Can Aging Be Solved?

• Backwardness of Logic TR: So it doesn't imply that there is a solution to aging? LH: Why would you want to do that? # what?! TR: Some people would like to slow or halt the aging process. LH: They haven't thought about the consequences. We relate to each other by perceptions of differences in age, which would be destroyed if some chose to increase their longevity and some did not. # Yes it would, that is what disruptive innovations do. And incidentally, why would you want to keep the status quo? … People who say they want extended longevity say they want it to be so when life satisfaction is greatest. # That's one of the reasons but not the most important one as you picture it here. How about we take the lost of one's loved ones for a reason. Have you given thought to the horrible trauma that people go through as a consequence of losing someone and the enormousness of its impact on people's life? I think you have got this all backward. Yet they won't know [when that is] until late in life. # Backwards again… yes, it is true that nostalgia comes to you when you have lost something but if you never get to lose it then there is no reason to be nostalgic about it. If I never get to be old I would not have any perception of being old and losing my youthfulness and therefore I would not miss it. Why would I? It would not even cross my mind is it will be nonexistence.

  darwinskerne... 07/01/2009 Posts:1 Avg Rating:

  • Re: Backwardness of Logic Dr. Hayflick reminds me of Einstein commenting on God not playing dice to discredit quantum physics. A father of the field tries to "hold your horses." Also, I didn't like his car analogy.  The body is self-repairing.  Various human cells have been immortalized.  There are all sorts of reasons why that analogy is specious. Aside from all the many reasons we should try to extend life: 1)  People can invest more in achieving and employing great capabilities and skills that may require decades to master, resulting in all the greater realization of human potential 2)  There will need no longer be a tradeoff between wisdom and vigour 3)  Old folks can be happy and productive, rather than bored and burdensome 4)  If we do not respect life to the extent of focusing on its preservation, then what moral claims do we possess? 5)  As with Everest, because it is there to be conquered.

    mikey248 07/08/2009 Posts:1 Avg Rating:

• hmmm... There seems to be a great deal of 'faith' in Dr. Hayflick's views on the inevitabililty of ageing...an holistic 'correctness' to death simply because people have always been born, lived and died. He says those who would extend life 'haven't thought it through'. I completely disagree. Just because we can't predict what will happen if people suddenly start to live longer doesn't mean no one has thought about the ramifications. Just because we can't predict the future doesn't mean catastrophe is certain.

  avacoder 07/01/2009 Posts:1 Avg Rating:

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