immortality.

Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Immortality: an as of yet unattainable freedom, or unexpected eternal sorrow? Recently posed with the question on whether or not - if ever given the opportunity - I would accept the power to exist as an infinite concept, I thought best to try to look at the proposition both subjectively and objectively. It’s particularly difficult to take a logical look at a completely fictitious idea but the implications of a world with walking immortals is both fascinating and maybe one day possible with advanced medicine/tech. In this instance I am speaking of true immortality, including invulnerability, the perpetual state.

Now, speaking hypothetically that man could one day live forever, we have to assume that our world will follow suit to avoid annoying logistical complications like the Sun blowing up whilst we just float endlessly encased in ice into the nothing above. Surviving everything the world can possibly throw at us and essentially eradicating any fear of death would have a particularly interesting impact on one’s own personality. Could you ever be of a timid or paranoid nature? Could you ever understand what fear is? Would bravery naturally become arrogance? Could you ever get too close to people? Would you in fact feel anything at all?

Case Study: me.

Okay then, I am faced with the realisation that I am forever; a constant entity immune to both entropy and decay, living in a world abound with ephemeral existence, trying to come to terms with my “life” and questioning the part sanity will have to play going forwards. I would immediately be assaulted with the by now confusing and insignificant concept of time; my present becomes everlasting because the fabled future will never be just that in my mind. Would I want to get married? Retire? Have children? Well, potentially no, not any more. I will essentially - aside from some divine fortune on multiple lottery wins - have to work forever to fund my life since knowledge of an ever-expanding past doesn't really help the current human lifestyle. I can barely justify working into my 60’s right now let alone an infinite number of years. Would money even hold the same value to me any more? Who knows. Maybe it would be the perfect excuse to stockpile collectibles and sell them for millions after a few centuries.

The concept of having my own family now loses all of its meaning and potency with me being present for the birth and eventual death of my entire lineage as well as the multitude of wives I would potentially want - if I would even be able to convince one in the first place to sign up for a man that doesn't age. Immortality can then be considered the pinnacle of loneliness and disconnection; you could never truly feel for someone because you know that inevitably their passing will hurt you. I’d even go as far as to say it would be necessary to completely shut yourself down in regards to compassion and love as the constant mourning of new loved ones decade after decade would become unbearable and drive you insane, or you’d get so used to it that death itself loses its effect on you if it hadn't already.

Further to this I can imagine that I’d feel like an empty shell of a once human being; I mean what feelings could you exactly hope to have? Nothing will excite you the same, nothing will give you that thrill of discovery since you’ll inevitably be there for the emergence of every new technology or medical cure or world conflict; and also be there for the birth of all future problems. None of these will affect you though of course, will they? War and political conflict are of little concern to you since any and all outcomes are unnoticeable in the grand scale of your existence; you can’t fear war as it can’t harm you in any way, only harm the potential loved ones you’d soon forget over passing centuries.

An existential crisis will inevitably emerge as you start to disbelieve almost every aspect of life; however you then have to come to terms with the fact that no matter how bad it all gets and how much you want to just end it all for your own peace of mind, you literally can’t. I think this would be my most damning thought at potential immortality; that there is no final end to your happiness or suffering; no way for you to end the conscious nightmare of being forever. Everything around you slips away into the darkness you crave for yourself.

So then, would you?

(A.I. generated art from Midjourney depicting immortality)