May 28, 2009

Immortality

Is it really wrong to desire immortality? The media often portrays it as something that a villain desires and something that corrupts.

But why? Why is it wrong to want to continue experiencing the world? Why must we submit to death? Why shouldn't we live forever?

6 comments:

ComputerSherpa said...

Perhaps wanting to experience this world forever is missing the point, like being so entranced by the cool stuff in someone's entryway that you refuse to come into the rest of their house. I wouldn't want to live forever, because I'm convinced that there are far better things in the world to come. Of course, if you believe that this is all we get, then I can see the appeal of sticking around.

But I suspect that the reason people object to villains trying to obtain immortality is the nasty things they do to other people in the pursuit of that goal. :) Besides, a person who's unpleasant at 40 is likely to be a monster at 400.

Unknown said...

The immortality thing seems over glorified. It might seem nice at first. But it might get tiring after awhile. Watching history repeat itself, watching people around you die. And if everyone could live forever then the world would be overpopulated with too many people. And sadly most human beings on the planet haven't fully evolved yet. Sure there are nice people. But to spend eternity with a bunch of morons (while entertaining) would be hell on earth.

ComputerSherpa said...

Here you go: a complete treatise on the subject, courtesy of TVTropes. :-)

ComputerSherpa said...

Or perhaps this one is more on-target for what you're asking.

Harrison said...

That's true... but what about just extending one's life? Is there anything wrong with saying I'd like to live an extra couple thousand years?

ComputerSherpa said...

I don't think so, as long as you can pull it off without killing the guardians of the Three Gems of Power and sacrificing a dozen virgins. ;-)