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I’ve often wondered what the world would be like if humans had considerably longer lifespans. Putting aside the very real issues of overpopulation and resource depletion, think of what you could learn and what you could accomplish if you lived a healthy life of 150 years or more, rather than a meager 70 or 80. You could easily spend 20-30 years in an apprenticeship, and have several different careers, each spanning decades instead of just a few years.
For some, the notion of doubling our lifespans is unnatural, or even offensive to some who decry it as an attempt to “play god.” But the simple truth is, we’ve nearly done this already in the last century alone! In 1900, the life expectancy in the United States was 47 years. Fast forward to 2000, and we flipped the digits: the average life expectancy had swelled to over 74 years. Today, it’s a bit over 78 years in the States, and Japan continues to lead the world with a life expectancy of nearly 83 years. In the broader context of the entire world, at the dawn of the 20th century, human life expectancy was a paltry 31 years. (Note that this figure takes into account high infant and childhood mortality rates.) Today, that figure stands at 67.2 years. So clearly, we’ve already “played god” to some extent, merely with the advances of better healthcare and nutritional understanding. More people than ever are living beyond 100, and there is at least one well-confirmed case of a human being living to over 120, that of Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at the ripe old age of 122.
So what would our world be like if we had 150-year life spans? Some good would sure come from it, but a lot of ver deeply ingrained social patterns would require change. For example, the notion of marital fidelity over a 120-year span of time would become almost laughable, as would the thought that most (or any) marriages would even last that long. Think about it: If a couple today find themselves in a loveless and unfulfilling marriage in their mid-70s, they may well just ride it out because honestly, it’s the path of least resistance. But what if that same unhappy couple were looking at another 75 years of being with each other? Would they be more or less likely to dissolve the marriage? Attitudes would shift dramatically.
Our work lives would change, too. Careers would be longer, and though that could lead to a substantial increase in societal productivity, think about the potential problems. If you were to tire of your job somewhere in your 80s and wanted to switch careers, you’d be fighting as a mid-life trainee against younger workers for a finite number of positions. This happens all the time now, too, of course; the longer life spans would just broaden the phenomenon. And what about people getting into careers (or worse, political appointments) and serving essentially for life? The same person in a position for 100 or more years would preclude the infusion of fresh ideas and differing perspectives. We might have to employ “term limits” for any and all jobs! After fifty years in any one company, you’re out!
The entire concept of family relationships would be altered, too. You could possibly live long enough to see your great-greatgreat- great-grandchildren. Think there are generation gaps now? Try relating to a kid who is 120 years younger than you! Apart from the ethical and societal implications, however, is this even possible? The short answer is, probably so. Some geneticists and scientists believe that there are young people alive today who will live to 120, 130, even 150 years of age. Major advances in medicine and genetics are making what seemed fanciful just a generation ago well within the realm
of possibility. Using 3D printers to actually create new organs, using gene therapy to reverse blindness or leukemia, using adult stem cells from your own body to grow replacement body parts… all of this is going on now.
I don’t fully know how I feel about all this, but I tend to think that this life is the only one we get for sure, so on one hand, I want to make it last as long as I can. But on the other hand, I can’t keep from thinking about the broader philosophical questions, too. Would my long life mean fewer resources for others? Should I be okay with living if it means someone else goes without, or even has to die as a result? I find it all very interesting and fun to think about.
How about you? If you could pop a pill today and add another 50-60 healthy years to your life, would that be something that would interest you?
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