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Notes -
That's not quite what I'm saying.
Propagation of genes matters if there is to be any future where intelligent life exists at all.
I don't begrudge the nihilists who don't think there's anything 'special' about intelligent life or humans in particular, and who think that the universe is utterly apathetic to our continued existence.
However, I doubt that they can have any real certainty in that regard.
I think it is preferable to have someone (intelligent and conscious) around to experience the future and see where it's going, than to not have anyone around at all. So in order to ensure that there is someone around, I can either figure out how to live forever, or do things that will help ensure that intelligent life exists in the future.
One of the most succinct explanations for why you might want to keep plugging along in spite of it all, was delivered by Lex Fucking Luthor in the Justice League Animated Series.
"Objectively speaking, nothing matters! So go forth and do stuff that matters... to you."
My other favored response to people who say "why bother" is Asimov's The Last Question.
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