X-Message-Number: 24875
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
Subject: living forever
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 12:02:46 +0100

The difficulty with the concept of the value of finite life and living
forever seems to be in the matter of

10 more years has some value, therefore 10^6 more years has 10^5 more value
and so on.

If an infinite number of years has a value x, then a lifespan of n years has
a value of nx/(infinity) which is zero. This gives rise to the suggestion
that a finite lifespan is of zero value regardless of duration.  If an
infinite number of years has infinite value, n years has
n(infinity)/(infinity) which is indeterminate. However it is possible to
write:

value of n years of life= limit(t approaches infinity)(nx/t), where x is the
value of an infinite lifespan.

If more is known about the nature of the variables there are various
mathematical tricks to work it out. Mike Price may know them off the top of
his head, and I would have to look them up.

The goal must be to exist forever, but it must also be understood that
forever never comes. The fact that there is this philosophical dilemma is
convenient because it gives us a way for saying that we do upstage religions
who do seem quite happy to makes claims about people living forever.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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