If advances in science and technology make it possible to live forever, how will this affect our lives? A life without finitude is more likely to lack fulfillment and meaning, and ultimately may not bring happiness.
Science and technology and the idea of eternal life
Advances in science and technology have allowed us to live much longer than in the past, thanks to remarkable advances in medicine. We are now able to cure many different kinds of illnesses, which has led to a steady increase in life expectancy. But what if science and technology were to advance so much that we could live forever? Eternal life doesn’t necessarily mean staying in our current biological form, but rather a state in which we are able to overcome death in some way and continue to exist. According to Homo sapiens, we have now succeeded in altering certain genes in animals to create new traits. If this technology is applied to humans, it is possible that we could evolve into a new form of life that is completely different from what we are now. But there’s an important question here. If humans are able to live forever, will we be happier than we are now? I don’t think so.
The relationship between eternal life and happiness
There are two reasons why I don’t think eternal life will bring greater happiness to humans. The first reason is that if science and technology make it possible to live forever, we will not be able to experience death. The idea of experiencing death may sound contradictory. This is because at the moment of death, human consciousness ceases to exist. But when we say “you can’t experience death,” we mean that you can’t experience the finitude of life, the finitude of time. If life is a never-ending journey, humans run the risk of becoming inauthentic. In other words, we are more likely to live a life of shallow curiosity and stimulation, without realizing the value and meaning of life. Such a life can only lead to emptiness and boredom, which is the furthest thing from happiness.
The importance of finitude and fulfillment
To help you understand, let’s take an example from our daily lives. Think back to the experience that many of us have had during our high school exams. It’s a special feeling of accomplishment when you finally get into the university of your dreams after a grueling exam. The reason we were able to study so hard was because we knew that the hard work would eventually end. This assurance of an end gave us a sense of accomplishment as we pursued our goals through the tough times, and also allowed us to grow through the pain of failure. What if there was no end to this exam life? Perhaps we would have lost the motivation to study anymore. “Why should I work hard if it’s not going to end anyway?” A never-ending task is unfulfilling, and an unfulfilling life leads to lethargy and emptiness. So, would an eternal life make us happier? Probably not.
The absence of death and the pursuit of comfort
The second reason is that if we could live forever, we would inevitably seek comfort. By comfort-seeking, I mean the tendency to lose the purpose of life and just want to stay comfortable. No one is against comfort, but if humans pursue comfort under the condition of living forever, it will be difficult for them to find the true meaning of their lives. The philosopher Heidegger once said, “Only by facing death, not avoiding it, can man live the life he is meant to live.” The absence of death reduces man to a non-original being, and ultimately causes him to lose the meaning and value of his life.
Eternal life and original existence
Without death, humans cannot be what Heidegger calls original beings. An original being is a being that lives its own life, doing what it deems worthwhile. But if we were given eternal life, would we be able to do what we find worthwhile? Most likely, we would choose the security and comfort of the here and now. This choice would lead us to live passively, following the demands of society and our surroundings, rather than taking charge of our own lives. In the end, this reduces us to unnatural beings, and as a result, prevents us from experiencing true happiness.
Conclusion: the value of finitude
Let’s summarize what we’ve learned so far. Eternal life would make it impossible to experience death and lose the value that comes from the finitude of life. As a result, humans would never be happier than they are now. This is because finitude makes life more meaningful and gives us a sense of fulfillment and purpose. A life without finiteness is like a luxury item that loses its value when it is offered indefinitely. Everything must come to an end for its value to shine through. So, I don’t believe that no matter how far science and technology advance to a world where humans can live forever, we will be any happier than we are now.
