延长自然寿命是可欲的吗?——对当代抗衰老医药技术的伦理审思

Is Extending Natural Lifespan Desirable?Ethical Review of Contemporary Anti-aging Medical Technology

人类对延长自然寿命乃至永生的追求从未止步,而当代快速发展的抗衰老医药技术似乎蕴含着实现这一梦想的可能性。一些超人类主义者因此认为衰老是一种可以治愈的“疾病”,主张“终结衰老”。然而,延长自然寿命真的是一件可欲之事吗?很多道德哲学家基于个体视角指出,延长自然寿命会使人面临因绝对欲望耗竭而导致的生存动力不足、因生活重复性增加而带来的厌世感加剧以及追求人生意义的时间紧迫感下降等问题。这些质疑都面临反对观点。从社会层面来看,延长自然寿命牵涉到技术的平等分配、资源稀缺及社会结构能否悦纳老龄人群等问题。对延长自然寿命的追求必须以社会环境能够提供充分的支持性条件为前提,以保障人们在延长的生命中享有较高质量的生活。相反,单纯追求个体的寿命延长可能会遗失在社会生活中更为重要的价值。

Humanity s persue for extending natural lifespan and even achieving immortality has never ceased,and contemporary rapid development in anti-aging medical technology seem to hold the potential for realizing this dream.Consequently,some transhumanists believe aging is a‘disease’that can be cured,advocating for the‘end of aging’.However,is extending natural life span truly desirable?Many moral philosophers,from an individual perspective,point out that prolonging natural life span may lead to problems such as lack of motivation due to the exhaustion of absolute desires,increased ennui due to repetitive life experiences,and diminished sense of urgency in pursuing life s meaning.These objections are met with counterarguments.From a societal perspective,extending natural lifespan involves issues like equal distribution of technology,resource scarcity,and whether social structures can accommodate an aging population.The pursuit of extended natural lifespan must be predicated on the social environment providing sufficient supportive conditions to ensure a higher quality of life in the extended years.Conversely,a mere pursuit of individual lifespan extension could result in the loss of more significant values in social life.