This Blog considers assisted suicide/euthanasia, bioethics, human cloning, biotechnology, radical environmentalism, and the dangers of animal rights/liberation. My views expressed here, as in my books and other writings, reflect my understanding that the philosophy of human exceptionalism is the bedrock of universal human rights. Or, to put it another way: human life matters. (The opinions expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of any organization with which I am affiliated.)
The transhumanist psychologist's last words, uttered moments before he suddenly realized that he had been chasing the literally impossible dream:
Labels: SHS Funnies
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 9:57 AM
5 Comments
I am a Senior Fellow in Human Rights and Bioethics at the Discovery Institute and the author of 12 books, including A Rat Is A Pig Is A Dog Is A Boy, which is relevant to the issues considered by this blog.
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5 Comments:
Often we create the impossible by designating it.
That's true. But sometimes it is just impossible. Immortality is the latter. Thanks for your continued presence, Lincoln.
If we define "immortality" in absolute terms, I might agree -- although I don't bother thinking much about absolutes. However, if we back away from absolutes, I don't think either of us, given our current limitations, is capable of determining whether immortality possible. Given this, I'm interested in trusting in the possibility for practical reasons.
Well, I think if T's used the term "increased longevity" you might have a point. But the word used constantly is immortality. I am a big believer that the words we use are important. Otherwise, we slouch into a postmodernism wherein what we say simply means whatever we want it to mean, which can shift over time. The result is idea babble.
Also, we need to remember Jonathon Swift's warning about seeking either immortality or vastly increased longevity without considering quality of life. (For those of us who read all of Gulliver's Travels.) I think about that a lot. It's why I'm grateful that my 85-yr-old MIL's oncologist takes her care very seriously. If they want us to live longer they need to be prepared to take care of us.
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