
By Dr Barry Newman
Barry is a retired intensive care consultant and a Humanists UK accredited schools speaker. In this article, he challenges us to rethink our approach to extending life, arguing that true value lies not in longevity itself, but in enhancing the capacity for flourishing well into our later years.
A basic question that needs to be addressed when we consider further extending human life is the purpose and value of life. A humanist answer might be that the purpose is human flourishing, and that it is this flourishing that gives life value – something worth having, and having ever more of. Humanists may take differing views on what constitutes flourishing, but there may be broad consensus on many aspects. Flourishing might include a variety of pleasures obtained through the senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. Psychological flourishing might include a feeling of worth, of being respected, of being loved, of being physically capable and independent, and being able to contribute more than one takes. Flourishing also requires freedom from suffering – physical or psychological.
One may think that overt physical suffering in the elderly is relatively easy to recognise, but the insidious debilitating effects of loss of mobility, strength, co-ordination, fine motor skills, and speed of reflex actions may be less obvious because they are seen as being an inevitable aspect of ageing. Psychological suffering caused by isolation, depression, lack of self esteem, worth or purpose may also be invisible, because we do not enquire.
In humanist terms, flourishing may therefore be the net experience of a person who is subject to degrees of these positive and negative experiences, but where the balance is positive. If we are to argue morally in favour of, and to scientifically pursue extending life, then we need to be sure that the additional years are predominantly a time of flourishing and not suffering.
Clinging to life is an overwhelming and entirely natural drive for all living things. In this we are simply part of nature. But unlike other living things, we already have and are further developing the science and technology to extend duration and quality of life. The presence of many fit, active people clearly enjoying life into their 80s and beyond is a very new and marvellous development, but one that brings its own challenges for societies. Such people are generally unproductive in the usual sense and appear to present a burden on younger members of society. Many older people who maintain mental and physical capacity do make significant (non-economic) contributions to their families and society, and could no doubt do more if the opportunities were created. But the time inevitably comes when the contribution diminishes, and when life is extended but flourishing withers, and the burden to the individual and to society grows.
In our relentless pursuit of extending life, maintaining the quality of experience of life appears to have fallen behind. Here we should recognise that for every fit, active, joyful 80-something, there will be many living extremely restricted and burdensome lives in institutions or alone in the community. How can we discover the extent and depth of these experiences? By asking. By challenging the assumption that every old person has the same vigorous attachment to life as do younger people. By opening our ears to hearing uncomfortable truths. Only by finding out about the experience of being old can the young appreciate and empathise, even if the listening is uncomfortable. Society is largely deaf to the voices of ill and lonely old people.
Some reading this might conclude that the author is in favour of some kind of imposed euthanasia or freely available, or even encouraged, assisted dying for the elderly. Emphatically not so. But I think that before we enthusiastically pursue the next wonder-drug or lifestyle choice for extending life we should consider what exactly we are achieving by simply extending old age. Only when we have discovered how to extend life and flourishing by maintaining high levels of physical and mental function and psychological wellbeing, will this pursuit be truly worthwhile.
What age do you want to successfully reach, and are there any caveats regarding mobility, mental stamina involved? Why not let us know in the comments below?
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