Immortality
Immortality - Myth or Reality?
Would you like to be immortal? Can we be immortal in any fashion and retain what makes us human? Cambridge Professor Stephen Cage has written insightfully about humankind's attempt to do just this in some fashion throughout history and even today. In his 2012 book, "Immortality - "The Quest to Live Forever and How it Drives Civilization" Cave shows how mortality has shaped every aspect of human culture and history. Cave writes how every society and religion in history has embraced at least one of 4 common "narratives" to help appease people's fears about aging and death.
The four are; 1) Elixirs of Youth, 2) Resurrection, 3) Soul, and 4) Legacy. Why did these "narratives come about? Mostly because most humans are absolutely terrified of dying with nothing after.
Cave eloquently shines enlightenment on all four narratives, "pulling the threads" on beliefs that we have blithely accepted; mostly due to programming from our families, religion and society in order to cope with our mortality. Citing great thinkers such as Lucretius and Epicurus, offered, The fear of death is natural, but not rational." With enlightened thinking and scientific methods, these narratives assume their true form i.e., MYTHS.
This is a good news story. Instead of dismissing existential anxiety by denying death (via these narratives), Stephan Cave's suggests a 5th way, a "Wisdom Narrative", which attacks the underlying attitudes that make us think we ought to be afraid of death in the first place. In his words, "The Wisdom Narrative balances a positive love of life with managing the fear of our life's end" Doing so allows us to cultivate an appreciation of this life and this world, as it is, right now.....This is turn will help us focus on "writing a good story" In the words of Buddha, "Fear does not prevent death. It prevents life." Or per Connie Barlow we can embrace the "Gifts of Death"
Watch Stephen Cave's overview his book themes here Read a summary here and view a presentation here. But to really challenge your ingrained perspective you will likely need to read the book.
But wait, this is not the end of the story! Since Cave wrote his book, something revolutionary has occurred that may alter Cave's first narrative regarding the failure to find an elixir of youth. In 2017, Harvard Medical school researcher, Dr. David Sinclair, offered that the first person to live to 150 was already alive! And in an incredible 2022 TED talk Sinclair overviews the breakthroughs that he and other researchers at prestigious universities have uncovered involving 10 mechanisms to REVERSE aging (e.g., cardio, skin, eyesight, cognitive etc.) His research has been corroborated by other others. Some of Dr. Sinclair's colleagues are now offering a comprehensive regime to take advantage of these breakthroughs. The prescribed lifestyle and supplement regime can be found here
Longevity science is in its nascent stage, but there is no doubt a tsunami is coming that will have profound implications for society. Think our political squabbles are rancorous now, just think what will happen when some can stop aging and others aren't offered this possibility. Before dismissing listen to a thought provoking talk by Andrew Steele acknowledging the aging breakthroughs and discussing about the ethics of "curing" aging. here Then please send me your thoughts!
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