Is Immortality A Bane Or Boon For Mankind?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 March 2025 A visionary who predicted the internet and smartphones is now making an even bolder claim about the future of humanity. Revolutionary technologies could soon make immortality a reality. In a bold new prediction, Ray Kurzweil, the futurist who foresaw the rise of the internet and the iPhone, believes immortality could be just a few years away. As technology continues to advance rapidly, Kurzweil envisions a future where humans transcend biological limits and overcome aging, pushing human life expectancy far beyond its current boundaries. Kurzweil’s idea of immortality is not simply about living longer; it involves transcending biological limits entirely, with technology merging human biology and artificial intelligence. Yuval Noah Harari also talks about the death of hospitals. He says that the present day hospitals will cease to exist in the days to come. Regenerative medicines can delay natural death. But can you call it good news? Will immortality be a boon or bane for mankind? Whether immortality would be a blessing or a curse for mankind is a complex question with no easy answer, as it depends on the specific context and the nature of immortality itself. Some argue it could lead to societal stagnation, boredom, and a loss of purpose, while others believe it could allow for unprecedented advancements and a richer understanding of existence. While science, particularly Medical Science, must advance and try to transcend all that exists, the idea of immortality or an inordinately long life span engenders many issues in future which may jeopardise life on earth. From the perspective of psychology, if humans are scared of death, they're also bored with life. In Mahabharat, the grand patriarch Bhishma rues on the bed of arrows that immortality is a huge burden (Amaratva ati kashtsaadhyam) and every individual eventually wants to depart from this world. Sigmund Freud's Thanatos, the Death Drive, also concludes that people hold an unconscious desire to die but that life instincts largely temper this wish. Continuity, like surfeit, of anything is undesirable. Geriatric scientists have found that many people in their 80s, despite being fit as a fiddle, start losing zeal for life and the joie de vivre begins to dissipate. A sense of 'what else to achieve' may hover over the head of a person living eternally and not departing anytime soon. With a long life span, comes ennui and immortality may further aggravate the sense of ennui and boredom. Moreover, a large, immortal population could strain Earth's resources, leading to environmental degradation and societal collapse. Without the pressure of mortality, some argue that individuals might lose their drive to achieve and create, leading to a stagnant and uninspired society. Immortality may encourage inequality and social stratification. If immortality were a privilege accessible only to the wealthy, it could exacerbate existing inequalities and create a society where a select few live forever while the rest die. Witnessing the death of loved ones while remaining immortal could be emotionally devastating, and the sheer length of time could lead to mental instability or a detachment from reality. With immortality or excessively long life comes Yayati Syndrome. While not a formal psychological diagnosis, the Yayati Syndrome offers a cultural and moral lens through which to examine human desires, ethical considerations, and the cyclical nature of power and succession. By the way, Yayati Syndrome is the unreasonable power hunger of ageing men. Nature is the most sapient and considerate teacher. It has bestowed upon humans a definite life span. Agreed, when someone dies young, it saddens everyone. That doesn't mean, an individual's life should go on and on. What begins, also ends. The end or a graceful elimination is a must. Death is an icing on the cake, called life. Immortality is an existential audacity that can be avoided. ... A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/immortality-bane-boon-mankind/d/134980 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism