Hank Reard3n

Let's consider this scenario as true: 1. In this century, either through biotechnology/medicine advancements or through the occurrence of a Technological Singularity, we will beat aging and achieve indefinite lifespans. 2. We don't know when it will happen, but the richer one is, the higher the likelihood of him achieving indefinite lifespan, given his higher access to the most advanced medical care available. That is, radical life extending therapies/technologies, the ones that will cure aging, though gradually becoming more accessible, are initially only affordable to the super rich. Another benefit of being super rich is being able to devise the best diet/lifestyle available, through personal trainers and cookers, to maintain oneself in the best shape possible today. 3. The older are, the wiser we get, so it is totally moral to try to live for as long as possible, knowing that with time we'll only get better and better at dealing with life, becoming consequently happier. With radically life extending therapies or if we merge with machines after a technological singularity, no matter how old we are, we'll not become frail; our bodies will indefinitely stay at the peak of health. Now back to today, after having considering these premises as true, could you say that it is wrong, just for example, to try to become rich in immoral ways (like stealing, through fraud, government corruption etc) if one's end is to get rich with the sole purpose of preserving his life in the decades to come? There are many other areas where one would have to change his course of action, though, like picking a career that pays well instead of doing what one loves etc. According to Rand, the goal of morality is life, but she didn't live nor ever consider a scenario with this variable: the possibility of radically extending life itself by money. Now with this variable, is Objectivism, or any other philosophy for that matter, still valid? The issue of whether the scenario is true could fill other 5 topics. Let's just say that after having studied it VERY deeply and diligently, I give the possibility of indefinite lifespan in this century a 50/50 chance of happening. But even if the premises are wrong, the mere possibility that they're true make me think deeply about which course to take and which code of life to adopt.

What does Objectivism has to say about professional traders? Is the occupation in a lower moral plane than, for instance, that of businessmen? I have my opinions but i don't want to bias the discussions so i'll leave them to myself for now.

That's bad indeed, although hard to believe. They're not representing objectivists well then. Any objectivist who prides himself in being so should have basic economic and financial knowledge.

lol i bet she had faith that one of her children would shit golden eggs. now she can't be blamed if she is so unlucky!

Yes this is right. And following this good post, i think that one needs to set realistic goals. Start small, accomplish what you set, and keep making bigger goals. Never give up after you started (even if can think of many reasons to do so), for if you develop this habit, the years will pass by and you'll wonder why you ended up not accomplishing anything important. The more you realize your power to shape reality (by accomplishing smaller goals) the more you'll grow self esteem and the more you'll be able to accomplish. But i'll repeat, because this is most important: never give up after you've set your mind to accomplish something, no matter how many rationalizations your mind comes up with to make you quit and fall into your comfort zone again; consider it a fight for your life (which it ultimately is, because if you can't change your habit of failing to accomplish your goals you'll not be able to change reality to your wishes, thus impairing your ability to live with full happiness). edit: i struggled with this issue for a long time, but Atlas Shrugged changed everything. But that is an issue for another post, or even topic...

"I couldn't help it!" "It was not my fault!" I laughed every time one of these was repetitively mentioned. Reminds me of so many people around me, giving endless excuses for why their lives aren't the way they were "entitled" for it to be. One wonders how so many people have such an incredible "lack of luck" in their lives...