In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
Commodityâ€object of commercial value.
What is the “commercial value†of an object of great consumption but little production?
For a period of some two hundred years America had an every moving new frontier. One of the appeals of this ever-present frontier was the sense that there was always a place for the rugged individualist. A place existed for the individual who was enthused about the prospect of uninhibited growth where each individual could test his or her capacity to be all they could be. No one had an edge over the other person beyond character and motivation.
Darwin’s theory teaches us that mating and reproduction is the means whereby the species adapted to a changing environment and thereby created the possibility for survival of the species. Generally speaking the human species stops this procreation process before the age of forty. Biological evolution provides little means for adaptation in our species beyond forty years of age.
Human instrumental rationality has created a technology that continually increases the longevity of individuals of our species. Instrumental rationality is the ability to determine and execute the best means for reaching an established goal. We have determined the goal of ever extending life to be a valuable goal and are constantly extending human longevity.
Simultaneously with an extended life span we are continually shortening the social value of longevity. Like the rest of our commodities we have a throwaway culture for long-lived persons. Our society seems to mimic biological evolution in placing forty years as the beginning of the end of adaptability. Biological evolution terminates concern for those beyond the age of reproduction and our culture terminates concern for those beyond the age of commodity production.
Biological adaptation has abandoned us after forty, our instrumental rationality is responding to our unexamined desire to prolong life; how do we mange to survive as a species if we do not find a rational means to engage this challenge? The challenge is to create the societal value of human life after forty.
Where is the ever-moving frontier of expectations for the man or woman beyond the age of forty? Is age beyond forty to remain the beginning of a throw-away social value?
If you quibble about the number forty you may use fifty or sixty or seventy if you feel better about it.
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
I think I can summarize my views to be that we trade quality of life for quantity of stuff. The primary values of a commodified society are youth, beauty, fashion, glitz, sensations, entertainment, and superficiality in general.
But I do think that a commodified society is more efficient at providing stuff and stuff is important.
It is in keeping with my view that we have chosen Clinton who is without sufficient self-discipline and Bush who is without substance and competence for our leaders.
But I do think that a commodified society is more efficient at providing stuff and stuff is important.
It is in keeping with my view that we have chosen Clinton who is without sufficient self-discipline and Bush who is without substance and competence for our leaders.
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
This is a somewhat error-riddled set of statements.
coberst wrote: Generally speaking the human species stops this procreation process before the age of forty. Biological evolution provides little means for adaptation in our species beyond forty years of age.You ignore a considerable body of research available under the topic of Biological Altruism. The advantage for survival of a family unit or clan having grandparents available provides the evolutionary pressure for longevity.
As for bringing Presidents Clinton and Bush into the matter, you simply ignore that geriatric actor who occupied their position throughout the 1980s. In what way does our generation electing the oldest ever President of the USA coincide with your view? As for the British, we could contrast electing Winston Churchill in 1951 at the age of 77 with William Pitt taking the same office in 1784 at the age of 23.
Human instrumental rationality has created a technology that continually increases the longevity of individuals of our species. [...] We have determined the goal of ever extending life to be a valuable goal and are constantly extending human longevity.That is disingenuous. The extension of the average lifespan has very little if anything to do with longevity in the sense of expanded lifespan, and to imply it merely confuses matters semantically. The movement in average lifespan is a function of decreased mortality prior to the onset of old age, not positive treatment for the old. Geriatric morbidity remains a function of health care that was and still is developed without emphasis on age. The increased average lifespan is a function of reduced death rate before retirement. Indeed, certainly within the British National Health System, with the application of cost benefit analysis to treatments, the existence of cut off ages for default interventionist health care suggest that hospital systems at least are more interested in quality of death issues than in longevity as such.
Treatments specifically advancing longevity are currently proposals, not realities. I'll offer just two out of many informed websites as justification for that view, rather than go beyond just mentioning the fact: Fight Aging! [...] desite much-publicised progress in certain areas, we still have no real chance of greatly extending human longevity within the lifetime of anyone alive today [...] and Aging Matters "If indeed we had a way of extending human longevity the probability is very high that therapy would be available to the rich and powerful," he said. [...]
In terms of valuing and promoting the wellbeing of - what was your rather PC phrase? "long-lived persons"? - you might like to google U3A.
Biological adaptation did not abandon us after forty, our superiors in society still inflict world leaders well past their use-by date on us when they feel inclined and, if you go anywhere near a longevity treatment, be aware that it's totally experimental and unproven.
coberst wrote: Generally speaking the human species stops this procreation process before the age of forty. Biological evolution provides little means for adaptation in our species beyond forty years of age.You ignore a considerable body of research available under the topic of Biological Altruism. The advantage for survival of a family unit or clan having grandparents available provides the evolutionary pressure for longevity.
