Prologue of the series “Biological Immortality of Human”
Throughout the history of mankind, there has been one unchanging condition for life: a person ages and dies. Civilizations arose and disappeared, sciences developed, technology changed the world, but the biological fate of man remained the same. Sickness, ageing and death seemed as inevitable laws of nature as gravity or the change of seasons.
Therefore, for thousands of years, people have been looking for immortality not in science, but in myths.
Ancient cultures told of gods who do not age. Alchemists were looking for the elixir of life. Philosophers have speculated about the soul that survives the body. Religions promised eternal life in another world.
But the 21st century was the first period in history when the question of immortality began to move from the field of mythology to the field of science.
Modern biology has shown that aging is not a mystical process or an inevitable curse of nature. Aging is a set of biological mechanisms: the accumulation of molecular damage, changes in the work of genes, violation of cellular metabolism, the gradual depletion of the body’s recovery systems.
In other words, aging is a problem.
And any problem that can be described scientifically can theoretically be solved.
Humanity has already learned to do what until recently seemed impossible. We deciphered the human genome. We learned to observe the work of cells at the molecular level. We are beginning to understand the mechanisms that drive body development, tissue aging and regeneration.
Moreover, for the first time, we received tools that allow us to interfere with our own biology.
These changes gave rise to a new philosophical direction – transhumanism.
Transhumanism proceeds from a simple idea: a person is not obliged to forever remain the biological being that evolution formed him. Technology could allow us to push the boundaries of human capabilities – improve health, prolong life, increase intellectual capacity, and perhaps one day overcome biological aging.
This does not mean abandoning human nature. On the contrary, it is a continuation of the deepest human tradition – the desire to overcome restrictions.
The fire allowed the man to survive the cold.
Medicine has made it possible to defeat many diseases.
Science has made it possible to understand the structure of the universe.
The next step could allow a person to change themselves.
However, the path to a radical extension of life will not be easy. It will require years of research, great scientific effort and deep ethical reflection. Not all ideas will turn out to be correct. Not all technology will be safe. And perhaps many of today’s hypotheses will be revised.
But another thing is more important: for the first time in history, humanity began to ask the question not “why are we aging,” but “how to stop aging.”
This series of books is devoted to this very question.
“Biological Immortality of Human” is not a promise of eternal life or a fantasy dream. This is a study of what science already knows about aging, what technologies are being developed today and what opportunities may open up in the future.
Each volume of the series considers one side of this problem: the biology of aging, the genetics of longevity, genome editing technologies, the biochemistry of cellular processes, medical technologies of the future, practical strategies for extending life and the philosophical consequences of possible immortality.
We live in a unique historical moment.
For the first time in the history of mankind, people are beginning to understand the mechanisms of their own mortality. And perhaps it is our generation that stands at the beginning of a new era – an era in which aging will cease to be an inevitable fate.
The question is no longer whether a radical life extension is possible.
The question is how far humanity is willing to go to change its own nature.
This series of books is an invitation to this conversation.
Book 7 of 7,
Print length 149,
Language English,
File size 1,5 Mb (Pdf)
Contents
Prologue of the series “Biological Immortality of Human”
Introduction by the author
The last frontier of humanity
Why the question of immortality becomes the central question of future civilization.
Part I
Dream of immortality
Immortality in ancient mythology
The Search for Eternal Life in History
Religious Beliefs About Everlasting Life
Philosophical views on death
Fear of death
The meaning of the ultimate life
Man in the face of eternity
Part II
Transhumanism and the future of man
Ideas Transhumanism
Philosophy of human improvement
Man as a stage of evolution
Biological evolution and technology
Guided evolution
A new form of humanity
Man and post-man
Part III
Demographics of an Immortal Society
World population
Rising life expectancy
Demographic implications of longevity
Overpopulation
New models of society
Changing family structure
Generations in an Immortal Society
Part IV
The economics of radical longevity
The economic impact of a long life
Pension systems of the future
Work and career in long life
Knowledge economics
Life-long education
New employment patterns
Part V
Ethical issues of immortality
Right to life extension
Longevity technology availability
Social inequality
Human genetic enhancement
Ethical boundaries of biotechnology
Responsibility to future generations
Part VI
Religion and Immortality
Everlasting Life in the World’s Religions
Soul and body
Technological immortality
Religious criticism of biotechnology
New spiritual concepts
Part VII
Civilization of centenarians
Psychology of long life
The meaning of life in a world without aging
Creativity and long life
Culture of immortal society
Science of the future
Space expansion of humanity
Long life and development of civilization
Part VIII
The future of humanity
Possible future scenarios
Man in a thousand years
Boundaries of immortality
Epilog
A Future Without Aging
Biological Immortality of Human (series of 7 books)
Biology of Aging (book one)
Genetics of Longevity (book two)
Genome Editing Technologies (book three)
Biochemistry of immortality (book four)
Technologies of the Future (book five)
Practical Life Extension Strategy (book six)
Philosophy of Immortality (book seven)
Author Andrew Shamov
© Shamov.info Publishing House, 2026
Website: aweGene.com
Email: [email protected]
