You already raised 4 generations of humans by now or you can still do the same thing because you're not even half way your life. Why would you want to do it now when your "teenage" years last 50 years and your "twenties" 100. You can experience everything, just for longer.
>>> If immortals stop caring about life because it is long lasting, we'll just find the first members of the immortal generation do worse than their mortal peers in all respects.
500 year life expectancy vs immortality is another discussion.
>>> Practically though, I doubt immortality is within the grasp of this current generation.
Yeah, I know. It's all hypothetical for us
If biology were no constraint, I can imagine some people would have children once every hundred years, and spend the next century shepherding them into good position in their growing dynasty.
That said, with vastly increased life spans, the whole notion of reproduction and marriage would take on new meaning, and I doubt many of the ideas we ascribe to today will be of much concern in the future.
> Yeah, I know. It's all hypothetical for us
Yes, which is why I don't see much of a reason to be so pessimistic. Those whom want to live forever---hypothetically will. Those who do not, as they are bored or tired, will choose not to continue onwards.
I can imagine a future of mostly happy immortals.
I had thought the point was answering "why would you want to live forever?" so I gave it my best shot. :)
> Why would you get married and have kids if you could have it 100 years later?
Because you get the enjoyment of marriage and an expanded family now.
Frankly, speaking, I cannot believe people would be willing to delay satisfaction for 100s of years, merely because they are immortal.
But what if you're right? Well then...
If in fact living past 200 causes everything to be meaningless, we'll likely just find out people waste away from old age depression, and the point of the debate is moot.
If immortals stop caring about life because it is long lasting, we'll just find the first members of the immortal generation do worse than their mortal peers in all respects.
The question of "how much life is too much life" is something I would rather find out through primary research on people who are 500 or more years old, instead of debating in the hypothetical.
Practically though, I doubt immortality is within the grasp of this current generation. Research into 'immortality' is just using forever as an ideal---not as an expectation of what will really be delivered upon.
Extending life by a few more decades is a valid goal for our generation.