Sorry for the obscure reference. Tithonius was the Greek mythological hero who asked the gods for eternal life, but failed to ask for eternal youth. He basically aged until he was a pile of dust without the release of death.

Life extension advocates have battled the notion that life extension will just lead to more drooling years. They call this notion the “Tithonius Error.” Life extension advocates argue that for life extension to work it will have to grant more healthy life. Frail life by it’s very nature isn’t long life.

This post was my “Yes, but” post to other life extension advocates (I count myself amoung them).

Suggested reading – After Many a Summer Dies the Swan, by Aldous Huxley. The canonical work on one of the issues addressed here.

I was actually addressing “D. Vision” with that “linear thinking” crack. Of course “D.” was fishing for that with his comment.

Phil – not so linear.

Your two assumptions (not overly burdensome and you have your marbles) are the heart of the dilemma.

Many who’ve planned for 15 year retirements might actually choose to forego life extension. Particularly since they won’t know going in whether to plan for 12, 22, or 52 years of frailty.

I don’t think that’s the issue for Roger Simon. I have a sneaking suspicion that he could afford a very long retirement.

For him it’s the thought of years of Depends undergarments that’s the problem. If I were him and the indignity of frailty was my only concern, I’d start treatments when they are available and discontinue only when the fun is gone.

By the way Phil, I’m with you on the frailty thing. Although I’ve witnessed exceptions to this, the indignity of old age almost always beats the indignity of death.

D:

You could be right about the arrival dates of these technologies. None of us know, we just have our suspicions. And you’re right, aging is many problems. But all the problems won’t have to be addressed before we see a benefit. When the easiest problems are solved it will give those beneficiaries time to benefit yet again from the solutions to the harder problems.

And here’s where I accuse you of “linear thinking.” Advancements that would take a year today would come faster next year.

I’m 25. Maybe by the time I am 75 it will be here. In that sense, I am hopeful. Nevertheless, I’m not counting on it; I plan to make my goldmine by the time I am 50.

I’ll take 12, 22, 32, 42, or even 52 years of frailty for that payoff — assuming I at least have my mind all that time and that my disability isn’t unduly burdensome on my family.