Is aging optional?

[Elliot Kane]

Just found this rather intriguing article on Aubrey de Grey, a scientist who argues that aging is just like any other disease and can be cured:

Full article is here

[The Sonar Chicken]

Yeah that might be true and even interesting to consider. Though, the bigger issue for now is:

Earth doesn't seem to have enough crop or food output to support 6 billion people at the moment. An ever-increasing, never-dying population? Erm, that's just asking for trouble.

Hmmm... maybe that'd be an awesome idea when there're far less people on earth though, yet I'll be practical and point out that to be able to live forever, you're going to have to find a way to beat all those illnesses and diseases out there first. Yet most or all of them evolve too.

But also, the human body is forever evolving: we're not the same person we were as a child 'cos our brains and body changed in order to adapt to our environment, so that we could have the skills to function and manage in our daily lives.

This means that the next 2 to 3 generations of humans won't have the exact same brain or even body functions as the current generation of humans. I'm betting the scientists will probably be able to find The cure for this generation, after we have long gone...maybe 200 years in the future?

[Elliot Kane]

I think you're likely right, Luci. But it's an interesting talking point, isn't it?

[Dark Phoenix Rising]

I think that when we start exploring the stars that sort of technology will be very useful - innoculate the explorers and then let nature take it's course

[Glance A'Lot]

In the year 2525...

[Elliot Kane]

...Darn you, Glance, that song will be running through my head all day, now! ;D

[Glance A'Lot]

...appropriate, isn't it?

(to the young ones - Zager & Evans, the song was cult in its time (in my prime adolescence, which is loong ago), interesting lyrics!)

[rhiian]

i like the idea of using it to explore the stars

but i'm gonna use the old 'playing god' card.
for both anti-aging and travelling the stars.
maybe we're just went to grow old on this planet and wonder what's out there

[Elliot Kane]

Arguably our most defining traits as a species are fear of the unknown and curiosity to find out about the unknown.

Death is the ultimate unknown, so we like to avoid it; the stars are the ultimate unknown frontier we could physically get to, so of course we want to.

Humans are weird!

[killerzzz]

Jun 13, 2009 17:40:29 GMT Elliot Kane said:

Arguably our most defining traits as a species are fear of the unknown and curiosity to find out about the unknown.

Death is the ultimate unknown, so we like to avoid it; the stars are the ultimate unknown frontier we could physically get to, so of course we want to.

Humans are weird!

Flatliners! ;D

Killerzzz

[Terrordar]

Aging is what makes life beautiful. Its terrifying, but its the thing that makes us push forward. Its the thing that makes us do things to be remembered. And its the thing that makes us pass on our genes to new generations, so that they too may experience the adventure of life.

Aging is not a disease. Aging is a gift.

[Dark Phoenix Rising]

this is why I said that it should only be used for the exporers (who's lives are likely to be killed)

[Elliot Kane]

That's death, Terror

[mobbie]

I think even without aging, people would still push themselves to do things to be remembered, as there are still countless ways for your life to end, and the human fear of death will remain constant, as there will never be a guarantee you'll never die. Imo