Live Longer or Live Better?

Posted by hts | March 8, 2008 .

I think that everyone should ask themselves, at one point in their lives, what is more desirable: to live longer or to live better? Like, what do you prefer? Live 200 boring year OR 75 (let’s say) exciting years (well, not all of them, but most…)
Now, I meditated on this for long times, sincerely, several times, actually, but I am not sure of an answer - not yet, anyway. However, if it were for me to choose this (as in “A OR B”), I think I’d choose to live better…less as in numbers, but a higher “quality”.

This time, this issue popped up in my mind when I read Scott’s of wrevenue.com blogpost about aging and why people don’t, but should support anti-aging technology research.
Well, Scott seems to take a different approach in showing his support for such an endeavor, by blogging about the issue and offering $20 for everyone who follows its example + a link from his blog. As a side note: to be sincere, what I really want is that beloved link, but $20 is not exactly negligible for a simple “job”.

Anyway, back on track: what I personally think of this is that, the way humanity managed to push the life expectancy threshold from 35-40 years on around 1800, to 75-80 or even more, if you take care of yourself, as of today, the very same way we’ll find something to prevent our cells from aging or “convince” them to continue dividing, not losing their ability to function, etc (I am not a very gifted biologist, so to say, but I think you get the point).
Thing is, science and genetics especially has evolved A LOT in the last period of time and some previously impossible and unimaginable breakthroughs where achieved in the past years.
All this allows us to think further, and maybe some day, 120 years-old people will not be something unusual, but just a ..fact.

I think Scott has a very good point when he says that, by stopping the aging of our cells at an early age (20, lets say), then the risk of cancer or any lethal disease will be lowered, allowing us to live more. Also, I agree with him that indifference and lack of opinion /action won’t lead to anything good - and that’s why the mentality has to change.

Anyway, I’ve deviated a bit (or more?) from the original subject (question).
As I said at the beginning of this post, I think I’d choose to live better, if I were the one to choose this (well, in some sort of way, I am, but only to some extent).

Now, what should you do next? Read Scott’s full article, as it is very thought-provoking and has some good, well-reasoned points. After that, you should blog about this issue, too, to promote the research of anti-aging technologies. Besides feeling better for doing a good for the humanity, you’ll receive $20 from Scott and a nice link. So, wait no more, as the money is only available for the first 100 posts :-)

Good luck. See you at 113 years :)