Philosophy
- The Discovery Of Penicillin And The Epidemic Of Diabetes
Today is the 83rd anniversary of one of the most important holy shit moments in human history, Alexander Flemming's discovery of penicillin. As much as focused, goal-driven investigations are important, basic research, the "let's see what happens...
- $5,000,000 For Immortality Research
Too much. "$5 Million Grant Awarded by Private Foundation to Study Immortality" The John Templeton Foundation grant to UC Riverside philosopher John Fischer will fund research on aspects of immortality, including near-death experiences and the impact...
- Zebrawood...one Of Many Endangered Species
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS Many years ago for recreation I worked in wood especially the semi-rare and rare species of lumber making the usual library table and book case. Fortunately in my city there was Paxton Lumber Company that specialized in...
- Commerce And Biodiversity
International Year of Biodiversity Indeed, commerce and the exploitation of raw materials will trip the balance of a biodiversity policy towards the negative...and maybe hasten the demise of humans too. "Losing biodiversity - Human beings under threat"...
- Knowing One's "tyche"
"Religion and Science are two aspects of social life, of which the former has been important as far back as we know anything of man’s mental history, while the latter, after a fitful flickering existence among the Greeks and Arabs, suddenly sprang into...
Philosophy
Longevity...why?
Reading a back issue [ "The Serious Search for an Anti-Aging Pill" ] of "Scientific American" [August 2002], I found an article concerning the issue for developing a pill to retard the aging process. "Human population in general is living longer than it ever has because of better agriculture, medicine, and technology in general." No doubt about that. But I wonder about the rates of mortality compared to longevity increases and those very things you mentioned that curtail longevity. Specifically, hazards of genetically engineered foods, foods treated with potentially deleterious preservatives, pharmaceuticals that are untested and tainted, or faulty technology. Remember DDT, the bromide preservative for apples, excessive nitrites, thalidomide, the Ford Pinto? It’s almost a "catch-22" situation.
It is not a pleasant thought of understanding and realizing the temporality of mankind either through natural progression of life [birth, maturation, death] or by accident [just being in the wrong place at the wrong time or some biological malfunction]. And since this realm is the only one we experience familiarity [creature comforts; celebration of other members of the species or environment], we do what we can by controlling our world and life to do whatever we can by extending it. Sensory experience of the afterlife expressed by religions doesn't provide much comfort. Belief is evaporating. Curiously, if mankind knew for sure of life after death and it was even better than the current situation, the species would soon vanish for all would want something better. Alas, that is impossible and such promises are a mater of faith. "...The longer people live the less frequent it occurs and the less we need to deal with untimely and unexpected death." Perhaps, but that is just prolonging the inevitable and the end result is the same--just spread out more. Perhaps emphasis should be placed more on discovering the primal reasons for aging and human biological ailments instead, down the road, of offering nothing but palliative solutions.
More articles...
"Christmas Candy Encourages Longevity"
"Discoveries May Help Unlock Secrets of Long Life"
"Do You Want to Live Forever?"
"Ethics of Anti-Aging Medicine Questioned"
"Hang in There: The 25-Year Wait for Immortality"
"Social Consequences of Manufactured Longevity"
It is not a pleasant thought of understanding and realizing the temporality of mankind either through natural progression of life [birth, maturation, death] or by accident [just being in the wrong place at the wrong time or some biological malfunction]. And since this realm is the only one we experience familiarity [creature comforts; celebration of other members of the species or environment], we do what we can by controlling our world and life to do whatever we can by extending it. Sensory experience of the afterlife expressed by religions doesn't provide much comfort. Belief is evaporating. Curiously, if mankind knew for sure of life after death and it was even better than the current situation, the species would soon vanish for all would want something better. Alas, that is impossible and such promises are a mater of faith. "...The longer people live the less frequent it occurs and the less we need to deal with untimely and unexpected death." Perhaps, but that is just prolonging the inevitable and the end result is the same--just spread out more. Perhaps emphasis should be placed more on discovering the primal reasons for aging and human biological ailments instead, down the road, of offering nothing but palliative solutions.
More articles...
"Christmas Candy Encourages Longevity"
"Discoveries May Help Unlock Secrets of Long Life"
"Do You Want to Live Forever?"
"Ethics of Anti-Aging Medicine Questioned"
"Hang in There: The 25-Year Wait for Immortality"
"Social Consequences of Manufactured Longevity"
- The Discovery Of Penicillin And The Epidemic Of Diabetes
Today is the 83rd anniversary of one of the most important holy shit moments in human history, Alexander Flemming's discovery of penicillin. As much as focused, goal-driven investigations are important, basic research, the "let's see what happens...
- $5,000,000 For Immortality Research
Too much. "$5 Million Grant Awarded by Private Foundation to Study Immortality" The John Templeton Foundation grant to UC Riverside philosopher John Fischer will fund research on aspects of immortality, including near-death experiences and the impact...
- Zebrawood...one Of Many Endangered Species
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS Many years ago for recreation I worked in wood especially the semi-rare and rare species of lumber making the usual library table and book case. Fortunately in my city there was Paxton Lumber Company that specialized in...
- Commerce And Biodiversity
International Year of Biodiversity Indeed, commerce and the exploitation of raw materials will trip the balance of a biodiversity policy towards the negative...and maybe hasten the demise of humans too. "Losing biodiversity - Human beings under threat"...
- Knowing One's "tyche"
"Religion and Science are two aspects of social life, of which the former has been important as far back as we know anything of man’s mental history, while the latter, after a fitful flickering existence among the Greeks and Arabs, suddenly sprang into...