Should Humans be Immortal?
MAY 2021 Download this Article
In other words, we are also trying to ascertain the correct age of humans. All through history, humans have been attempting to find ways to live long, longer and longer.
No one has tried to bring the correct number to the end of life. All the numbers we have are statistics through the ages. Different numbers have existed.
Depending on good life, wars, famine, peaceful country, healthy environment etc.
So how long is the right age, and should humans strive to achieve longevity until infinity?
Many debates will open up with varied perspectives. The primary argument is the natural cycle of life. The end is necessary.
The other one is like a factor of defying ageing. There are many animals and plants which are there for thousands of years.
Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise, lived for an estimated age of 255. Dakshayani, a female Asian elephant, was 88. Elephants’ average lifespan is 50 years and maximum life is about 70.
The argument here to support the fact that given the right care, animals too have outlived their biological age by nearly 40%.
Currently, there are replacements of human body parts being done in advance medical systems.
Development of medical sciences like Kidney transplant, Cornea Lens Transplant, Hair transplant, Heart transplant, skin grafting, liver transplant, Knee replacement, Pacemaker and stents, Prosthetic Legs have proven human quest to achieve immortality.
If the trend continues, the human race might have its body parts reconstructed. They are ultimately achieving immortality.
Brainpower is being extended, too, with the use of machine power and artificial memory. Using digital records and artificial intelligence for decisions is expected.
Today, many of our tasks are done by an extended brain power with computerised memory management. As a result, it is less of memory recall, and more decision-making using those artificial memory recalls.
Images, notes, alarms, reminders, documents, instruction manuals, reference videos, audios are helping humans to accomplish what otherwise would be partially remembered and soon forgotten.
Now, all these are permanently available.
The condition which is limiting immortality is the excessive burden on the planet due to human consumption.
The human race has crossed over from being a natural ally of the earth to being a consumer and burden to the planet. How many times, any scientific study has questioned the excessive numbers of trees on the earth?
There is a simple answer.
Plant and animals are creators of resources, and they bring balance to nature. It is a learning and cue for humans if they want to achieve immortality. Like plants and animals, they must use only 100% renewal resources.
Right now, we are in an economic model of human existence. Each human is a per capita unit of consumption. Based on that model, the economy and financial system work for survival.
Right from birth to death, humans are consuming non-renewable resources, unlike animals who consume renewables. Herbivores or carnivores, or natural living beings, are part of nature. Humans have become artificial.
Why should humans be immortalised? What’s the purpose?
Bring continuous learning to society. Knowledge grows with age, and cumulative knowledge and wisdom will only be better for the planet.
High achieving scientists, teachers, judges are required for humanity. Probably, the world would be a better place with them. It is a wish list, though.
Immortalisation will bring more patience in the conduct. Currently, humans are rushing to get things accomplished in record time. Higher achievements are scaled, younger than it was in the previous century.
If there is infinite time to take up a task, there will be more exemplary paintings in the gallery than those rough ones, termed modern art.
The sculptures will be finely chiselled with more details and lifelike. The literature will be lengthy and filled with wisdom as it used to be.
Ticking minutes, driving our daily rush will be gone. The pace will aim to quality of work rather than quantity.
Time will have a different and new meaning.
On the other hand, longevity has made humans do things much later in life. It is not coincidence today.
The current US president is the oldest in history to occupy the office and so is the Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, the oldest serving monarch, ever recorded.
While the rush to achieve as soon as possible is heightened by increased competition, late bloomers are also finding their significance in all fields. Sportsperson are enduring their games for longer and so are the academicians.
In 2019, John Goodenough, aged 97 received Nobel Prize for his work in Chemistry. Arthur Ashkin was 96 and Leonid Hurwics was 90 when they were awarded Nobel prize in Physics and Economics, respectively.
Over the years, fitness has increased compared to age. Growing older in calendar years is less significant.
Immortalising can come with a risk, too. What if the great dictators and genocide leaders live forever? What if Hitler and Pol Pot were alive today? We would be needing equally good humans at the same time to balance the effects.
Being mortal is an equaliser. All good and evil humans will have an end. On the opposite, if being immortal becomes real, both good and bad will never be ending.
There is positive psychology that prevails with the public in general. Good humans go to heaven and evil to hell. So, there is an incentive to do good in pursuit of heaven after death.
If there is no death, there will be no heaven and more will be complacent to avoid good deeds. The result will be more damning to society.
The role of religions will be in question too. All religions play on the scope of heaven. With immortalisation, the concept of heaven will cease to exist, and so will the relevance of belief as a source of salvation.
Most likely, the religions will turn into a club fighting for territory and larger membership.
There are no clear answers yet, and we keep evaluating.
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