Saturday, 3 January 2015

NO GREATER INCENTIVE TO DO THINGS THAN THE PROSPECT OF LIVING FOREVER (Letter to Dom Post, Jan 3)

I chortled at forensic pathologist John Rutherford unlocking ‘the secrets of death’ for us (January 3), and at his idea that the prospect of living forever means ‘there is no incentive to do things’.

 

Over the centuries, belief in eternal life, as opposed to eternal death, has inspired countless numbers to amazing endeavours in improving life on earth. Random examples springing to mind are Mother Teresa of Calcutta - or Mary Potter, whose worldwide legacy of care for the poor, the sick and the dying includes Wellington’s own hospice. I could go on. There’s plenty of evidence to prove there’s no greater incentive to do things than the prospect of living forever.

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