I sometimes wonder what the world would be like if we didn't age past 30. If we just stayed healthy and youthful until something external simply killed us.
It depends on whether you're thinking of this as something that was always the case, or just started one day.
If we're looking at the latter case, we'd likely see things turn violent at some point for two reason. Even if rates of reproduction declined, upward mobility would suddenly run into a wall of tireless immortals with little cause to get out of the way. We'd all have less incentive to avoid reckless behaviour as well. That's always gone hand in hand with the false assumption of immortality, so I can't see that changing just because it's no longer false.
This might eventually be offset by a larger slacker base (why fight to get ahead when you've got forever), but that's hardly ideal either. You'd still have to contest with the people who thrived on endless conflict for a long time. Without substantial reforms to the penal system (among other things), that's not likely to improve.
If it was always the case, we might still be subject to the dictates of fifteen thousand year old conservatives, assuming they hadn't simply drunk themselves to death by now. If we're lucky, they'll have grown out of it and we'd have several score generations of very good teachers. If we're not, they'll have become very good at breaking down younger generations to serve as immortal slaves.
Such things might sound bleak to some, but many people would thrive in such conditions. The impact on technology, science, philosophy, and art could go in any number of directions.
I think we'd be missing a certian amount of richness that occurs in the aging process. Your brain does change as you age - just like your body; and different things and abilities become more able to be learned. :) I for one wouldn't like to be stuck at 30, 35 was a much better year... and 38 has been pretty good so far.
PS: It would also mean the world would be way over populated and how would I ever have the hope of taking my bosses place when he retires (Kidding - in my case this wouldn't happen - but I like the idea that we have to change the ol' boys network)
Plus the number of depressive episodes statistically decreases past the age of 50 or some such weird age like that.... I always wondered if that stat was really true tho.
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jamesq
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Date: 2009-03-24 04:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 03:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 02:38 pm (UTC)If we're looking at the latter case, we'd likely see things turn violent at some point for two reason. Even if rates of reproduction declined, upward mobility would suddenly run into a wall of tireless immortals with little cause to get out of the way. We'd all have less incentive to avoid reckless behaviour as well. That's always gone hand in hand with the false assumption of immortality, so I can't see that changing just because it's no longer false.
This might eventually be offset by a larger slacker base (why fight to get ahead when you've got forever), but that's hardly ideal either. You'd still have to contest with the people who thrived on endless conflict for a long time. Without substantial reforms to the penal system (among other things), that's not likely to improve.
If it was always the case, we might still be subject to the dictates of fifteen thousand year old conservatives, assuming they hadn't simply drunk themselves to death by now. If we're lucky, they'll have grown out of it and we'd have several score generations of very good teachers. If we're not, they'll have become very good at breaking down younger generations to serve as immortal slaves.
Such things might sound bleak to some, but many people would thrive in such conditions. The impact on technology, science, philosophy, and art could go in any number of directions.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 09:50 pm (UTC):)
I for one wouldn't like to be stuck at 30, 35 was a much better year... and 38 has been pretty good so far.
PS: It would also mean the world would be way over populated and how would I ever have the hope of taking my bosses place when he retires (Kidding - in my case this wouldn't happen - but I like the idea that we have to change the ol' boys network)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-24 09:51 pm (UTC)I always wondered if that stat was really true tho.