Title:The Pursuit of Longevity – The Bringer of Peace to the Middle East
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Author(s): Ilia Stambler
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Deontological ethics, longevity, life extension, utilitarian ethics.
Abstract: Despite the common apprehensions regarding the aging population, this work aims to argue, on both deontological
and utilitarian moral grounds, that any increase in general life-expectancy will be beneficial for the Middle East,
countering the common fears associated with this increase. A set of ethical arguments concerning increasing longevity is
presented, from both the deontological and utilitarian perspective. A wide selection of economic, psychological, demographic
and epidemiological literature and databases is analyzed to determine common correlates of extended longevity.
On the deontological grounds, the value of extended longevity is derived from the value of life preservation, regardless of
its term. On the utilitarian grounds, the value of extended longevity is demonstrated by its correlation with further human
values, such as education level and intellectual activity, economic prosperity, equality, solidarity and peacefulness. With
the common apprehensions of stagnation and scarcity due to life extension found wanting, the pursuit of longevity by the
population can be seen as a cross-cultural and cross-generational good. Though the current study mainly refers to sources
and data relevant to the Middle East, a similar pro-longevity argument can be also made for other cultural contexts. In
view of its numerous benefits, normatively, the goal of longevity should be set clearly and openly by the society, and actively
pursued, or at least discussed, in academia, the political system and broader public.
