Immortality Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be

Futurist Raymond Kurzweil has long been preoccupied by human immortality and thinks we are getting close. A recent article reports that Mr. Kurzweil believes we may achieve immortality as soon as 2030, thanks to the development of “nanobots,” tiny robots that will constantly repair our bodies at the cellular level. He predicts people will soon be able to eat whatever they want and stay trim while nanobots in their bodies cure diseases, create immunities and heal injuries.

Even if this fantastical breakthrough becomes reality, is human immortality a good thing? Among the myriad practical and ethical issues, a few spring to mind.