Since ancient times, the human desire for eternal life persists. Although we know that neither the Earth nor the Sun are eternal, science comes close to avoiding natural death. An ethical debate arises: is it right to aspire to live forever?
Live forever, yes or no?
A scientist from the University of Cambridge, Stephen Cave, opened this debate. He works as a researcher at the Institute for Technology and Humanity of said university and recently published a book in Spanish titled “Would you choose to live forever?”
The author and researcher presents arguments against immortality, addressing ecological and social aspects. Extending life would put pressure on Earth’s limited resources. Cave suggests that the Earth may have outgrown its capacity to support humanity. Extending life would increase the population catastrophically, according to him.
The other argument put forward is social, or if you want, moral. If a treatment were discovered that would prolong life forever, it would not be available to the entire population, but only an elite would be able to pay for it. This would lead to having a class of super-millionaire and powerful geronts who, only concerned about their interests, would watch generations live and die without flinching.
Science is far from discovering how to live forever
However, as in any debate, there are conflicting opinions, such as those of John Davis, a philosophy professor at California State University. Davis is in favor of indefinite extension of life. Regarding ecology and the pressure to maintain more population that consumes resources, he believes that laws should be passed on birth control and avoid overpopulation.
Regarding the ethics of only a few being able to access immortality, he believes that this is no reason why few people should not benefit from it. Perhaps what is objectionable about these opinions would be that many couples could not conceive because the law does not allow them, for the benefit of people who, out of individualism, decided to live forever.
In any case, as emeritus professor at the University of Newcastle, John Kirkwood, says, you are far from making someone live forever. The human aging process is too complex to achieve.
According to Kirkwood, we are just beginning to understand how it works and life can only be prolonged for a time by maintaining good health. However, the debate remains open, although scientifically it is not yet possible.
