Naked Science Forum
On the Lighter Side => New Theories => Topic started by: Expectant_Philosopher on 12/02/2013 10:37:58
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Researchers are discovering our own bodies have the tools with which to heal ourselves, stem cells from adipose (let's say fat) tissue in our bellies, stem cells from our skin can be harvested and concentrated to heal parts of our bodies. Stem cells directed to fix the heart, heal MS, reconnect damaged nerves, and even regenerate bone. The dark side is cancer. Without being able to control growth of stem cells we face a risk of unregulated growth, cancer. I believe finding the cure for cancer will generate the knowledge whereby we can control growth of stem cells towards beneficial tissue repair. Telomeres the clock of the human body a timer with a chemical alarm regulates what would otherwise be chaos, discovered by our cancer research. Inherent to the human body all these biological structures, and the eventuality that after the scientists educate us about ourselves, we will evolve to control our own biological destinies. After all from fetal beginning we have a system map, where each individual cell knows precisely where it is at on the map, who are its neighbors and their destiny. The aging process, a mechanism to preserve the structure and integrity of the pattern of the system map, to allow no new changes, to avoid chaos, to avoid cancer. Were we however to control cell growth to fit the pattern to regenerate tissues to the strict system map we could then turn off the aging process without fear of introducing chaos to the body.
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Just a question.....why always in the pursuit of immortality? We need to die, all living organisms need to die. Unfortunately, thats just.....life!
Pursuing healing in the aim of relieving people of some of the harsh diseases/ailments we endure is a noble enough cause or not?
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Just a question.....why always in the pursuit of immortality? We need to die, all living organisms need to die. Unfortunately, thats just.....life!
Pursuing healing in the aim of relieving people of some of the harsh diseases/ailments we endure is a noble enough cause or not?
Minerva, I'd like to think that longevity, even immortality is offered when the extent of our environment is expanded. It's like fish in a tank, the population expands only to the extent of resources. If you put the fish into a larger tank the population expands. Just now we're starting to see the universe as possibly accessible. We begin to see the myriad of worlds left to explore. Our fish tank has expanded. I'd like to think that opportunities for the population to take advantage, include the option of longevity.
Rather than oblivion, I'd like to experience life. This life is heaven for me, with all of its joys and sorrows, trials and tribulations. Each of us through our decisions and behavior form our world view and attempt to perfect our heaven, yet we shy from total perfection. I have an odd world view, I find mostly different than most, and at times criticized vehemently by some. I shudder at the thought of oblivion and at the thought of eons of life in equal measure. The thought of dying, losing oneself, and joining with the creator terrifies me as well. I'd like to think that there is something more. I like the idea of some of the beings from Star Trek, Cocoon, and Cowboys and Aliens who are pure energy and can assume any form, go anywhere, interact with anyone. Barring that I'd like my body to continue to host me for millenia. A book I like to read, "The Healer", sums up the idea of eternal life through perfection of the body.
I am not brave enough to be an atheist. Can you imagine going through life without ever buying a single lottery ticket to have the chance to win a jackpot? The atheist has to be absolutely brave and consciously sane, knowing that at the end of the road there is only oblivion. If he wasn't brave he would surely go insane.
Can I ask you the five questions? And don't just read them, visualize them to the nth extent as if it were true. To contemplate these as true one needs to contemplate both ultimate eternity and ultimate oblivion. Just thinking about them could shake your worldview to its foundations, perhaps drive you crazy. Most people I've asked these questions to have fallen back on defensive rationalizing mechanisms to protect their psyche. Ready? Here are the five.
1. If you knew 100% that tomorrow you would cease to exist in any form, what would you do today?
2. If you knew 100% that whatever anyone told you was a lie, even from those you trusted, what would you do today?
3. What is enlightenment?
4. If you knew 100% that whatever anyone told you was the truth, even from those you hated, mistrusted, or despised, what would you do today?
5. If you knew 100% that you would live forever, what would you do today?