Life and what's up after ...
(Top Posts - Philosophy (General) - 070100)

... Enjoying life? Sex. Food. Drink. Good company. Reading
a good book. Staring at a sunset or sunrise. Skiing. Hiking.
Biking. Writing. Discussing life. Having children. Shooting for
that special something that makes life worthwhile. Just a few
ideas on how to enjoy life but the list is really quite long, when
you think about it for awhile.

A Reuter's article posted recently expects life expectancy
to be 120 for 21st century children (virtual immortality in
our time is also a possibility; see below for details).

Live life to the max 'cause this is all we *know* exists but...

A few realists, me included, hold on to hope for a continued
pleasant existence in an alternate dimension (unspecified and
undefined, as of yet, but with the full realization that such a
continued pleasant existence is highly unlikely). Please don't
hold that against us, the hopeful (some prefer to call it wishful
though I prefer the word hopeful) realists. (-:

Most realists accept that this life is likely the deal. Period. Many
have realistic hopes for continuing life as long as possible. There
are scientific advances being made that are encouraging as far
as creating a virtual immortality in this universe in our time. If you
wish to read up on virtual immortality in this universe in our time,
see the following:

1. Immortality : How Science Is Extending Your Lifespan, and
Changing the World, by Ben Bova
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380975181
"While ostensibly about the coming conquest by science of aging  
and death, this is actually a lively overview of the exciting work
being done in biomedical research today. Prolific science-fiction
writer Bova, who has some 90 futuristic books to his credit,
bases his claim that some people alive today will achieve
immortality on his belief that genetic research is progressing
so rapidly that within the next 50 years the key to aging, which
lies within the body's cells, will inevitably be unlocked."

2. Becoming Immortal : Nanotechnology, You, and the Demise
of Death, by Wesley M. Du Charme
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964628201
"Nanotechnology and cryonics together offer mankind the
opportunity for virtual immortality - but what would happen
in such a world? Du Charme's survey of mankind's growing
abilities to change physical appearances and abilities provides
some thought-provoking insights on the possibilities and
potentials of mankind. Also offered are practical guidelines
for cryonics preservation (something undoubtedly available
only to the wealthy)."

3. Cheating Death : The Promise and the Future Impact of
Trying to Live Forever, by Marvin Cetron, Owen Davies
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312180659
"Immortality is a popular and recurrent theme in literature
and especially in science fiction. More than one author has
considered the possibly ironic consequences of living
indefinitely. Now that prolonged life is becoming a scientific
and medical reality, futurists Cetron and Davies examine the
implications of living in a postmortal world."

4. Immortal Engines : Life Extension and Immortality in
Science Fiction and Fantasy, by George Slusser (Editor),
Gary Westfahl (Editor), Eric S. Rabkin (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0820317330
"These nineteen original essays seek to recontextualize the
subject of immortality, examining its influence as an ancient
human aspiration while at the same time considering new
scientific advances and their impact on life and literature.
Grouped in three broad categories, the essays provide key
information about and concepts of immortality, examine
science fiction stories and scientific research to consider
the prospects and possible effects of achieving immortality,
and discuss immortality and life extension as literary themes."

5. Immortality, by Paul Edwards (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573921300
"A compilation of numerous authors, ancient and modern,
who address the question of whether or not there is a life
after death. Edwards provides an excellent seventy page
introduction which guides the reader through other relevant
philosophical issues, such as the nature of the vehicles for
survival of bodily death, the mind-body problem, the
traditional Christian concept of bodily resurrection, the
evidence and arguments for and against reincarnation ...

and the relationship between belief in God and belief in survi-
val of bodily death--where Edwards stresses an often over-
looked fact that one can believe in either without believing
in both (Voltaire, for example, was a deist who believed that
the universe had a Creator because he accepted the arg-
ment from design, but rejected belief in life after death; and
many modern-day parapsychologists who believe they have
evidence for survival are also atheists)."

6. Why Die? : A Beginner's Guide to Living Forever,
by Herb Bowie
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890457078
"Excerpted from Why Die? - For humanity has outgrown the
need for death. If we can face this fact squarely in the face,
then we have the basis for building something new, for taking
humanity's next step, for seizing the reins of our own destiny.
If we cannot accept the possibility of our own immortality,
then we are still trapped in superstition and ignorance, and
will be driven before the blind winds of evolution. I happen
to believe in the possibility of human physical immortality.

I would like you to acknowledge this possibility as well. It's
not just that I like people to agree with me. I think that this
fundamental paradigm shift can cause a profound and
wonderful change in the quality of human life on this planet.
I think that this radical change in our perspective can help
us create heaven on earth together."