X-Message-Number: 8884
Date:  Tue, 02 Dec 97 15:50:49 
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: Immortality and Ethics

JLH1942, #8880:

>A immortal being wouldn't need ethics because no matter what
>they do they would still be alive.  I think this is important because
>without the need to live a moral life and therefore acheive happiness
>(emotional reward) what would the purpose of living forever be. 
>Without happiness what is the point?  Living just for living sake?

It seems to me you are confusing being alive and being happy. The two 
are not synonymous. Think about Christianity: in the more usual 
version, you are guaranteed eternal life but not eternal happiness. 
While I don't think the real future
holds such a dichotomy as you find here
(eternal ecstasy vs eternal agony, no middle ground), something of 
the same considerations apply to other possible, immortal scenarios. 
Ethics would make a difference, even if immortality were guaranteed.

Mike Perry

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8884