Future milestones

I heard a recent news broadcast where "births, marriage and death" were described as the most significant milestones in our lives. I wondered if this was really true anymore - at least in the so called 'developed' socieites. We have after all through birth control reduced the number and frequency of births and for many it's only a short interlude in worklife as babies are consigned to child care. Marriage has become a series of events with less and less ceremony attached to each successive one. And as for death, well except where it is unexpected, life extension is pushing it further and further out and the dying process is being handled in an increasingly pain free way. Some think that as humans and machines merge 'death' may be avoided all together.

So if we are freed from these biologically determined milestones what will we use to mark the passage of time. While there seems to be some evidence that major discontinuities like war, tsunami or a September 11 have filled some of this void, could it be that in creating a world of endless choice we are destroying our chances of finding meaning? How will our society organise itself when we have five or more generations alive and well at the same time?

Perhaps one of the most interesting trends of the 21st century will be a renewed search for meaning in a post biology world?