Beating death

The first I came across the concept was while reading Asimov's Robot series - The caves of steel in particular. I was fascinated by the idea. Of not having to die. Of having longer lives. The book talked about that. That people were able to do more with their lives.

I had wanted that then. Some way to live longer perhaps.

There are merits. Not having disease. Being in your prime, for longer. For perhaps, as long as you were alive.

Today, I was reading about a scientist advocating for the same. The article starts with a great example of someone living with T1, before insulin was available. Hardly living, on just the minimum amount of food. She survived, just, and the world got insulin. The little girl lived till she was seventy. It was compelling.

But, it felt wrong.

I believe now, that at the core of that piece was fear of death. And the consideration that we are different, better somehow.

I think that is at the core of a lot of issues we have these days. We don't consider ourselves to be part of nature. Every natural thing, every thing that is born in nature, dies.

It prevents us from being good toward the fellow species we share this planet with. It leads us to make unsustainable decisions. It leads us to wreck the planet.

Humans have the power to affect a lot of things. I don't think we have wielded that power correctly. I know we can be better. I am hopeful.

Living forever is not the answer.