Aubrey de Grey video

[gusl]

This 15-minute video is a very nice introduction to Aubrey de Grey and his ideas (in one sentence: "we can and should cure aging").

He briefly explains people's negative reactions to this as being due to a kind of rational irrationality ("rational denial"). If x is horrible, and x is inevitable, then it is perfectly rational for one to keep x out of one's mind.

The philosopher in me wants to ask: at which meta-level should one try to be rational? or, obfuscated: at which meta-level is it rational for one to try to be rational? Circles, circles...

Comments

[selfishgene.livejournal.com]

The level that ensures your survival.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

We're self-destructive as a race, but individually we may be motivated to live longer than others. That guy's beard is better than Rasputin's though.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_greg/]

Lots of dimensions in this thread!

If we live until the singularity all models that we can make now are unlikely to apply.

The biggest key to living a long life is to live fully in the now.

If I let go of the illusion of continuity of identity, then I can take a position of stewardship towards my body. I find that such a position makes me less stressed and more responsible than a position of self-ownership. I am also motivated to be generous towards my successors.

It has only been since I learned to like myself and people like myself that I've had a basis for making good choices in this arena.