What if someone told you the answer to immortality was just a few decades away – would you believe them? Sixty-five-year-old Ray Kurzweil is determined to find this answer, and his theories of how he will do it are substantial. Will Oremus, the author of “The Race for Immortality,” explains Kurzweil’s and other scientists’ theories of immortality and how they are possible. Keeping an impartial tone throughout the article, Oremus informs readers of Kurzweil’s theory of singularity, how he plans to apply it, and just how soon we can plan to see these advances.

In the article, Kurzweil is introduced as a computer scientist and inventor who is on his way to deciphering the code to immortality. He has goals at his workplace at Google, but none come close to his goal of conquering death. The article continues on to explain John von Neumann’s idea of “singularity.” The theory of singularity explicates that there will be a point in time when all machines will become as smart as the average human. Oremus explains, “Kurzweil forecasts that we’ll eventually be implanting computers and nanobots in our bodies and brains to enhance their natural functions.” According to his scheme, this is the second step to immortality. “And someday – by 2045, to be precise – we’ll have machines so sophisticated that we’ll essentially be able to back up our minds to the cloud.” And this is the third step which, hypothetically, will come in 31 years.

Kurzweil backs up and explains the key to his theory. He clarifies that these technological advances will transpire exponentially, rather than gradually. He confides that all technology will ultimately become a form of information technology. Because of his age, Kurzweil knows there is no guarantee he will live to appreciate the launch of singularity, even if it is in the near future. This is why he is rapidly, but meticulously, trying to beat death before it beats him.
This topic is one to take a closer look at. Whether you believe in what Kurzweil has to say about immortality or not, he gives evidence through his singularity theory, and his justifications for eternal life and strategies for it to succeed make for a fascinating controversy.

Despite having some followers, Kurzweil also has many critiques – this is not hard to believe. Although he is said to energetically defend himself and widely spread his ideas, his justifications will not discontinue the counterarguments against Kurzweil. There are always skeptics, especially when addressing a topic that was previously thought of as a fictitious superpower obtained by Peter Pan. People are absorbed in their own personal beliefs; they don’t like to make room for new or different philosophies of life. Some may even be afraid to believe in an immortality theory due to the beliefs or religion they follow.

However, people are open to suggestions and will listen to and learn from Kurzweil’s theories. With thorough research and an open mind, these types of people will be intrigued by his beliefs and become a follower. These people will see the credibility in his scientific evidence and find themselves agreeing with or grasping his ideas. But some people will be completely receptive to suggestion and will count on on every word he says. While Kurzweil’s theories may be correct, these people won’t inquire for any evidence or proof, they will just follow him because they want something to believe in.

So where do you stand on this topic? The idea of immortality is far-fetched. But the theory of singularity makes sense and so does the statement that technology will advance exponentially, bringing immortality nearer. We see it in our world today – landlines to cell phones to smartphones – each year brings more technological change than the last, and now smartphones are an extension to our minds.