Superlongevity and Other Physical Enhancements

As the first chapter in the section, “Five Categories of Enhancement,” physical enhancements, particularly superlongevity, are explored. Examples show how big money is poured into efforts to terminate aging in the human species. The chapter explains Longevity Escape Velocity, that is, living long enough to partake of technology to live forever. Religious issues are engaged, including role of the body in prolongevity scenarios, some of which maintain our basic physicality and others that dispense with the body as we know it. Superlongevity is ethically evaluated in light of the therapy—enhancement continuum and ways to make us better, choice, and justice. Attention is given to ageism, new social divisions between the “enhanced” and the “unenhanced,” and population explosion. As with all chapters, discussion questions are included.