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