If you could take an anti-aging pill once per day to arrest the process, would you do so? Imagine the cost is minimal (say, a penny per day), and though it would not stop already-acquired advanced illness, nor preclude normal illness (flu, cold, etc.) or accident, let's assume it would take all future life-threatening disease (such as heart disease and cancer) off the table, and it would allow you to retain the overall health and vitality you currently enjoy at whatever age you decide to begin taking the pill. The only question for many would be, at what age do I begin taking this pill?

Some though, may question if they truly want to live forever. If the pill cannot reverse aging (it just stops the process when you begin taking it) then when the pill first comes available, many elderly and/or infirm may opt not to take it. Others may feel that immortality comes in a next life or through a process of regeneration and/or rebirth, and opt out based on personal beliefs. And then there is the question of overpopulation. Would we figure a way to sustain, if the mortality rate suddenly plummeted? Many people would optimistically (narcissistically) think so, and not worry.

But would we truly be happy (or Happy) with immortality? From experience, it feels that everything of value is fleeting. Life is fleeting. Health is fleeting. Happiness is fleeting. If immortality were suddenly thrust upon us, would Living lose some appeal? And some value? And how long before boredom sets in? Additionally, immortality (in this scenario) does not guarantee freedom from pain and adversity. There is no caveat for unlimited wealth; only improved health and vitality. There is no provision for sudden peace and harmony amongst all people. Can we bear an eternity of work, struggle, politics, bureaucracy, conflict, nuisance, the daily grind - not to mention poison ivy and the in-laws? Granted, there are numerous enjoyable, rewarding aspects in Life that for many far outweigh the adversity; but still, eternity is a very long time.

Albert Camus said, "There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living..." The anti-aging scenario presented puts this question in terms that would be relevant to each of us. We would have to make a choice that could be presented in varying ways. Some may say you are choosing between Life and suicide. Others may say you are choosing between narcissistic youth and the wisdom of old age. And still others may look at it as a choice between health/vitality and the potential for an agonizingly slow death. I believe it is this last argument that may sway many of us; at least those under the age of 50.

So what if the pharmaceutical gods that make this pill (legally and by government edict) made 1 out of every 500,000 to induce a deep sleep and a painless, peaceful death. This provision would add some interest to the proposition of potential immortality, and some value to Living. Additionally, it would help with the aforementioned issues of overpopulation and sustainability. And it would force everyone to not only more carefully consider IF they would take it, but also at what age they would begin. If one waited too long they could succumb to an irreversible, natural, life-threatening illness; too soon and they could die young as the one out of half-a-million.

Though it has been consistently predicted to be on the horizon, science and technology have yet to provide an anti-aging pill or freedom from the threat of slow, painful, terminal illness. Some believe it will come. If it does, what decisions will you make?