[ExI] Key Issues of Life Extension

[Mike Dougherty]

On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM,  <natasha at natasha.cc> wrote:
>
> In your view, what do you think are the current 5 (or more) key issues
> concerning living indefinitely?  These issues can be located in any field
> and relate to biology, engineering, technology, science, business,
> economics, environment, politics, etc.
>

I think many of the mechanical problems will be solved at some point.

The more difficult long term problem may be inherent to the design
itself.  Without an effective method of revitalizing the mind, the
thinking tends to get old and crusty*.  A hundred years seems well
tuned to the current architecture.  What happens when the hardware is
maintained to keep peak performance of the software, but the software
slows to an ineffectual trickle of usefulness?  I know my computer's
bloated OS needs a do-over every year or two... Is there a similar
issue with human wetware?

* Sure, we can try to learn new things - but only a conscious act of
volition can make that happen.  If being stuck in your ways precludes
that act, how does one become "unstuck"?  If a persona is represented
by an algorithmic attractor, even with unlimited complexity and
refinement of nuance - is there a point at which it has "all been done
before?"  How long can you watch a plot of a Lorenz attractor[1]
before you see the butterfly and are simply no longer interested?

[1] http://images.google.com/images?q=lorenz+attractor