The
Rational Argumentator
Eliminating Death -- Part 7 -- Ayn Rand's "Immortal Robot" Argument -- Video
Some Objectivists oppose or are at least skeptical of indefinite human life extension on the grounds that immortal human beings would be akin to the “immortal, indestructible robot” Ayn Rand described and alleged cannot have any values. Mr. Stolyarov argues that it will never be possible for human beings to be completely indestructible, even if they progressively eliminate various causes of death. The absence of death does not imply the absence of the possibility of death, even for so simple a reason as that human beings can always choose (however foolishly and irrationally) to commit suicide. Moreover, even if there existed an immortal, indestructible robot with otherwise human properties, Mr. Stolyarov argues that such a being can have values, because the threat of being destroyed is not a conscious entity’s sole motive for acting.
Please help promote this video by going to this page and giving it a rating of five stars, as well as embedding it on your websites and sharing it with others.
G. Stolyarov II is an actuary, science fiction novelist, independent philosophical essayist, poet, amateur mathematician, composer, contributor to Enter Stage Right, Le Quebecois Libre, Rebirth of Reason, and the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Senior Writer for The Liberal Institute, former weekly columnist for GrasstopsUSA.com, and Editor-in-Chief of The Rational Argumentator, a magazine championing the principles of reason, rights, and progress. Mr. Stolyarov also publishes his articles on Helium.com and Associated Content to assist the spread of rational ideas. He holds the highest Clout Level (10) possible on Associated Content and is one of Associated Content's Page View Millionaires. Mr. Stolyarov has also written a science fiction novel, Eden against the Colossus, a non-fiction treatise, A Rational Cosmology, and a play, Implied Consent. You can watch his YouTube Videos. Mr. Stolyarov can be contacted at gennadystolyarovii@yahoo.com.
Click here to return to TRA's Issue CLXXXII Index.
Learn about Mr. Stolyarov's novel, Eden against the Colossus, here.Read Mr. Stolyarov's comprehensive treatise, A Rational Cosmology, explicating such terms as the universe, matter, space, time, sound, light, life, consciousness, and volition, here.