The Futility Of Immortality Projects

Time moves forward, and only forward. It’s a circle – we are born, raised, we live, then we die. But have you ever imagined what would happen if you were endowed with immortality? What if you could not die no matter how many decades had passed, while the world around you keeps changing and everyone else keeps aging? Would it be wonderful to live forever like that? Then you should take a look at Tuck Everlasting, a novel written by Natalie Babbitt in 1975 which focuses on the negative side of immortality.

The concept of life after death has been around practically as long as life itself. Our beliefs about life after death can have a profound effect on our attitudes toward life. Most individual's beliefs about life after death are directly related to their cultural or religious affiliations. According to Montagu, "Of all the many forms which natural religion has assumed none probably has exerted so deep and far – reaching an influence on human life as the belief in immortality" (1955, p.15).

Death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life a lesson which Gilgamesh learns towards the end of the epic. When Enkidu is going through his painful death, he is consoled by Shamash who reminds him how rich life has been. Even though Enkidu gives into his fate, Gilgamesh fears facing his own. It is identified that the search for immortality is ludicrous, since death is woven into creation, but so is life, and so a conclusion is made that even though the death is unavoidable, humanity will

This is greatly illustrated in the book "Monkey" where the Monkey King mentions his desire to live forever at numerous points.

Immortality has been made into this ultimate goal. Literature and films have often painted immortality as a gift only given to the few who have proven themselves worthy of it. A life full of great wisdom, experience, and many other joys. In Journey to the West, it opens up with the birth of Monkey and follows him as he tries to achieve immortality. Monkey wants immortality and is willing to do anything to get it; thinking immortality will bring him a an enlightened life. After reading Journey to the West, I believe immortality should not be something that is prized as the ultimate gift. I think living an immortal life would be far worse than a mortal one and throughout this paper I will discuss why.

The theme I have chosen is the Quest for immortality/ creation of legacy. Ancient Egyptians believed that there was a life after death; they focused much of their life preparing for the afterlife. The afterlife did not come easy to them, as they felt like they needed to live the best life possible otherwise they would not be accepted into the afterlife.

In response to Bernard Williams’s The Makropulos Case: Reflections on the Tedium of Immortality, I will argue in agreement with Williams’s claim that immortality, where humanly conceivable, is not desirable. In order to do so, I will first discuss categorical desires and the two conditions for an immortal life to be desirable, as defined by Williams. Next, I will assess Williams’s illustration of Elina Makropulos and consider why categorical desires are vital to the value one finds in life. Finally, I will recognize the theist’s objection to Williams’s argument and explain how Williams would respond.

What are people willing to do to maintain a healthy mind and body? A former emperor of china, Qin Shi Huang, killed himself trying to live forever by consuming age-stopping mercury pills. In the 1400's Pope Innocent VIII believed by transfusing three young boys blood into himself he would absorb their youth, he died in the process. In the 1800's Leonard Jones ran for president with the promise to achieve immortality, he believed this would be accomplished through prayer and fasting, later that year pneumonia led to his death.

Some individuals believe they are entitled to a life of ease and happiness. Few people are good and actually strive to become someone who makes the correct decisions and acts in an appropriate way. These people actually work hard in life to achieve their immortality. However, these people are rare. People in Greek myths and in real life are greedy, selfish and generally careless.

Therefore, Williams’ asserts the immortal life would be undesirable, or unlivable since we will inevitably exhaust our categorical desires (100).

Since the beginning of human history, emperors, conquistadors, alchemists, and many curious and powerful individuals have been in a fruitless search for a chance to transcend the realm of mortals and achieve immortality. Even now, at the dawn of the 21st century, the desire for immortality is still prevalent in our society today. However, while the dream for eternal life is still alive, the search for immortality is no longer just driven by power and greed, but for the universal gain of humanity – to solve many social and economical reasons that result from the current imperfect prolongation of life. Modern biogerontologists, people who study ageing, are determined to uncover the secrets of

Many people today hold on to the topic of immortality because they find it so difficult to say goodbye to a loved one. Placing flowers on graves is a popular way to remember the deceased. Even years after the person has died, the family members and friends still go to the gravesite to reminisce. People find it

The Chinese have a proverb about the evolution of humanity, and in particular, the nature of intellectual relationships. Although the color green is composed from the color blue, it often shines with a more brilliant luster than its predecessor does. This is a metaphor for the pupil and teacher. The pupil learns knowledge from his teacher, but will outgrow his teacher and eventually surpass him in wisdom. I believe this accurately describes the progress of human knowledge throughout time. In fact, it is quite obvious how technology and science have improved as time goes on. There are dramatic

Plato has roused many readers with the work of a great philosopher by the name of Socrates. Through Plato, Socrates lived on generations after his time. A topic of Socrates that many will continue to discuss is the idea of “an immortal soul”. Although there are various works and dialogues about this topic it is found to be best explained in The Phaedo. It is fair to say that the mind may wonder when one dies what exactly happens to the beloved soul, the giver of life often thought of as the very essence of life does it live on beyond the body, or does it die with it? Does the soul have knowledge of the past if it really does live on?

He sets out the number of guidance that meant to assist in establishing the building of which lifespan can become ‘eternal’. (Vitruvius, 1960) However, in modern, ever changing society, Vitruvian stance of permanence becomes partly invalid and problematic.