Isn't it like between a rock and a hard place.
Can you think of an existence where one is never able to die? Or even worse in that your consciousness is never able to stop existing?
Somehow, it feels ceasing to exist is a kinder option than existing forever.
I've always felt like the happy compromise would be a system where everyone lives in healthy, youthful bodies for as long as they like, and then dies whenever they decide to.
I am very afraid of death. But I also don't want to live for eternity. I feel like I'd quite enjoy a 200 or even 500 year life though if my body could be made to stay fully functional for that long.
I just feel any finite time that we get to live would feel the same way. Even if we were to enjoy a longer youth with perfect health, we would have lifestyles, actions and culture adjusted for that finite amount of time, robbing us of the intended benefits that we purportedly could enjoy. In a way I tend to think, death is what defines a life. Death makes life meaningful, joyous and liveable. With the finality of death removed there is no such thing as life.
Strongly agree. I don't understand the people who support technology to enable us to live forever. If they could somehow experience such a life in a vision I think they would understand what you're saying. Immortality sounds nice on paper but people don't remain constant. Perhaps they understand that deep down but are so afraid of death? For such a frequent occurrence it should be more normalized in culture, not like a TV show but as something real.
In my fantasy world (yes, this became a storytelling session), aside from the normal humans living on normal Earth, there are other humans who wield magic. Immortality (from old age) can be achieved but not easily; otherwise these magic humans will live for around 200 years. Most don't strive for immortality; some even die earlier because they're utterly content and literally just pass on. There are warriors who fight for various reasons but they almost unanimously agree to let the peaceful majority just live, since (IMO) there's no blessing quite like being able to live a life of wonder and beauty without the looming threat of death.
Kinda rambling LOL.
> I am very afraid of death. But I also don't want to live for eternity.
Very understandable. I don't want to die young or from a car crash or something. Is it unrealistic for me to want to live until, say 80 without much cognitive decline?
