Killing death: Some implications of extending human lifespan indefinitely

Abstract

Ending natural biological death through rejuvenation means overcoming one particular biological limitation. In that sense, ending death is not much di erent than many other technological advances that overcome some part of our limited biology. The bene ts of ending natural biological death are potentially immense. However, even though rejuvenation technology should be pursued and implemented as soon as possible, there are some risks that should be taken into account early on. Primarily, we need to address the problem of potential unequal access to and the monopolization of the rejuvenation technology.

Towards the best future for humankind: ZIPAR whitepaper.

“…For example, thanks to scienti c innovations such as CRISPR [15], profound changes to the human genome are increasingly within our technological reach. Interventions into human biology might go as far as profound cognitive enhancement [16] and the inde nite extension of our biological lifespan [17]. All these direct and indirect changes of our biology hold the potential to tremendously increase the quality of life of humans, but they also contain enormous risks.…”

Political, moral, and security challenges of space colonization

“…Even if technological innovations such as rejuvenation [27] should result in a decrease in reproductive activity, the total human population is more likely to increase than to stagnate or decrease. An increase in the total population is not, in and of itself, problematic.…”