New Methuselahs : the ethics of life extension / John K. Davis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Davis, John K., 1956- author.

Series:

Basic bioethics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Longevity--Moral and ethical aspects.

Longevity.

Longevity--Philosophy.

Medical technology--Moral and ethical aspects.

Medical technology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 354 pages).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press, [2018]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

An examination of the ethical issues raised by the possibility of human life extension, including its desirability, unequal access, and the threat of overpopulation.

Contents:

1.2 Optimism about life extension p. 7

1.3 Possible methods of life extension and the basic processes of aging p. 8

1.4 Is it possible to reverse aging? p. 15

1.5 Why slowing aging might be harder than we realize p. 17

1.6 Are any life extension methods available right now? p. 18

1.7 How long would we live? p. 19

1.8 Misconceptions about what life extension would be like p. 20

1.9 Not everyone thinks life extension is desirable p. 22

1.10 Why worry about this now? p. 25

1.11 A survey of the moral issues p. 29

2 The Haves-Would Extended Life Be Boring? p. 37

2.1 Do you want to live forever? p. 37

2.2 A dilemma for the very, very old p. 38

2.3 Can you avoid boredom without fading away? p. 41

2.4 The boredom pill p. 43

2.5 How to survive your survival p. 47

2.6 If boredom is unavoidable, is that a reason not to start extended life at all? p. 53

3 The Haves-Death Benefits and the Human Condition p. 55

3.2 Making a case for extended life p. 55

3.3 General problems with bioconservative arguments p. 57

3.4 Accepting death p. 59

3.5 Motivation and procrastination p. 60

3.6 The meaning of life p. 61

3.7 Character and virtue p. 63

3.8 Narcissism and transcendence p. 66

3.9 Adaptive preferences (sour grapes) p. 67

3.10 Unscheduled death and the new human condition p. 69

4 The Will-nots-Life Extension and Suicide p. 77

4.2 Would making life extension available reduce the death benefits for Will-nots? p. 78

4.3 If you refuse or discontinue life extension, are you committing suicide? p. 80

4.4 If refusing or discontinuing life extension is suicide, is it immoral? p. 85

5 Everyone-Social Consequences p. 93

5.2 Potential bad social consequences p. 94

5.3 Potential good social consequences p. 99

6 Everyone-The Malthusian Threat p. 103

6.2 Will life extension cause a Malthusian crisis? p. 104

6.3 A policy to prevent a Malthusian crisis: Forced Choice p. 119

6.4 Practical problems with Forced Choice p. 122

6.5 Reproductive ethics and Forced Choice p. 124

6.6 Is Forced Choice an oppressive government intrusion into private reproductive choices? p. 126

6.7 What if some countries impose Forced Choice and others do not? p. 126

6.8 The demographic formula used in this chapter p. 129

7 The Have-nots-Distress and the Death Burden p. 131

7.2 Distress p. 132

7.3 The death burden p. 135

7.4 Can we avoid making the death burden worse if we avoid developing life extension? p. 140

8 The Have-nots-Equality and Access to Life Extension p. 143

8.2 Equality p. 144

8.3 Inequality as a reason for collective suttee p. 147

8.4 What if other needs are more pressing? p. 149

8.5 Who has a duty to subsidize life extension for Have-nots? p. 152

8.6 What if it's possible to provide access to some Have-nots but not possible to provide it to all of them? p. 156

8.7 If we are sure that many Haves will breach their duty to the Have-nots, is that a reason to deny it to everyone? p. 158

9 Deciding among the Groups-Maximizing Welfare p. 161

9.2 Midlevel principles, moral theory, and doing applied ethics p. 162

9.3 What it means to maximize welfare p. 166

9.4 Objection: we don't have enough information p. 167

9.5 Maximizing welfare in the long run p. 171

9.6 How to argue that a world without life extension has greater net welfare than a world with it p. 180

9.7 Peter Singer's objection p. 182

10 Deciding among the Groups-Which Rights Are Relevant? p. 187

10.2 Rights and welfare p. 187

10.3 The right to equality favors neither Inhibition nor Promotion p. 189

10.4 The right to self-determination favors neither Inhibition nor Promotion p. 191

10.5 The right against harm favors Inhibition p. 195

11 Deciding among the Groups-Rights versus Welfare p. 201

11.2 How to weigh rights against welfare p. 201

11.3 Weighing Have-not rights against welfare p. 209

11.4 Weighing Will-not rights against welfare p. 213

11.5 Two versions of Promotion p. 216

12 Enhancement Worries p. 219

12.2 Risk and the precautionary principle p. 222

12.3 Authenticity p. 226

12.4 Sandel's concern about "giftedness" p. 228

12.5 It's not natural p. 231

12.6 The value of a natural life span p. 234

12.7 Playing God p. 236

12.8 Fukuyama, human nature, and human rights p. 236

12.9 Is aging a disease? p. 237

13 Policy Recommendations and List of Conclusions p. 243

13.1 Policy recommendations p. 243

13.2 List of conclusions p. 248.

Notes:

OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.

ISBN:

9780262347228

0262347229

OCLC:

1046676926

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.