Examination of the genetic code of all intelligent beings thus far discovered indicates a genetic predisposition to procreation at a precoded span in each organism's life. Although that procreation range occurs comparatively later in the life span of an organism with greater cognitive capacity, in all organisms studied to date that range coincides with the range of greatest physical health....

Thus, achieving individual organic physical non-degradation ('physical immortality'), defined as removal of all genetic tendencies for organic self-destruction on the cellular level, will by definition increase the reproductive rate beyond a neutral populace growth rate.

Over a sufficient period of time, any organism with a positive level of populace growth-- no matter how small that growth rate--unless checked by outside forces, will come to require virtually all the resources within its ability to acquire....

Any habitat can support a small number of virtual immortals or a much larger number of mortals.... Technology depends on a certain critical mass, however, often smaller than the number of immortals that can be supported by a given habitat....

The dilemma faced by any species with the capability to achieve individual physical immortality is whether to reject such physical immortality, to adapt genetic codes to lower populace growth, to develop cultural norms for stable populace growth, or to use technology to accommodate increasing habitat needs....

The use of technology to increase usable habitat will, in sufficient time, result in conflict with other species, and, in historical practice, the elimination of either the attacking or defending species as a threat to the other....

Can a species which refuses to adapt, either through genetic, biological, or cultural means, its reproductive expansion to its habitats be termed intelligent? Can mere survival of a species which employs diverse technology be termed a proof of intelligence? If one subculture of a species in conflict with another subculture demonstrates the ability and the will to limit its expansion, should we regard the favourably behaving and the unfavourably behaving subcultures as differing species? How can a species, even ours, ethically justify the use of force against another species on the grounds that the other species will in time use force to eliminate our species? Should we ...

These are the questions this colloquy has attempted to bring forth for discussion....

The Parafaith War - chapter:14

Can violence and the use of force to effect change upon the universe be left to the young? Do they see what was, what is, and what might yet be? Have they suffered, watched evil fall upon the good, or good upon the evil?

Or should the burden of violence be left to those who can bear it most lightly--upon those who have closed their minds or their feelings? How then can they understand the suffering they must inflict?

Should the burden of force be laid upon the short-lived, who will not see the consequences of their actions? How can they dispense force with compassion if they can escape the knowledge of what they do?...

The greater the force brought to bear, the older and wiser must be the entity who wields it. Wisdom allows sorrow. Age allows experience, and knowledge reinforces wisdom and experience....

Those who would bear the burden of force must be those who are strong and do not seek it, for those who seek force would misuse it, and those who are weak would shy from what they must do....

The Parafaith War - chapter:69

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