Immortality for humans is not a question of "if", but "when" and how much money. We don't have the technology today, but we're getting closer. We understand genes, how to culture stem cells, the effects of free radicals... etc. We also know there are cells that reproduces indefinitely like Hela cells. Immortality may be many decades away or centuries away, but it will happen and there will be social cost along with it.
I always thought what would happen if immortality was achieved. Immortality wouldn't be a curse if the ones you love are immortal as well. The true curse if immortality is achieved to the human race? Politics of inhumanity would increase as population control would be a major issue. I could picture a safer world because laws would become stricter, and capital punishment would be applied routinely. Kind of like a utopia world with an unforgiving enforcer. Immortality would mean Politics becomes the new Religion. Those who set the law and its tolerance would be very important. Religion would be regulated to a practice and not a belief of what happens after life ends.
There's different paths to immortality each with different potential consequences. We could become cyborgs, bioengineered freaks, floating code on the interwebs, immortally young, souls in heaven/hell, etc... In each case, would that really be "you"? How we deal with our form ties a lot into how we identify with self. Without age or the specter of change thrust upon you, there won't be any incentive to act. If not now, then at some point in the future. The worst case would be immortal while having the need to feed. It'd be pretty ghastly to deal with a billion or two of your brethren.
Our understanding of aging is progressing rapidly, but don't be fooled, we have A LOT to learn. The obstacles to immortality is not just being able to "live forever" but also being able to maintain the internal systems (immune, neuro, etc.) at optimal levels, preventing and treating cancers, etc. Hell, we can't even prevent wrinkles from appearing!
Of course we do, but we'll eventually get there. I think centuries is enough time, perhaps with some a few artificial organs.
On a brighter note, suicide bombers will start renegotiating their fees immediately. Their appetite for suicide is sure to drop. Immortality was 50% of the return they expected on suicides.
I think the better opportunity from something like this would not be immortality, but having the choice of when you die. Were you to get to a point where living has lost its luster and meaning, just stop doing whatever treatments you would need to reverse the aging process. Or just off yourself. Whichever.
Whether you think of it as heavenly or as earthly, if you love life immortality is no consolation for death.
I don't think you want to live to be over 100 either. When all the optimism, independence and acquaintances that make life worth living are gone forever, you'll welcome death like a fresh, tasty sandwich.
So I'm assuming that if humans one day do find the secret recipe for the fountain of youth... that'll be like something that'll replenish our tissues and keep them forever young ya? Even so, we would still be vulnerable to death by say... a bazooka? or hulk smashed by something(one) very powerful. So I think immortality would be assuming we don't get seriously injured. That wouldn't be so bad. If say we've lived for 1500 years and get bored of life, we can just go suicide bombing.
You guys don't get it. I do not want to die. Ever. Why would I ever want to die when I believe that is game over? No continues, no respawns, no cheat codes, fin. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Die.
