"vulnerable agelessness", yes but the degree of acceptable vulnerability varies by individual. Some desire a theoretical lifespan that's beyond that of this planet. To achieve this one must be capable of withstanding quite a vast number of forms of insults/injuries/attacks/accidents, some say that this be not possible.

But after giving much thought to this question, I've found that there is a way, one way to achieve this. I posit a name for such a state, "celestial". For it is akin to the celestial bodies a magnificent body, of extreme longevity, for no weapon of man can injure one who attains such a state, for no known phenomena can injure one who attains it.

[Posted by: Asterix at September 21, 2004 9:22 AM]

I agree that we need a better word to describe someone who has been cured of aging, but can still die of an accident, homicide, suicide, or even infectous disease. Immortality, by popular meaning, means to live forever without the possibility of dying, which is clearly impossible.

Possible words include:
emortality
amortality
agelessness

Any other suggestions?

[Posted by: Kurt at September 21, 2004 9:37 AM]

I'm reminded of the "incorruptibles," dead people - usually Catholic saints - that don't decay.

I'm not suggesting that word, it's already got baggage, I'm just thinking out loud.

[Posted by: Stephen Gordon at September 21, 2004 2:59 PM]

"I agree that we need a better word to describe someone who has been cured of aging, but can still die of an accident, homicide, suicide, or even infectous disease. Immortality, by popular meaning, means to live forever without the possibility of dying, which is clearly impossible."

I find "ageless" to be a quite fitting description. But do not think that that's all there is to it. For example, If a portable means to quickly cryo-preserve the head is developed, one'd be able to survive most types of accidents and attempts at homicide. If a way is found to allow survival even after considerable brain damage(as occurs in some cases), and to regenerate, so as to regain lost ability, we begin to see that survival is far more likely.

Same goes for suicide and homicide, genetically modified to have a more stable mental state, and to be less agressive, and more caring, this would drastically fall too. Safer automated transports with multiple back-up systems would also provide a further degree of safety.

Some've talked of up-loads, but I'm not entirely sure about back-up copies. What I've labelled as celestial state, is for example a superintelligence spread throughout ever vaster networks, and self-improving. As you can see such a being would be capable of withstanding vast insults, and ever greater insults as it is self-improving, man made viruses and weapons would be useless as it defense systems would become impervious to such simple means of attack.

[Posted by: Asterix at September 22, 2004 4:46 AM]

I think physical immortality is an illusion, but who knows in the future we might have the means to live ,say for a thousand years without aging. At 55 I feel man's present life span is too short. I think there are still so many things left for me to do. I hope someone comes up with a cure for aging. My time here is running out.

alakeshwar

[Posted by: alakeshwar at November 21, 2006 5:55 AM]

the 'Encarta" definition of immortal is: "able to live or last forever". Being "able to" doesn't mean you you will, it simply means it's possible.

So why not define "physical immortality" as the process of continually making the biological, psychological and sociological changes necessary to achieve the objective of living forever.

[Posted by: Doug Morris at March 17, 2008 5:19 PM]

This world isn't good enough for me to want to live forever in it. Not this world. Not this universe. Not this plane. If there is no God or afterlife, and I don't think there is, than I'm not interested in staying conscious of this world beyond my natural time.

I was already bored with the repetitiveness of the known world and universe when I was a small child. Why would I want to keep this life indefinitely? No. No. No. You can and will get sick of form. You will get sick of the very essence of this universe and plane, it will prove too limiting.

I can't see this universe having enough freedom and variety to keep me interested in any respect for an indefinite amount of time. I'm already sick of it. Maybe if we could become energy balls without bodies. I can't predict how I would feel in a completely new body with new freedoms in this world so you never know, but I am at this time in doubt of my enjoyment of it.

[Posted by: Trevor at September 17, 2008 3:44 PM]