Can we live forever? What would it mean for our bodies and minds if we did? How would society be affected if we just gave up death? And if the science is available, what is really stopping us? Join neuroscientist Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston as he explores these questions and more with expertise and compassion, drawing on his book The Future Loves You: How and Why We Should Abolish Death.
Zeleznikow-Johnston argues that preserving a person in stasis for future revitalisation and repair could be the logical extension of our current medical practices, and shows us that credible procedures already exist for storing not just the body but the self. He also takes a look at the philosophical and social questions around living forever, addressing worries about overpopulation and social stagnation as well as the meaning of life. Dr Zeleznikow-Johnston is a neuroscientist at Monash University, Australia, where he investigates methods for characterising the nature of conscious experiences.
In conversation with author and tech philosopher Tom Chatfield.