62 replies to this topic

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Hello everyone,

First I made this list of questions on immortality. Tell me what you think if you would like. Also if you have more questions that you think might be a great addition to the FAQ then by all means please let me know I will add it to the FAQ with whatever internet name you want, or even your real name could be in the FAQ, even doing something small like that guarantees your name on the FAQ as helping me. That is if you want it there at all. I do not have many questions, so I need more. This FAQ will be free to all. Immortality FAQ is just a temporary name, or in the end I may keep it.

This FAQ will be a way too give noobs great information on immortality. I need more questions as I don’t have that many so far.

Immortality FAQ

What if I told you as a teacher, in the beginning of your education ( say fifth or sixth grade ), that all of you in this classroom could live forever. Would you be excited or afraid? ( I want the kids to smile and think it’s an interesting topic to think about and study )

Is there any science fiction, or other genres of fiction, that has a positive outlook on the subject of immortality?

Are there any films or television programs ( entertainment) that have a positive outlook on immortality?

What if I believe in an afterlife and I am ok with death?

This is fine, but you should not stop the people that want to live forever after all you made your choice so they have their choice too.

Why are people so strongly opinionated on the subject of immortality?

Would immortality make life boring?

Would immortality bring us overpopulation?

How would civilization change in response to immortality becoming a reality?

I had a real near-death experience, do you think I’m delusional for having one, because you seem very positive in your outlook on the subject of immortality?

Would immortality make me human, or would I become something else altogether?

You seem to be positive on your outlook on immortality, why?

Would only the rich be able to afford immortality?

When will immortality become a reality?

I’m a realist, don’t you think immortality will always be science fiction?

I’m very skeptical on the idea of immortality, why do you think immortality is a good thing?

I’m interested in spreading the word on immortality, are there ways I can help?

What companies are now working on making immortality a reality?

Are there non-profit organizations dedicated to making immortality a reality?

What’s the history of the subject of immortality ?

Have humans always been interested in the subject of immortality?

Have people always had a negative outlook towards immortality?

I’m religious ( I am Christian , Muslim, Mormon, etc. ) doesn’t immortality go against my religion?


Well, that’s all. Remember if a question comes to your mind I’m very open to your suggestions, I definitely need more questions. There are a lot of smart people on this forum, if you have any advice or want to help I welcome it.

Best

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 27 November 2021 - 01:40 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

New question I thought of :

- I don’t like the idea of you trying to make people immortal, it would make the world overpopulated? This gives me the right to castrate you.

Great question. I’m having trouble answering this one in a way that makes immortality sound good, which is what this immortality FAQ is about, to get people to see the light.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 30 November 2021 - 03:56 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

I’m also thinking of incorporating my Immortality FAQ into a webpage, dedicated to the importance of immortality, and hopefully show people that living forever is a good thing. I don’t want to be in a void of nothingness , just like before I was born. I remember nothing of what it was like before I was born, but when you die you die forever and forever and forever. People need to stop looking as Jesus Christ as some sort of “daddy figure” I mean grow up. Be your own man. You don’t need Jesus as your daddy anymore. I know this is taboo, but people need to wake up. The truth hurts I’m sorry, but there is no god. It’s proven in Origin Of Species. Which is not a theory in the common sense, a theory in science means FACT. When your dead, your dead forever.

I will update this thread periodically with more questions and answers and when you guys think it’s good enough I will give it to the internet.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 02 December 2021 - 01:06 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Could use a proof reader when I’m done with this, if you would like, cheers.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

New Question : Won’t only the rich get access to immortality?

By the way guys if you want to add new questions feel free, if not that’s fine too.

Best

[Dream Big]

Hey there. I too am just like you and want immortality. I also liken the idea of trying to make a list of questions around immortality. Here is some FAQ items to add to your list maybe:

 

Question: Wouldn't games get boring after you beat all possible games? Why keep going?

Answer: Just like food, it never gets boring. It may get boring for a moment, but its completely reversible.

 

Question: How can we even achieve immortality, even if I wanted it?

Answer: There is new work now in Cryonics (in my other post ) and AI is improving fast (--links to that here--)

 

I will message you in a few hours, maybe we can work on AI or something else towards our goal of immortality.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Dream Big : thank you so much , excellent! This is exactly what I’m looking for. It’s going to take awhile to finish because I have to read a lot of books on death and immortality in order to answer the questions in a great way. Cryonics , AI, and mind uploading will probably be in the FAQ as well. Thank you so much by the way. Cheers!

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 17 December 2021 - 08:41 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Another questions:

What is mind uploading? Is mind uploading true immortality or is it different?

Man, I’m running out of questions, lol. The hard part is all the research I will have to do answering the questions, but man it’s going to be so worth it in my eyes.

[Dream Big]

If you follow OpenAI.com etc, it's easy to see we are just machines. Once human level AI is made, you can clone its adult trained brain 1 million times. If you take the original and pause it, to clone it once, you will get 2 exact clones. Upon resuming them, both will be the same original. That's amazing and naturally terrifying to you. Both are you. There is no you but a machine. But yes, once you clone yourself, you could destroy either one, and it'll be as if you never made a clone in the first place. So one could die and you'd still be alive. When I say one could die, I mean the memory device, because if both are paused and stored as memories, you could give one a faster computer and upgrade it, and then resume it, it's still you just a faster computer. So you are the memories stored as data. I know we are concerned about the original, but really, if you make a clone, either one is going to be you, in fact both will if you let both run, yeah I know it's scary because its "not the original", BUT, this cloning idea is what you want to jump on, preserving your data allows you to be repaired or resurrected earlier. Otherwise the only way would be to brute force search all possible atomic combinations to make all possible animals that once were alive.

Edited by Dream Big, 26 December 2021 - 02:12 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Well, is your clone truly you? Of the same body yes. But not the same exact brain, not with the same memories , etc. no it has not lived your life so is therefore not you. Am I right?

A mind uploading would contain all your memories so it would therefore be you. That’s why I pose questions involving advanced mind uploading, which is much further away then biological immortality, but it’s still immortality.

Cloning I’m afraid is a whole different animal.

And we are not machines ( cybernetics ) we have feelings, emotions. We can not say we are simply machines, that’s too easy an explanation of our complexity.

More questions: How long is mind uploading away?

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 26 December 2021 - 05:03 AM.

[Dream Big]

"Well, is your clone truly you? Of the same body yes. But not the same exact brain, not with the same memories , etc. no it has not lived your life so is therefore not you. Am I right?"

 

Sir, I am talking about AGI on a computer with no body, or it could have a body. And I'm talking about a trained AI like those on openAI.com. If you pause one such and clone it, it is an exact copy of your memories - you. Now you can resume both in the computer or body and both will be exactly you, there's 2 of you, I'm not joking with you. You could run the 2nd's algorithm on a different faster computer and body and it will still resume as him/You, it is you. You is not about the body or the algorithm even or the computer speed, just the memories stored on a chip, though maybe the algorithm matters some amount I mean the memories have to be used the same ways. You have to learn deeply about the things on openAI.com and Microsoft's NUWA as seen on its github page, we are getting closer to AGI. We are machines, we have no souls or will, we are deterministic and just running by rules.

Edited by Dream Big, 28 December 2021 - 05:47 PM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

I agree we have no souls , that we are just human beings, rotting flesh. However, the free will debate has never been answered. It may never have an answer. Its interesting all the same.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 28 December 2021 - 06:15 PM.

[Mind]

Maybe include a philosophical question about "immortality".

 

True physical "immortality" is impossible, just as it is impossible to count to infinity. Immortality is a concept (like infinity). It is a concept worth contemplating and exploring as a limit, while lifespans increase. Once aging is a treatable condition and if mind uploading becomes a reality, then people will be "functionally" immortal, but not truly immortal.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

You’re probably right.

But consider this first we get a shot to get us to age 100 then a booster shot to get us to age 200 , then another even better booster shot to get us to age 350. You see each time they make a new shot it’s new and improved thereby giving us more life with each shot ( or whatever it may be, it may be a pill or something).

However, I will include a philosophical question about immortality, I had not thought of that. Once I think it up, I will post it here . Thanks for the recommendation.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 28 December 2021 - 07:27 PM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

By the way I’m still working on this project. I added your questions and answered too. The hardest part is doing all the research to answer the questions, so that’s taking a lot of time especially since I’m doing most of this myself. Still even with your help that goes a huge way in fleshing this FAQ out. I’m almost ready to put out what out have next which is more answers to the questions, better proofreading, etc.

[Danail Bulgaria]

"Would immortality make life boring?"

You can not become bored because of the ability of the brain to forget. That allows you to have the same pleasure over and over. 

For example lets imagine, that you like to read books. if you read one book a month, after 10 or 20 years you will have forgotten the first book you started with. 

That is the same with all kinds of pleasures. Even if they are finite, they are much enough to make you feel the same pleasure over and over after enough time passes. You can watch all the movies you like again and again, play all of the games you like again and again.

ttps://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/53692-what-to-say-to-people-that-say-life-would-get-boring-with-life-extension/ 

post #28

 

By the way, I remember I have answered many of such questions. But my posts do not show in my profile for some reason. I found hard the post, that I am citing you. Obviously you need to dig like a chicken to find more answers. 

 

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

"Would immortality make life boring?"
You can not become bored because of the ability of the brain to forget. That allows you to have the same pleasure over and over.
For example lets imagine, that you like to read books. if you read one book a month, after 10 or 20 years you will have forgotten the first book you started with.
That is the same with all kinds of pleasures. Even if they are finite, they are much enough to make you feel the same pleasure over and over after enough time passes. You can watch all the movies you like again and again, play all of the games you like again and again.
ttps://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/53692-what-to-say-to-people-that-say-life-would-get-boring-with-life-extension/
post #28

By the way, I remember I have answered many of such questions. But my posts do not show in my profile for some reason. I found hard the post, that I am citing you. Obviously you need to dig like a chicken to find more answers.

Good answer to question.

This is an open source FAQ so no need to cite, but I will put peoples names on my FAQ who help out. I actually want like this to be a longecity project like the ‘Scientific Quest of Death’, but that’s the call of all the people of this wonderful, small, forum. Wish there were more more members on here.

I have a massive collection of books on life extension, immortality, death, religion, etc.etc. I collected just to answer all my questions. I’m not a very good writer but once I’m finished perhaps people can help me with that. Once I’m finished I would love to have collaborators like you who I will cite as helping me out. Most people are pretty busy doing other things in life, so I don’t expect people to help but would love if they want to. While reading books on centenarians for example I’m coming up with even more questions. So the deeper my research goes the more questions are posed.

Also I want to make this FAQ popular , so having it tied down to my University, like the Transhumanist FAQ gives the faq more credibility and some fame. Although I think his FAQ was tied down to Cambridge or something, lol, I’m just University of Connecticut ( not some hot shot Ivy League unfortunately, that would of given the FAQ more popularity.) Take for example The MIT guide to locksmithing ( I believe it is known as a FAQ, it’s just not stated as one in its name.)that’s probably the most popular FAQ of all time because of the school, but also , lucky them , they have an interesting topic to go with their FAQ. So I have an interesting topic going for me/us at least , but just not the best university in the US. The transhumanist faq is my personal guide post , I doubt I will surpass it in its greatness but at the very least I want to get my FAQ out their and well read. At one point I was thinking of creating a website for The Immortality FAQ , and make it clickable and colorful , and interactive and just fun for users.

I had this idea in my head while I was reading a Wikipedia article on centenarians ( yeah, I’m kinda of going alphabetical, lol, there are so many topics related to Immortality) , anyway I had this idea that popped into my head I thought since this is an Immortality FAQ , I thought I would make it more fun calling it something like The Immortality FAQ aka The Everlasting FAQ ( or Immortality FAQ aka The Neverending FAQ. Neverending doesn’t quite work though but you get the idea. ) The idea is to say if we do reach 200 years then 400 then 1000 years of life obviously the FAQ itself is going to change as it goes into the far future. Answers to questions may differ in 1000 years or into an aeons over time. Also new questions may come about.

I can’t wait till this is finished.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 12 May 2022 - 02:44 AM.

[Danail Bulgaria]

When you cite my name, I am Danail Angelov from Bulgaria. 

 

"Why are people so strongly opinionated on the subject of immortality?"

People have been dying with certainity for millenia. That is why the social psychology of all countries arround the world has been trained for many generations, that people can not be immortal. The minds of the current generations of people have been brainwashed from the last two or three generations, with the postulates, that you will certainly die, there is nothing you can do about that, you shouldn't waste valuable time and resources for that, because immortality is impossible. That is why the new generations of people can not get out of the box, and realize, that the absence of immortality is simply due to insufficient development of the science and the medical practice. That statement, that the human is mortal has evaded the life so strongly, that the majority of the aspects of life have been already modified so, that to fit perfectly that concept. That is why the people currently are so stongly opinionated for the subject of immortality and as a default deny everything, that says them the opposite. If someone says them, that immortality may be possible, they will look at him/her as an idiot or deluded mind. 

 

"Would immortality bring us overpopulation?"

The rise of the population is not only due to the decline of the deaths, but also the rise of the new births. In a society in which all become immortal, and no new children get born, there will be no overpopulation and the resources will be enough or everyone. The absence of new children after the human become immortal is temporary until new lands and resources get adopted, for example when other planets get populated. 

 

"Would immortality make me human, or would I become something else altogether?"

That depends on what way of immortality people are streaming to. There are ways, that may make the human immortal without the human to become something else. One such way is the development of transplantable tissues and organs from stem cells. When that becomes true the damaged, worn out and aged tissues and organs would be replaced. That way preserves the biological human being as a biological human being. 

 

"You seem to be positive on your outlook on immortality, why?"

I understand, that the development of the science and the medicine can make the human immortal. That is why I plan to do what I can in order to make immortality happen during my life, if not I hope it to become a reality for my children or grandchildren. 

 

[Danail Bulgaria]

"I’m a realist, don’t you think immortality will always be science fiction?"

Current advances in many sciences suggest, that many of the ways of becomming immortal are possible. For example, for the stem cells and the replacement as a strategy of immortality, we may say, that there are already successfully tissues made of stem cells replaced in people. 

https://www.longecit...sed-on-people/ 

There are many things to do in order these transplantations to become flawless, yes, yet not all organs can be made of stem cells, yes, but the concept of transplanted tissues made from stem cells actually is already proven. 

 

"What companies are now working on making immortality a reality?"

A better question would be what scientific teams are now working on making immortality a reality. And it depends on what way of immortality you believe in. These are all scentific teams, that work with human stem cells, the teams that try to develope a cancer treatments. Particulary for companies I can think of the cryonics companies - Alcor, The Cryonics Institute, Kriorus. There is a company, that is trying to make gene therapies, that may make people immortal, such as BioViva. 

 

 

[Danail Bulgaria]

"I’m religious ( I am Christian , Muslim, Mormon, etc. ) doesn’t immortality go against my religion?"

I was startled to understand, that the biggest religeons today are actually including a concepts of immortality. Unfortunatelly they believe in some sort of immortality of the soul. In Christianity for example, if you follow the 10 orders of God, after the death your soul will go in the paradise, where it will be immortal. So, the religeons are actually offering some sort of immortality. Another is the question if developing the science is a concurence for the immortality, offered by God. I view the biological immortality as a complemantary technology of the immortality of the soul. If the first do not work, blinly hope of the second. 

 

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Wow!! Bravo. This is like Wikipedia so I might add to your existing answers. If you don’t like my additions we can talk about it and come to a conclusion which is better or if both are good additions to the same question. Just like how Wikipedia runs things basically. You ok with that? But You answered the questions very good, So I might not add anything at all.

When you cite my name, I am Danail Angelov from Bulgaria.

Awesome, no problem. Pleasure to formally meet you.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 14 May 2022 - 01:18 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Another question:

In this period of time of covid19 , how does that effect life extension research?


