In Defense of Death
Why the Prospect of Immortality Might not be Such a Good Idea
Published in SAD Magazine Issue no. 30
In the novel Circe, the heroine ventures to the abysmal plains seeking advice from a stingray-like god to preserve her mortal son’s numbered days. With a slow nod of its head, the wise god says to Circe, “There is no must in the life of the mortal, except death.” Although uttered by a Greek mythological creature, this statement indicates one of the simplest, yet monumental commonalities of humankind—that we will all eventually die.
Most people probably agree that the pale rider will one day come knocking. But there are some who believe humans will soon have the capability to live long past their modern expiry date. For decades, longevity scientists have been attempting to stop aging and some have even discovered ways of reversing the process. The ultimate goal in the field of longevity seems to be the avoidance of death for as long as possible. While the prospect of immortality is exhilarating, a more important question may be to ask: what would happen to our species if we lost the experience of dying?