Collective suttee: is it unjust to develop life extension if it will not be possible to provide it to everyone?

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
John K Davis

Abstract

If we can anticipate that life extension will be too expensive to provide to everyone, is that a reason not to research and develop it? Collective suttee is the policy of inhibiting or prohibiting life extension on such grounds: just as widows are killed on their husbands' funeral pyres, potential Methuselahs would not be allowed to outlive everyone else. However, in other contexts we judge that taking from the haves is unjustified when doing so confers a merely marginal benefit--or no benefit--to the have-nots. By this standard, collective suttee is probably unjustified, for the burdens borne by the have-nots are likely to be too small to justify denying extra decades or centuries to those who can afford it.

References

Aug 17, 2001·European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology·J Crocker
Sep 5, 2002·Bioethics·Walter Glannon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 2, 2007·Journal of Medical Ethics·Martien A M Pijnenburg, Carlo Leget
Feb 23, 2019·Health Services Research·Sean M MurphyBruce R Schackman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Angewandte Chemie
Ahmed Zewail, Maha Zewail
Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
A Goldworth
The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
John K Davis
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De L'Association Medicale Canadienne
J A Parks
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved