[extropy-chat] Essay on Physical Immortality

[Natasha Vita-More]

At 06:31 PM 1/4/04 +0000, Brett wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mark Walker" <mark at permanentend.org>
>To: "ExI chat list" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
>Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 3:12 PM
>Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Essay on Physical Immortality
>
>
> > >
> > I'm not sure what to make of this. I don't see that Kass is saying that
>his
> > worldview is privileged in any untoward way. He offers arguments for the
> > ethical conclusions that he makes--if this is what you mean by a
>privileged
> > world view then I am equally guilty. Furthermore, as far as I can tell
>Kass
> > doesn't say that we should ration the lives of others, what he argues is
> > that it is morally impermissible to seek physical immortality. These
>claims
> > are distinct--as I point out in the paper.
>
>
>I think the whole idea of immortality should be downplayed as far as public
>consumption is concerned.

Journalists - in the media or print - prefer to use the term "immortality" 
rather than indefinite life span, because of the nature of the word 
imortality.  It is eye-catching, has a history of symbols, myths and 
metaphors attached to it, and implies the impossible.

>The emphasis should be on Kass and co. preventing the development of medical
>technologies that could help tens of millions of ageing citizens.
>Maybe even to the point of propaganda - 'Kass aims to block cancer cure!'

I agree.

Natasha

Natasha Vita-More
http://www.natasha.cc
----------
President, Extropy Institute  http://www.extropy.org
Founder, Transhumanist Arts & Culture  http://www.transhumanist.biz
http://www.transhuman.org
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