Kass on Medical Advancements

Modern science presents may issues concerning human life. Leon Kass confronts the issue of immortality and prolonged life in his article, entitled Why Not Immortality?. Those involved in science hold the position that this could only benefit mankind. Kass, however, realizes the dangers involved in science’s position. He uses his article as a means of educating his readers on the possible problems, or at least to help them to think for themselves about the …

…be avoided by changing our outlook on immortality. We should view immortality as something that comes with the perpetuation of our species. It is also important that we encourage education as a means of immortality. This worked for Socrates in the Phaedo, who was concerned with using logoi as a means of becoming, in some sense, immortal. Using perpetuation and education to gain immortality will be better than trying to find immortality in prolonging life.