What constitutes a fulfilling life at the end of our normal lifespan? What are you willing to give up and what is core?
As a technology commentator I get a preview of what the future holds from companies, scientists and academics. And I have this abiding fear that I will shuffle off this mortal coil the day before a cure is announced for whatever actually does me in. I don't want to be the last man to die from Alzheimer's Disease, for example. On the other hand, I don't want to exist with it for 10 years while I wait...
So for me, the bare minimum is being able to think. To be in my right mind, accept information, analyse it and make a decision. Again, strictly for me, a lot of what's left is negotiable. I love watching movies, and sight is important to me. On the other hand, I've seen a lot of movies, most of them awful, and I can't remember the last time I was surprised by one. So... maybe, maybe not. I might live just fine listening to Talking Books and learning Braille. Lots of people do. (Besides, technologists are working hard on bringing sight to the unsighted. I expect to see rapid progress on this in my lifetime.) It's negotiable.
I try and jog three or four times a week, and it's been a part of my life since I was 12. Could I live happily without the use of my legs? Well... I'm not getting any faster at jogging, and running shoes are getting pretty expensive. It's great feeling in good shape, but I'm getting the nagging minor injuries that come with age more frequently. And again, science is working hard on this and is making notable progress. So, it's negotiable.
I guess the same is true for hearing (I have already compromised mine due to extended proximity to a chainsaw engine), taste (also compromised--too many cigarettes and too much coffee). But so much progress is being made on hearing that I think any loss will be recuperated in my lifetime. I expect to end my days hearing better than I did as a child, due to technology. So it's negotiable.
Functioning brain. Access to a library. Access to modern healthcare. Family and friends not too far away. A little bit of independence. Surprising how little one needs, when you think about it.
Comments