Note : I got this entire FAQ all set up in a file. It may take awhile with all the research I must do. But I may get some more help along the way you never know. The Transhumanist FAQ is probably my favorite FAQ of all time because Nick Bostrom is mostly likely a genius if you read his work. Still I think if I and others work really hard we can do something really great here anyway.

I hope this FAQ will be giving to people when they are in a debate about immortality, it should clear up things right away for the other debater.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

More questions :

1) What is Longevity Escape Velocity?

2) So your closer to death then you want to be, is their anything you could do to reach immortality?

Simple answer : Diet and exercise. I will put the greatest longevity diet here, which should add 10 to 30 years added on to your life.

3) When is biological immortality predicted to happen?

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Question :

What are the health problems that can shorten your life span and what are some ways to fix those health problems?

[Danail Bulgaria]

"What is Longevity Escape Velocity?"

In short, the Longevity Escape Velocity is a situation in which the life expectancy in years increases faster than your age.

For example according to the United Nations the global average life expectancy now is 72.6 years,

https://www.google.c...ife expectancy

Lets say, that you are 30 years old now, and thus you are expected to live 42,6 years more. But if the life expectancy the next year becomes 74,6 years, you are now expected to live 44,6 years. Thus each year you become older, your expectancy to live longer increases.

That is simply a good wish. The life expectancy is really increasing, but the rate that it increases is too slow to be achieved the longevity escape velocity.

 

"When is biological immortality predicted to happen?"

If you ask me, noone can tell you that for sure.

 

Edited by seivtcho, 19 May 2022 - 06:57 PM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

We should give them the graph of the longevity escape velocity in there somewhere, what do you think ?


As for immortality if your a kid now or relatively young my research has lead my to the year 2045 immortality will become a reality. I will get the sources for you. Still your right you can’t put a definite date on it, however I’m a positive thinker so I like to give people hope in this FAQ. Like the Transhumanist FAQ we want to be positive in our outlook, which will may lead others to choose a half glass full outlook, right? What do you say? I definitely don’t want to be an immortality curmudgeon or realist ( realists tend to be factual, but we want people to dream about immortality and be positive. That’s be a positive a factual FAQ of course , but positive in its outlook too.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 20 May 2022 - 01:25 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Question: Since I will be immortal will many of my memories fade?

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

"When is biological immortality predicted to happen?"
If you ask me, noone can tell you that for sure.

As you see I just changed you answer a little still the same answer but with a more positive out look which I think this FAQ should be about, a positive outlook on immortality because we are on that side of the argument and trying to convince others to our side the best we can

“When is biological immortality predicted to happen?
No one can tell you an exact date for sure. However, some say the year 2045 is within our reach*

*https://hyperaxion.c...ll-be-immortal/

Oh everyone remember to cite your research from now on,like aI did above, if you have any. It will most likely end in a bibliography at the end of the FAQ or something like that in order to make the FAQ nice and neat. We can also make it creative like making the work immortality in a circle ( a Neverending circle) I don’t know how to do that here but I can do it in document. ) just something to think about. Let’s worktogether to get the best results.

[Dream Big]

That's nice you are trying to make this immortality FAQ still. The AIs will have no problem living forever or accepting it. As for the question "Will my memories fade during a eternal life?", my answer is your brain/ colony will grow as the Earth expands into the galaxy (by eating matter using nanobots to get bigger), and your brain will keep the salient general approximation of 99.99999999999% of everything that matters, just as you do now (i.e. without having to store every image you've ever seen)........but better.

 

BTW I'm posting a little new "where we are now with AI" update to this forum, check it out if not up-to-date on AI.

Edited by Dream Big, 20 May 2022 - 05:21 AM.

[LongLiveTheNewFlesh]

Haha..are you being sarcastic or do you really like think it’s ‘nice’ I’m keeping this Immortality FAQ going? Sorry, sometimes it’s really hard to tell sarcasm over the internet.

Sure, but it’s an immortality FAQ so if you want to take on AI it should have an immortality slant, don’t you think? But go ahead I have no problem with that.

Edited by LongLiveTheNewFlesh, 20 May 2022 - 05:22 AM.