As for bringing Presidents Clinton and Bush into the matter, you simply ignore that geriatric actor who occupied their position throughout the 1980s. In what way does our generation electing the oldest ever President of the USA coincide with your view? As for the British, we could contrast electing Winston Churchill in 1951 at the age of 77 with William Pitt taking the same office in 1784 at the age of 23.
Human instrumental rationality has created a technology that continually increases the longevity of individuals of our species. [...] We have determined the goal of ever extending life to be a valuable goal and are constantly extending human longevity.That is disingenuous. The extension of the average lifespan has very little if anything to do with longevity in the sense of expanded lifespan, and to imply it merely confuses matters semantically. The movement in average lifespan is a function of decreased mortality prior to the onset of old age, not positive treatment for the old. Geriatric morbidity remains a function of health care that was and still is developed without emphasis on age. The increased average lifespan is a function of reduced death rate before retirement. Indeed, certainly within the British National Health System, with the application of cost benefit analysis to treatments, the existence of cut off ages for default interventionist health care suggest that hospital systems at least are more interested in quality of death issues than in longevity as such.
Treatments specifically advancing longevity are currently proposals, not realities. I'll offer just two out of many informed websites as justification for that view, rather than go beyond just mentioning the fact: Fight Aging! [...] desite much-publicised progress in certain areas, we still have no real chance of greatly extending human longevity within the lifetime of anyone alive today [...] and Aging Matters "If indeed we had a way of extending human longevity the probability is very high that therapy would be available to the rich and powerful," he said. [...]
In terms of valuing and promoting the wellbeing of - what was your rather PC phrase? "long-lived persons"? - you might like to google U3A.
Biological adaptation did not abandon us after forty, our superiors in society still inflict world leaders well past their use-by date on us when they feel inclined and, if you go anywhere near a longevity treatment, be aware that it's totally experimental and unproven.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
Spot
When we no longer reproduce we are no longer part of the gene pool from which natural selection makes a selection.
You are correct Ronald Reagan was an older man.
My remark about Clinton and Bush was to underline the characteristics of superficiality inherent in both leaders.
When we no longer reproduce we are no longer part of the gene pool from which natural selection makes a selection.
You are correct Ronald Reagan was an older man.
My remark about Clinton and Bush was to underline the characteristics of superficiality inherent in both leaders.
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
coberst wrote: When we no longer reproduce we are no longer part of the gene pool from which natural selection makes a selection.Come on, think for a moment.
In a clan of related people, grandparents are obviously still part of the breeding gene pool. If their presence increases the likelihood of their offspring successfully breeding, then there's a genetic pressure within their decendants to allow them in turn to live long enough to do just that.
I did give the keywords to search on the issue. It's easily found out there.
In a clan of related people, grandparents are obviously still part of the breeding gene pool. If their presence increases the likelihood of their offspring successfully breeding, then there's a genetic pressure within their decendants to allow them in turn to live long enough to do just that.
I did give the keywords to search on the issue. It's easily found out there.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
spot wrote: Come on, think for a moment.
In a clan of related people, grandparents are obviously still part of the breeding gene pool. If their presence increases the likelihood of their offspring successfully breeding, then there's a genetic pressure within their decendants to allow them in turn to live long enough to do just that.
I did give the keywords to search on the issue. It's easily found out there.
Are you saying that women are having babies long after their 40th birthday?
In a clan of related people, grandparents are obviously still part of the breeding gene pool. If their presence increases the likelihood of their offspring successfully breeding, then there's a genetic pressure within their decendants to allow them in turn to live long enough to do just that.
I did give the keywords to search on the issue. It's easily found out there.
Are you saying that women are having babies long after their 40th birthday?
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
coberst wrote: Are you saying that women are having babies long after their 40th birthday?Did you actually click on the Biological Altruism link?
To address the immediate question, no, of course not. Post-menopausal women within a related clan can improve the survival chances of their already-existing descendants. If they do this, then the fact that they lived long enough to have this effect is a survival trait for their genetic makeup which their descendents have already inherited. Their descendants will selectively accumulate such advantages, including the longevity of the older members of the clan which enabled their personal survival into breeding age.
To address the immediate question, no, of course not. Post-menopausal women within a related clan can improve the survival chances of their already-existing descendants. If they do this, then the fact that they lived long enough to have this effect is a survival trait for their genetic makeup which their descendents have already inherited. Their descendants will selectively accumulate such advantages, including the longevity of the older members of the clan which enabled their personal survival into breeding age.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
In a Commodified Society What Value Longevity?
Spot
Yes I understand now. People over forty can have some affect on the gene pool by helping their clan have more babies.
Yes I understand now. People over forty can have some affect on the gene pool by helping their clan have more babies.