Health

Why Live Forever? Life Is Long Enough

What are the ethical and social consequences of radically increasing lifespans? Should we accept a natural end, or should we find a cure to aging?

Why Live Forever? Life Is Long Enough
Getty Images / Christopher Furlong

What if we didn't have to grow old and die? The average American can expect to live for 78.8 years, an improvement over the days before clean water and vaccines, when life expectancy was closer to 50. 

Researchers around the world have been working on arresting the process of aging through biotechnology and finding cures to diseases, such as Alzheimer's and cancer. 

What are the ethical and social consequences of radically increasing lifespans? Should we accept a "natural" end, or should we find a cure to aging? 

To hear a different perspective, watch "Want To Live Forever? We Should Cure Aging." Catch the full debate at Intelligence Squared U.S.