technology
Leon Kass, famously stated two decades ago ‘ We stand at the brink of a scientific revolution, one that could allow humans to live far longer, perhaps even indefinitely.’ Biotechnology, the field where we harness living systems to reshape human health, now stands poised to deliver on this promise. Longevity – the concept of radically extended lifespans. When both of these forces are combined, it introduces one of the most controversial frontiers of our time.
As science races towards improving human lifespan, we must ask ourselves the million dollar question: just because we can possibly add decades to human lives, does that mean we should? Yes, Longevity Biotech does mean we could eliminate several age-related diseases but what about society? They seem nowhere near ready to confront such a mind-blowing concept. Therefore, this essay will evaluate the social, moral and ethical implications of longevity through biotechnology, weighing its triumphs against its potential perils and come to a firm conclusion at the end.
First and foremost, as previously stated, longevity through biotechnology can eradicate several age – related illnesses, ultimately ameliorating the quality of life. Some diseases include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, cardiovascular diseases, age – related macular degeneration and certain types of cancers as well. Biotechnology is working triumphantly to finding cures to these life-threatening diseases by using stem-cell therapies, gene-therapies, cellular senescence and more. Majority of these treatments are still undergoing testing. Although not all of them may offer a complete “cure,” they could all greatly extend life expectancy and lessen the burden of age-related illnesses. Some companies such as Stark Age Therapeutics, BioAge Labs and Altos Lab are already investing money on these type of therapies, aspiring to discover a cure to several illnesses.
Conversely, critics believe that discovering cures to age-related illnesses would lead to overpopulation and ultimately to resource scarcity. For instance, visualize our world as a lifeboat, one which is already suspended at a perilously low level in the ocean. Now, introduce generations of inhabitants who never die. Once the load capacity of the lifeboat has been exceeded, it will definitely start to sink. This is the resource reality of radical longevity. While diseases are being eradicated one by one, this could mean that older people live longer, hence the need for more resources increases simultaneously. Recent studies published by Nature Aging 2023 research, show that each additional decade of life contributes 17% to an individual’s lifetime carbon footprint.
Furthermore, scarcity of resources and economic pressure are unavoidable as pension systems breakdown with the burden of additional retirees. Japan is a perfect case in point as it already devotes 10% of GDP to elderly care, with dwindling workforces barely able to sustain them.
Moving on, beyond the societal debates, extending human lifespans could unlock unprecedented economic and rational gains for society. Imagine a world where brilliant minds like Albert Einstein, or Shakespeare or Newton had decades more to uncover more scientific breakthroughs for the world. For instance, Einstein could have established his now unfinished work about unified field theory. It’s also commonly claimed that Einstein had scribbled an equation his hospital bed, which up to this date remains a mind – boggling mystery. Who knows? If deciphered, it might have led to a groundbreaking discovery.
On top of that, research shows that Nobel – Prize winners create their revolutionary work at an average age of 50. With healthy, long lives, society could possibly retain its most intelligent innovators, artists, and leaders at their prime, accumulating a century of experience instead of retiring when their abilities are at their prime. Each additional decade of a productive lifespan could lead to more collective knowledge, ultimately profiting the society in multiple ways. This longevity dividend would not only add life years but it could extend the human civilization in revolutionary manners.
On the flip side, sociologists argue that longevity through biotechnology will probably only be available to the well – settled people of the society. Nowadays, cutting – edge medical treatments are already inaccessible to most people. So, if anti-aging therapies cost a fortune, only the wealthier people could afford them, leading to a biological caste system where the wealthy live decades longer. This is attested to, by a 2021 Lancet study in which it’s illustrated that richer individuals live 10 to 15 years longer than the poor populations since they enjoy better healthcare. Longevity Biotech could exacerbate this gap. This rather builds a barrier between the rich and the poor, ultimately creating what people call as ‘ Social-Inequality ’.
Moreover, the wealthier class retaining their health and vigor for more years may lead to a concentration of powerful positions within their grasp, making it nearly impossible for younger generations to access successful career paths or opportunities. Oxford Economics suggests that the older workforce’s willingness to fully retire at some distant point in the future compounds the risk of increased competition across different age gaps.
Though biotechnology can potentially increase our average lifespan or possibly enable us to live for decades more, it also has its own social and ethical dilemmas. As we stand between crossroads, contemplating about what path to take, the answer in itself is merely simple. Utilising biotechnology to increase an individual’s lifespan must be done by guiding it in with cautious and ethical frameworks, inclusive policies and collective, global cooperation. Longer lifespans shouldn’t only be a privilege to a few but rather a tool for all.
As they say, ‘ Balance is not something you find, but it’s something you create ‘, so by creating a balanced relationship between innovation and responsibility, we can firmly ensure that longer lives could form a more liable and equitable world for all!
By: Melani Sandra
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