Imagine a world where car turning blinkers are never turned off. Being afraid of a world of aged drivers, not to mention all the other resources an older population would take over. These anxieties are ridiculous but there is a camp out there that believes those who wish to live forever are being selfish and this ethical question is being punted about more often these days.
As scientific research into the medicine of human regeneration via stem cell therapies moves forward, more knowledge is acquired regarding longevity, life saving transplants – both organ and tissue – and with geneticists untangling secrets of senescence, science fiction is rapidly becoming reality.
Strangely, the people insisting that there are ethics concerning immortality have a preconceived answer in their heads even before debate erupts – it is NOT RIGHT! Much is being written in books, articles and editorials concerning individual moral torment from both sides of the issue about human beings sticking around much longer than God himself intended when he created our genetic codes.
What is it about the thought of potential immortality that strikes fear into so many? There are many reasons if a person spent a few minutes perusing the angst driven scrawling of the anti ager sect. More often than not the argument concerning medical research to develop a world of log living oldsters would cost us too much money – as if it came straight out of our own personal savings. It would be a horrific experiment, specifically on the oldsters themselves since a longer life would mean more age related ailments to contend with like osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and dementia, not to mention gum disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Who needs this kind of hassle?
Still one more argument is it isn’t right that we humans attempt to achieve immortality since it goes against the innate manner of things – it disrupts the tidy order of life. The maximum life we can expect and rarely achieve is about one hundred years old. Some manage longer due to pristine genetics and luck. One of us was even recorded to have survived to one hundred twenty two years old – a woman in France. When we speak of these extended ages we are way beyond what our Creator or nature ever intended for us.
Another concern about a world of immortals is that the younger generations will be denied their opportunity to shine – as if they could be stopped somehow. It might also get really boring and oppressive if these young and potential shining lights never had their opportunity to thrive in the world. The planet would be full of egotistical and ineffective individuals believing they are worthy of as much additional life as they desire – perpetually.
Do these topics of debate deserve our attention? Is it really that immoral to look to government and private industry to source out new ideas and concrete methods that would enable us all to live much lengthier lives?
So Can We At Least Live Longer – If Not Forever?
To begin with, we must remove the question of immortality from the equation. Nothing manmade yet exists – or is even close – that will aid humanity toward everlasting life. Some experts think that will change sooner than later – we will see. Forget about living forever at least in this lifetime. The real argument is whether we can actually extend life to the outer limits of existing life spans.
The debate that we should cease our effort to extend life because we will only grow older, more fragile and dependent is just ridiculous. No one is recommending that we break the bank to promote medical research in pursuit of life extension with the additional pain and suffering that goes along with advanced age. The plan surrounding drastic life extension is to be able to live a reasonably healthy life for a much longer time period. If life extension means staying alive longer while living in pain or worse still, the fog of Alzheimer’s disease – there really is no debate. However, this is not the issue or the argument.
As far as breaching some innate restriction if we last longer than we do now – whose restriction would that be? Our natural life spans have already been doubled in the past two millennia. Does this mean we are in the midst of an abnormal and corrupt period of our human existence?
If you look at the lives of many in the bible there is much evidence suggesting humans lived for hundreds of years. If you are not interested in biblical proof, take a look at evolution as a whole and you will notice there is no law regarding the length of time a particular species will survive. Some insects are here for a few days and you’ll find a species of sea urchin living for a thousand years – who decides? Nature has no cards in this game of how long we will live for – just that we will perpetuate the species. Innate life spans do not exist – only our capacity to do more with our medical health, industrial, technological and agricultural abilities.
There is a bit of fact in the theory of long living seniors making it tough on the younger generations to step up and show what they have to offer. No problem exists here wither if we can alter some existing social and cultural behaviors and rules that will make it easier for youth to shine and resources to be available for everyone. An obvious modification is to adjust the retirement age upwards but posting a time limit on the length of time a person can hold specific employment. This permits movement up the ladder for youth and fresh ideas.
A form of affirmative action for young people could be installed so the leadership ranks would be available to those who deserve the opportunity. At the same time employers could provide some enticing retirement packages for those who wish to opt out of the rat race early.
It also isn’t a vanity issue or self indulgent for people to want to extend their lives. Ask anyone close to your like your grandkids or friends, children or life mates if they want you around longer. It might be somewhat vain to contemplate immortality but the vast majority of those interested simply have a desire to be there loner for their loved ones.
Regardless of all the whining and allegations being made, there is precious little evidence that having a desire to live longer is immoral or something terrible. There is no case to support this and in fact it is a normal human condition to want to try and live longer for most. The species demands it. With that in mind, maintain your exercise regimen, offer support for regenerative medical research and find a source of sustainable income that pays well into your late nineties at least – you might need the money.
Anti Aging Theories,
Immortality,
Longevity
© Carl Joseph for Anti Aging and Human Immortality News, 2011. |
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