Child prodigy gets degree in physics at age 11: “Immortality is my goal”

psychnewsdaily.com

4 points·missy-davies··5 comments

He finished a master in physics summa cum laude. Does he understand that the universe has an end and that immortality for that reason is an impossible goal to achieve?

Universe? What a limited view!

>Does he understand that the universe has an end and that immortality for that reason is an impossible goal to achieve?

I think he understands that this is a useless correction, and that e.g. 1,000,000 years of life are both very much below the heat death of the universe, and close enough to immortality compared to our 80-90 year life expectancy, for the issue not to matter.

That said, he's going nowhere near even double life expectancy, just like everybody else wont go there in the next 100-200 years (my prediction, would bet on it if only we could see the result of the bet). Not only we won't be getting that, but we'd be lucky if we avoid worsen quality of life and career prospects, and premature death due to climate change, wars, famines, and so on.

I agree fully with you. I also think he might change his ideas on becoming immortal once he is a little older and comes to the conclusion that life has no meaning in itself and that even when you achieve a lot, everything while be undone in the future. Or when he realizes the lonelines of being smarter than most people. There is a strong correlation between intelligence and existential depression.

(I had thought about writing about this in my initial comment, but hesitated about stating it, because I did not feel at ease to write this about a person of his age.)

That’s my thought too - there are so many other factors in life that can make us feel isolated from others.

Being exceedingly smart is highly praised by society... but worth the price?

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