Tag: Ethics

Recently, we've published an article explaining why life extension is not a selfish endeavor. As a matter of fact, life extension is a rather altruistic endeavor, though this depends on your interpretation of the definition. Let's dig deeper. What is altruism? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, altruism is disinterested and selfless concern for the...

Freedom is a rather big deal in this age. We want freedom of speech, political freedom, press freedom, religious freedom, and freedom of choice over anything that may concern us directly. Different kinds of freedom are available in different amounts in different areas of the world, and while many people tend to see the glass...

The knowledge that every ambition is doomed to frustration at the hands of a skeleton has never prevented the majority of human beings from behaving as though death were no more than an unfounded rumor. The quote above is by Aldous Huxley. It sums up very well humanity's attitude towards death, and interestingly, it can...

Suppose you're in your mid-seventies, and you find out that your aortic valve doesn't work very well. Undergoing a replacement operation—nowadays, a relatively simple and safe procedure—is not only going to help you with your unpleasant episodes of fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness, it may well save your life, minimizing your risk of sudden cardiac...

You’re probably familiar with the feeling of slight disappointment that you may have when a good thing—say, a nice trip—is over. Just as you say that it's too bad that the experience is already finished, someone will probably say that you had a good time nonetheless; an innocent, fitting expression to cheer you up a...

What is it that really matters: preserving individual lives or preserving humanity? Is it more important to grant individuals the option to live as long as they'd like in good health, or is it more important to ensure the preservation of our species? This sort of question isn't unheard of in the context of discussions...