I might 'feel bored' when I have something I feel I must do, but which I don't want to do. And then I may procrastinate, by turning to the internet, only to find this even more dissatisfying.

But if I have some free time with truly no demands, I need only commit myself to something fun and interesting - even something as simple as reading a novel.

Wait... maybe that's the key. Maybe we try to use the internet to alleviate boredom because it doesn't take any commitment, and maybe it fails to satisfy for that same reason. But what if you are willing to put a little more effort or investment into your distractions? Find a good movie, turn down the lights and really pay attention? Or approach the internet with a sense of purpose....?

Re: Has the First Person to Achieve Immortality Already Been Born?

#55

Post by cratermoon » Tue, Apr 28, 2015, 10:53 PM UTC

jshevek wrote: post #53

cratermoon wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

10,000 years, hmm? Ever read Larry Niven's short story "Cautionary Tales"?

I read a lot of Niven's short stories as a child, but I don't remember that title. Did he illustrate some of the problems we'd have with long life spans?

Not really. It was more of an exploration into different perspectives on search for life-extending technologies by aliens with different life spans. I suggest reading it.