Do You Want To Live Forever?

What if there were a new drug discovered that would make it possible for you to live forever? Would you try to procure that drug and take it?

What if that drug were widely available—but only for people who were willing to sign a declaration that they would not have children? What kind of society would that produce?

Malley’s dystopian novels about everlasting life

While working on my Dec. 31 blog article about resistance, I came across and subsequently read two thought-provoking science fiction novels: The Declaration and The Resistance (both published in 2008) by British author Gemma Malley. They are set in the 22nd century when a new drug, called Longevity, makes it possible for people to live forever.

Although written for young readers, I found Malley’s dystopian novels fascinating. They also raised some exceedingly important questions about the practical problems that might well occur with the advent of everlasting life on earth.

The current search for everlasting life

Some of you may recognize the name Peter Thiel. The German-American Thiel (b. 1967) is, among other things, an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist. He is, specifically, a billionaire who founded PayPal in 1999.

As a few of you may remember, Thiel spoke at the Republican National Convention in July and then in November became a member of the POTUS’s transition team. 

Back in September 2006, Thiel announced that he would donate $3.5 million to foster anti-aging research through the Methuselah Mouse Prize foundation. He gave the following reasons for his pledge: 

Rapid advances in biological science foretell of a treasure trove of discoveries this century, including dramatically improved health and longevity for all. I’m backing Dr. [Aubrey] de Grey, because I believe that his revolutionary approach to aging research will accelerate this process, allowing many people alive today to enjoy radically longer and healthier lives for themselves and their loved ones. 

The SENS Research Foundation, headed by de Grey and supported by Thiel, is working to achieve the reversal of biological aging.

As far back as 2005, de Grey was saying that some people living now may have a lifespan that is “likely to exceed 1000 years.” And some journalists are suggesting he may be on the cusp of finding “the key to eternal life.” (See this 4/15 WaPo article.)

Everlasting life or eternal life?

The words “everlasting life” and “eternal life” are often used interchangeably. In the article about Peter Thiel just referred to, as well as many times in the Malley novels, unending human life on earth is referred to as eternal life.

I grew up with the King James Version of the Bible and early on learned from John 3:16 about the possibility of “everlasting life.” Later I learned that there is a difference between “eternal life,” which is found in most “modern” translations, and everlasting life.

Everlasting life is quantitative, a measurement in time. Eternal life a timeless concept that is qualitative. That significant difference is not widely recognized by many regular Bible readers nor by the general public, so, as we have seen, the words are often used interchangeably.

While I am all for eternal life, I am quite sure that everlasting life on this earth is not a good thing. (Consider the quotes from Malley’s novels I have posted here and here.)

And I am not sure having a man who is passionate about finding a way to “enable people to live forever” in the top echelon of the POTUS’s transition team is a good thing either.

-30-

The First Day of Winter

No, I am not confused about the date, as maybe you wondered when you saw the title of this posting. I know it is still more than four months until the first day of winter according to the 2013 calendar. But I am writing about the seasons of life.

The Japanese make much of the four seasons. Often in Japan you see four paintings of the same scene in nature, but each in a different season. Sometimes, though, a person’s lifetime is said to have four seasons.

Traditionally, there seems to have been the idea that each season is 20 years long. There are special birthday remembrances for those who turn sixty, which would be the first day of winter if each season is twenty years.

Years ago I had a Japanese acquaintance who thought that each season should be 30 years long, so he talked about living to be 120. (I have lost touch with him, and I’m afraid he has already passed away, long before reaching 120.)

Still, maybe he was onto something. The cover of the May 2013 issue of “National Geographic” shows a young child, above whose picture are the words: “This Baby Will Live to be 120.” And a footnote says, “It’s not just hype. New science could lead to very long lives.”

But for me and maybe for all of you reading this, living until 120 is quite unlikely, and perhaps not even desirable. Realistically, four seasons of 25 years is perhaps all we can expect—and even at that most of us will likely not make it to the end of winter.

I am writing this because today, August 15, is my 75^th birthday, and I am thinking of this as being the first day of winter for me. Actually, I started thinking about this more than a year ago. And I thought I would probably make several lifestyle changes at the beginning of winter.

For example, I thought I would not sign up to teach any more university classes. And I thought I would quit jogging and just take long walks for exercise.

But during the past several months I changed my mind. I have agreed to start teaching my one class again at Rockhurst University next week. I am also going to keep on jogging two-miles a time, five days a week – at least for now.

Of course, health is a big factor in what one does. Illness greatly hampers a person’s activities regardless of age. But I have decided that as long as one is healthy there is no use ceasing to do what one enjoys doing, or what is good for you, because of an arbitrary date.

So I am going to keep on keeping on, enjoying winter, and enjoying being active, for as long as possible.

What about you? According to a Pew Research study released this month, “69% of American adults would like to live to be 79 to 100 years old.” But only 8% wanted to live past 100. So maybe four 25-year seasons is a good way to think about the “ideal” length of life.

Those of us who are already 75 or older can enjoy the beauty of winter. And for the rest of you who have not yet reached winter, let me assure you that it will be here faster than you think.