At a certain point in time—perhaps sooner than most people think—the ever-increasing average human lifespan will begin accelerating faster than people age. This moment, according to anti-aging expert Aubrey de Grey, will be more important than the Singularity—when the human race achieves this “longevity escape velocity,” we will essentially become immortal. And de Grey, who is in his mid-40s, argues that this moment has a 50/50 chance of occurring in time for him to live forever. Crazy talk? Maybe not—de Grey shared with Big Think some surprising aging research and explained why there are no more major breakthroughs necessary for us to defeat aging for good. He even provided a vision of how we might defeat cancer. De Grey’s optimistic vision brings up some interesting questions; most importantly, wouldn’t an ageless society present a logistical nightmare?
Aubrey de Grey is confident that arguments about economic difficulties and overpopulation in an ageless society are unwarranted; he does, however, believe that society would change dramatically, but mostly for the better. In fact, he considers immortality an ideal motivator of world peace and cooperation in the fight against climate change.
Discuss
tim hall on October 8, 2009, 4:50 PM
I think it becomes what ever you can get humans to believe at a said point in history. The religious emperors got people to believe in a eternal life that motivated them to live a less barbaric life. Aubrey de Gray would have to convince the medical and science majority of his thesis to just get started in changing human’s perception.
Life in prison would become greater punishment than a death sentence.
Obviously the Earth would not be able to sustain such a population. Only the most powerful would get to live. It would force people into more powerful groups spending all their time working to be the chosen ones. I would move all of my investments to military defence contractors and arm a gang of friends and family. You can already see the scenario unfolding in India and other parts of the world where the rural population gets relocated to outlying city slums so the more powerful class can use their potable water resource.
If science could solve the indefinite population sustainability, then humans ever increasing inteligence would figure out a good life for all.
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