In this blog post, we’ll explore whether living a life that approaches eternal life—made possible by advances in science and technology—would actually lead to happiness.

Are eternal life and infinity the same thing?

Now, let’s assume, for the sake of simplicity, that there is a way to achieve eternal life. If we set the variable to “our lives” and let its value approach infinity, what would the result be? It would be eternal life. Of course, in reality, we are not beings capable of living forever. In mathematics, infinity (∞) refers to a concept greater than any real number or natural number, or a state that grows endlessly. No matter how large a number exists, we can always conceive of a number larger than it, and this process continues endlessly. In other words, the concept of infinity has no “boundaries.” And the absence of boundaries also means that there is no concrete entity defined by those boundaries. Ultimately, while ∞ is a very important mathematical concept, it is closer to an ideal concept than something that can actually be attained in reality.
Therefore, “infinite life” is also a concept that is difficult to realize in reality. However, what if science and technology make groundbreaking advances in the future, allowing humans to enjoy a much longer lifespan—even if we cannot achieve true, infinite life? If humans were to live lives that are practically close to eternal life, would we be happier than we are now?

Would an endless life blur the meaning of life?

To answer this question, let’s go back to middle school math class once more. In mathematics, ∞ is essentially the same ∞ whether it is ∞+100 or ∞+999…. No matter how large a number is added, infinity itself does not change.
To understand this concept a little more easily, let’s imagine an infinitely vast ocean. On some days, unfamiliar substances might flow in little by little, and at other times, a massive typhoon might pass through briefly. However, we wouldn’t say that the infinitely vast ocean has transformed into something completely different. This is because the ocean is so immense that any change is ultimately absorbed, and individual differences lose their meaning within the whole.
Similarly, if our lives approach eternity, the differences between today, tomorrow, and the day after may gradually fade. Ultimately, life as a whole might come to resemble a state of stasis, with no significant changes. What we fail to do today can be done tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, then the day after. If time were effectively infinite, our motivation to cherish each day and live our lives to the fullest might weaken compared to what it is now.
If life were nothing but an endless repetition of similar days without any beginning, middle, or end, how different would such a life be from that of a machine continuously producing identical parts in a factory? Some people might end up living their lives under the mistaken belief that this mechanical repetition is life itself. Perhaps even today, quite a few people are already living lives similar to this.
As we’ve seen, infinity is a concept that’s difficult to grasp as a concrete reality because it has no boundaries. The same could be true of eternal life. This is because as the boundary marking the end of life gradually fades, the meaning and substance that make life itself special are also likely to fade along with it.

Is static happiness true happiness?

Of course, some might question this argument. They might ask, “If a peaceful life continues without major changes today or tomorrow, why is that a problem?” They might even counter that this “infinite tranquility” is precisely the ideal state of maximized static pleasure described by the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus.
Epicurus believed that humans can enjoy lasting happiness when they live a natural and moderate life rather than being swayed by endless desires. From this perspective, some people cite trees—which remain rooted in one place for many years—as an ideal model for life. They argue that the way a tree lives slowly, embracing the rain when it falls and the sunlight when it shines, represents the most peaceful and happy life.
But is nature really that peaceful?
The story changes when we examine the fierce competition for survival between pine trees and oak trees. Pine trees are known to secrete substances around their roots that inhibit the growth of other plants. Conversely, oak trees and other broadleaf trees compete by sinking their roots deeper into the ground to secure water and nutrients. Within the forest, competition for light, water, and nutrients continues unceasingly, and each plant adapts and competes in various ways to survive. Even in a forest that appears tranquil on the surface, living organisms are engaged in this fierce struggle for survival.
The following sentence illustrates this reality well.

“The comfort we derive from trees should not be an escapist comfort, but rather an empathetic comfort gained through an understanding of the fated lives of Earth’s living beings.”

This statement suggests that rather than viewing trees simply as symbols of peace and static happiness, we should understand them as beings that constantly compete for survival.
In this way, all life on Earth—including humans—has evolved amid constant change and competition for survival. Furthermore, it can be argued that we have evolved to feel happiness in the process of striving toward goals, addressing deficiencies, and seeking new possibilities.
In other words, happiness is not so much a result granted once a destination is reached, but rather an emotion experienced within a cyclical process that proceeds as “deprivation → longing → fulfillment → another deprivation → another longing.” Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that a life characterized by a completely static state necessarily leads to true happiness.
In the same vein, the advancement of science and technology can also be seen as stemming from humanity’s ceaseless desire to pursue a better life. Human aspirations to solve new problems, overcome limitations, and make the previously impossible possible have driven the development of science and technology.
A famous scene from Stanley Kubrick’s film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ symbolically illustrates this point. The moment an ape begins to use a bone as a tool, the screen leaps forward millions of years to show a spaceship. This scene symbolically demonstrates that the development of human civilization is not merely the result of the passage of time, but rather the outcome of ceaseless challenges and desires directed toward new possibilities.

Can science and technology make humans happier?

Summarizing the discussion so far, the proposition that “humanity will become happier than it is now because science and technology will bring about eternal life” needs to be reconsidered from the following three perspectives.
First, the premise of this proposition itself is questionable. As examined earlier, science and technology have, by their very nature, continued to evolve not by remaining static but by creating new desires and addressing them. Even today, fields such as biotechnology, regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and gene-editing technologies are rapidly advancing toward extending human healthy lifespan. However, considering scientific achievements to date, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that “eternal life”—which would grant humans infinite lifespans—will be realized. While science and technology will continue to advance toward solving new problems, it is difficult to assume that this will inevitably lead to eternal life.
Second, even if we assume that a very long lifespan becomes possible in some way, we cannot conclude that it will make humans happier. On the contrary, if the end of life were to effectively disappear, people might end up living in an infinitely repeating cycle of time rather than cherishing each day as special. If that were to happen, each person’s life might become more like a mechanical existence of repeating the same tasks every day, rather than a process of crafting their own unique story.
Third, happiness is ultimately an emotion experienced within a cyclical process of “deprivation → desire → fulfillment → another deprivation.” Humans find meaning and satisfaction in life through the process of setting new goals and striving toward them. If eternal life were to weaken or halt this cyclical structure, the vital source of happiness would likely fade as well.
Christianity is commonly known as a major religion that promises “eternal life in heaven.” According to the Bible, when the Pharisees asked Jesus about the Kingdom of God, he replied, “The Kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be observed; nor can people say, ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is.’ The Kingdom of God is within you.” These words suggest that the true meaning of life and happiness do not exist only at some point in the future or in a specific place, but must be discovered within the life we are living right now.
Where do you think the true Kingdom of Heaven lies? Are we perhaps so captivated by the possibility of eternal life—which science and technology may one day bring—that we are missing the meaning of the life given to us in this very moment? Is the pursuit of endless self-preservation truly the ultimate purpose of life, or is living faithfully in the present—which is all the more precious precisely because it is finite—the path to true happiness?
Perhaps science and technology can extend human life, but they cannot create meaning and happiness in our place. Rather, isn’t it precisely because life is finite that each day is precious, and isn’t it the very existence of an end that gives rise to the will to live the present more meaningfully? In this sense, the meaning of life lies not in eternal life in the distant future, but in the attitude with which we live this very moment.