71–80 of 95 posts
A reminder that research efforts into repairing the damage of aging (effectively undoing aging) do exist. SENS[0] is a 501(c)(3) public charity directing and funding such research. [0]: https://www.sens.org/
I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…
I'm 48, and have been a bit mid-life-crisis-y lately. One thing that's been bothering me is that the best times of my life are probably behind me. I don't mean the most productive, or the highest status, or whatever - I mean the most fun . I don't want to delight in the "consciousness of a life well spent and the memory of many deeds worthily performed". I want excitement, and adventure. My friends around me not remi…
I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…
Be here and now. I’m of similar age, have health problems, and realize that no worrying about having health problems in advance would’ve made me any more prepared.
Am I dying? Yes. Aren’t we all? Yes. Does saying that make me feel better? No. Does that matter? Yes, so I’ll not worry about it.
I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…
I'm 48, and have been a bit mid-life-crisis-y lately. One thing that's been bothering me is that the best times of my life are probably behind me. I don't mean the most productive, or the highest status, or whatever - I mean the most fun . I don't want to delight in the "consciousness of a life well spent and the memory of many deeds worthily performed". I want excitement, and adventure. My friends around me not remi…
Cicero, like many other philosophers of antiquity, places ultimate value on the goal of 'a life well-lived'. In this essay, he basically says 'old age is fine, if you lived a good life beforehand', and hedges by saying death's no big deal. Which is, of course, rubbish. That's not really how life works: rewards rarely follow your efforts to live a good life. There are often no rewards at all; a life of diligent saving…
Buddhism is closer to Stoicism than you think. There's plenty of suttas where the Buddha explains how virtuous behavior leads to good outcomes to you even in this life (like high regard among your peers), and even material rewards (like wealth). All good outcomes ultimately boil down to virtuous behavior. This is the workings of Karma, one of the most central concepts in Buddhism. In Buddhism, rewards follow virtuous…
Alan Watts--who had a thing or two to say about Buddhism--disagrees with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…
Physical health is fragile, but mental health can be robust for all or most of a long life. I think of Bertrand Russell. I watched the US 2020 Election debate last night. At the risk of incensing lobbyists and dogmatic adherents of either side, let me say that it is humbling to see old people behave like fools. Infirmity and death will come, but sometimes our Integrity shines at the right moments to inspire others.
I still think we should make longevity research a priority.
To me, the only "hope" was cryonics, until I learned that they really do destroy the cell in its original form (to which it cant be restored) in the process. That, and how virtually every company loses tanks (mainly through power failure) and then says oops. Speaking of failure, either Thiel and Brin are doing just that on the topic, or they are really good at keeping secrets.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
As promised: https://www.usna.edu/Ethics/_files/documents/Stoicism2.pdf He has a couple other books and collections of writings. If you are looking for real world applications of Stoicism, there isn’t much of a better person.
That was an amazing read.
I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…
Physical health is fragile, but mental health can be robust for all or most of a long life. I think of Bertrand Russell. I watched the US 2020 Election debate last night. At the risk of incensing lobbyists and dogmatic adherents of either side, let me say that it is humbling to see old people behave like fools. Infirmity and death will come, but sometimes our Integrity shines at the right moments to inspire others.
A reminder that research efforts into repairing the damage of aging (effectively undoing aging) do exist. SENS[0] is a 501(c)(3) public charity directing and funding such research. [0]: https://www.sens.org/
Thanks. Any philosophy trying to make “old age” into something positive is a cop-out. There is nothing positive about seeing your mind and body slowly decay.
And some of those say you can personally validate that you are more than your body+brain while you are living. I’m not in the business of selling any particular approach to do that.
But entering into a downward cycle of negativity about aging isn’t going to do you, and those few still around willing to put up with you, any favors as you get older. If there is more to it than body+brain, and choosing to not confirm it to yourself leads you into negativity and misery as you age...well doesn’t that just sounds like you’re dumber than a door nail?