In this blog post, we deeply explore whether we could truly become happier if an era arrives where scientific and technological advancement enables human immortality.
Reflections on Technological Advancement and Eternal Life
With the dazzling progress of medicine driven by technological advancement, humans can now live significantly longer than in the past. We can now cure various diseases, steadily increasing average life expectancy. But what if science and technology advance so tremendously that humans can live forever? This ‘eternal life’ doesn’t necessarily mean maintaining our current biological form; it signifies a state where humans overcome death and continue to exist in some manner. According to ‘Sapiens’, humans have already succeeded in altering specific genes in animals to produce new traits. If this technology were applied to humans, we could potentially evolve into entirely new life forms. Yet a crucial question arises: if humans could live forever, would we truly be happier than we are now? I believe the answer is no.
The Relationship Between Eternal Life and Happiness
There are two reasons why I believe eternal life would not bring greater happiness to humans. The first reason is that if science and technology enabled eternal life, we would never experience death. Experiencing death may sound paradoxical, since human consciousness vanishes at the moment of death. However, what is meant here by “not being able to experience death” is the inability to experience life’s finitude—the finite nature of time. If life becomes an endless journey, humans risk becoming devoid of their essential nature. In other words, they become more likely to live lives consumed by shallow curiosity and fleeting thrills, failing to grasp life’s preciousness and meaning. Such a life breeds emptiness and boredom, ultimately distancing one from happiness.
The Importance of Finitude and Accomplishment
To aid understanding, let’s consider an example from our daily lives. Consider the experience of senior year college entrance exam preparation, familiar to many. The experience of finally gaining admission to one’s dream university after enduring that grueling exam period brings a special sense of accomplishment to anyone. The reason we could study so diligently was the certainty that this arduous period would eventually end. Because this end was assured, we could press forward toward our goal and feel a sense of achievement even during difficult times, and we could also grow even through the pain of failure. What if this exam period had no end? We would likely have lost the motivation to study with such enthusiasm. The thought, “Why bother trying hard if it never ends anyway?” would have dominated. An endless task brings no sense of accomplishment, and a life devoid of achievement inevitably leads to apathy and emptiness. So, would being granted eternal life make us happier? Probably not.
The Absence of Death and the Pursuit of Comfort
The second reason is that if humans could live forever, they would inevitably pursue comfort. Here, pursuing comfort means losing life’s purpose and tending only to maintain a state of ease. While no one dislikes comfort, if one pursues it under the condition of eternal life, humans would find it difficult to discover the true meaning of their existence. The philosopher Heidegger stated, “Only by confronting death, not avoiding it, can humans live as authentic beings.” The absence of death degrades humans into inauthentic beings, ultimately causing them to lose the meaning and value of their own lives.
Eternal Life and Authentic Being
Humans without death cannot become the authentic beings Heidegger speaks of. Authentic existence is one where a person engages in activities they deem valuable and shapes their own life. But if eternal life were granted, could we truly live doing valuable things? It is highly likely we would choose the immediate stability and comfort before our eyes. Such choices would lead us to live passively according to the demands of society or our surroundings, rather than living our lives autonomously. Ultimately, this degrades humans into non-authentic beings, preventing them from experiencing true happiness.
Conclusion: The Value of Finitude
Let’s summarize what we’ve covered. Eternal life prevents the experience of death and causes the loss of value derived from life’s finitude. Consequently, humans cannot become happier than they are in their current lives. Finiteness is what makes life more meaningful, providing us with a sense of accomplishment and purpose. A life without finiteness is akin to luxury goods losing their value when offered infinitely. Everything must have an end for its value to truly shine. Therefore, I do not believe that even if science and technology advance to the point where humans can achieve eternal life, we will be happier than we are now.
