The Consequences of Physical Immortality
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Author: Bruce J. Klein
Added: 07/25/2003
Type: Interview
Viewed: 14483 time(s)
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Page 3
QUESTION 3. How much of a problem is access to the technologies that are the 'gateway' to immortality, given the likely expense? In particular, won't economic inequality always bar access for certain sections of the population? And in areas like Europe and Canada with state funded health services what is the likelihood of them even being offered?
There will always be differing degrees of quality in service and accessibility to health care. Providing advanced health care services is an expensive business and we’re starting to see some strain on the system as we grow older and live longer. However, the goal should not to achieve some sort of perfect parity, rather we should work for a completive balance. We should allow the system to work to improve itself. We should allow for competition, not impose overbearing regulation. Granted, a certain amount of regulation is needed, but the balance is always safer on the side of less, especially in the long run.
But more specifically to the question of ‘gateway’ technologies and immortality; looking to examples in the past as a guide can be helpful. While, automobiles were only for the rich at the turn of the century; today, most Americans of legal driving age have a car. I believe health and longevity care to be no different. Having access to health and life extension technologies will be a universal want, because of this, the cost on a per person basis will drop with demand. Free market forces are powerful and work, just as they have worked with other technologies (i.e. cars, televisions, computers, you name it).
QUESTION 3.1 Finally, inequality and social instability have always been closely linked and some have predicted that technologies like genetic modification may lead to social unrest. How much of a concern is this?
As suggested above, a free market economy with few restrictions will allow human innovation to help with the dispersal of wanted goods. Social unrest in the past was largely due to overburdening regulations by governments. Large corporate monopolies are a worrisome possibility as well. I would not count out a scenario where one biotech company could posses the elixir for immortality. But the chances are slim for a couple of reasons.
a) The problem of aging is a complex one. The disease of aging it’s a multifaceted intercellular problem. No one genetic, hormone, or stem cell therapy could possibly solve the problems of aging. So, no one company would likely have enough resources and manpower to corner the market.
b) The current system of government is sensitive to monopoly power (i.e. Microsoft) and would quickly conspire, especially with public support, to break up any life extension monopolies. |
Article Comments
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Poster: kleblanc
Added: -0/8-/2003
When the ancient egyptians mummified themselves, they were aware of both the immortality of the soul and the immortality of the body. They considered both as possibilities. Current day spiritualists are going on a premise that was devised from the ancient egyptian texts, except it is only part of the story due to over-simplification and re-wording in Christian texts. There is no proof of an afterlife. We are wise to consider both possibilities.
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Poster: Eric
Added: -0/7-/2003
If we would spend more time
reading our creators life
instructions we would be more
able to accept the death
penalty that satan decived us
into. But by our acceptance of
Jesus and what he did for us
at the cross we can avoid the
second death and live in heaven
for eternity. The World made new
without any pain or suffering.
The major problem highly intelligent
people like yourself have a hard time
seperating the natural mind
from the spiritual mind.
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Poster: Deb K.
Added: -0/7-/2003
What if we are already immortal: which I happen to have reality on the fact that we are. The key here is new bodies while retaining memory/previous knowledge. Ethics has to be encouraged so that this knowledge is used for the good of all mankind. Bodies are "just a hunk of meat", who you really are is the area to be examined.
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