X-Message-Number: 23040
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 09:13:42 -0800 (PST)
From: Scott Badger <>
Subject: The Immortal's Dilemma: Deconstructing Eternal Life

I thought some of you might find this article an
interesting read. Many here, including myself, will
disagree with the author on a number of points but it
is a fairly well articulated argument nevertheless. 

The essay appeared on The Secular Web <
www.infidels.org > site. What bothered me was that
most of those who responded to this essay were in
agreement with the author's conclusions. See: 
http://tinyurl.com/y4b4 

Oddly enough, the feedback suggests that atheists are
no more open to radical life extension than theists.

Here are the last two paragraphs of the essay:

The Immortal's Dilemma: Deconstructing Eternal Life
by George Hart

"Yet it appears when it is all said and done, there is
no version of personal immortality that can supply a
meaningful life that a mortal existence could not also
supply. In fact, it may be that only a finite life can
be meaningful because only a finite life can be a
story that has a beginning, middle and end. Death is
what frames our life, and only a framed life can have
meaning. Indeed, it is precisely the prospect of death
that gives many of our values, such as courage and
compassion, meaning. It is our mortality that makes
life precious and intentional killing especially
wrong.

Life is meaningful when it is lived; that is enough.
To ask for more is almost greedy. Just as wine is good
if only the glass is to become empty, life can have
meaning only if it must end."


http://www.secweb.org/asset.asp?AssetID=333

After some of you have had a chance to read it,
perhaps we could 'deconstruct' this author's essay.
(tear em up, Mike P.)

Best to all,

Scott Badger

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing.
http://photos.yahoo.com/

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=23040