In the modern world, the human yearning for eternal life sparks heated debates and profound reflections.

The Double-Edged Quest for Immortality

In the modern world, the human yearning for eternal life sparks heated debates and profound reflections. On one hand, attempts to eliminate biological mortality seem like a logical step toward overcoming the limitations of our physical existence. However, even if such a breakthrough were achieved, finality as a component of our reality remains unbreakable, since everything that exists—regardless of its physical state—is subject to destruction and disappearance.

On the other hand, the pursuit of immortality is deeply ingrained in our very nature and is perceived as an inherent part of the human spirit. This desire is not an external imposition; it is embedded within us from the beginning, reflecting our divine essence and an irresistible pull toward infinity. It is in this pursuit that humans seek meaning and are drawn to higher ideals that make life extraordinary.

Yet, analysis shows that attaining immortality could lead to significant social and cultural changes. A world where finitude disappears runs the risk of losing traditional benchmarks, potentially inciting conflicts and undermining the very motivation that renders each moment of life unique. In this context, an endless life might strip historical achievements and creative feats of their significance, for it is their finiteness that truly makes them valuable.

Thus, while the dream of immortality entices us with its promises, its actualization could bring unpredictable consequences for society. The quest for eternal life remains a double-edged phenomenon: it inspires humans to push beyond boundaries but simultaneously conceals the threat of losing the meaningful orientations that make each moment of our life irreplaceable.

How feasible is the pursuit of immortality, and what consequences might it have for society?

Based on these reflections, the viability of striving for immortality appears rather ambiguous. On one hand, the notion of overcoming death in a purely biological sense is flawed, as even if biological mortality were eliminated, finitude—as an element of the universal reality—would still persist. As noted:
"Does the emergence of a biologically immortal being truly signify the overcoming of death? The answer here is an emphatic and abrupt no. Any element of our present reality, whether subject to biological decay or not, is susceptible to destruction, annihilation." (source: link txt)

On the other hand, the pursuit of immortality is entirely entrenched in human nature. It acts as an ontological element inherent in humans, who are created in the image and likeness of God:
"Man is entirely consumed by this desire because he is created in the image and likeness of God. The divinity embedded in the human spirit propels him toward the infinity of God, causing him to yearn for it." (source: link txt)
It is also noted that this pursuit is inherent to the very nature of the human spirit:
"It is also evident that this quest for the infinite could not have been imposed upon man from the outside, since everything surrounding him is finite and limited... The human aspiration for infinity and immortality is innate to the very nature of the human spirit." (source: link txt)

However, the consequences of such an aspiration for society could be profound. If one envisions a world where immortality has been achieved, there is a risk of eroding social and cultural benchmarks. For example, it is suggested that the immortals might "engage in the active extermination of one another," highlighting the potential for intensified conflicts and negative aspects of human nature (source: link txt). Moreover, an indefinite lifespan devoid of finiteness might rob historical achievements and creative endeavors of their meaning, since it is their temporal limitation that gives them true value:
"If instead of a secular lady or a gambler we consider, at the opposite end, great individuals—geniuses who have endowed humanity with immortal works or altered the fates of nations—we would observe that the substance of their lives and their historical contributions holds significance only as a one-time, eternal fact, and if the individual existence of these geniuses were to continue indefinitely on earth, they would ultimately lose all meaning." (source: link txt)

Thus, while the pursuit of immortality reflects a fundamental human desire to overcome the limitations of the material world and reclaim a form of eternity, its realization might undermine the foundational values of social and cultural life. Even if immortality were achieved, it would not eliminate the threat of destruction but could instead lead to social conflicts and a loss of the motivation that makes every moment of life valuable.

Supporting citation(s):
"Does the emergence of a biologically immortal being truly signify the overcoming of death? The answer here is an emphatic and abrupt no. Any element of our present reality, whether subject to biological decay or not, is susceptible to destruction, annihilation." (source: link txt)

"Man is entirely consumed by this desire because he is created in the image and likeness of God. The divinity embedded in the human spirit propels him toward the infinity of God, causing him to yearn for it." (source: link txt)

"If instead of a secular lady or a gambler we consider, at the opposite end, great individuals—geniuses who have endowed humanity with immortal works or altered the fates of nations—we would observe that the substance of their lives and their historical contributions holds significance only as a one-time, eternal fact, and if the individual existence of these geniuses were to continue indefinitely on earth, they would ultimately lose all meaning." (source: link txt)