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A “Longevity Dividend” for All?

New Interventions into Aging and Justice

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Book cover Ethics, Health Policy and (Anti-) Aging: Mixed Blessings

Part of the book series: Ethics and Health Policy ((EHP,volume 1))

Abstract

Biogerontology, the scientific discipline that explores the biological foundations of aging, has recently achieved important theoretical advances. Two prominent researchers have stated at various congresses, which united more than 20 % of the scientific community, that biological aging is no longer an unresolved problem (Hayflick 2007; Holliday 2006). This means that not only are the general foundations of biogerontology provided by the theory of evolution becoming more and more elaborated, but also the different mechanisms and processes on the molecular, cellular, and organic level are becoming increasingly known (Kirkwood 2008; Arking 2006). Gaining knowledge about these biological mechanisms opens up the prospect of biomedical interventions that might slow down, prevent or even reverse biological aging . Such prospects have already entered bioethical debates, mainly those related to human enhancement. The desirability of‘ageless bodies ’ and immortality have been the focus of these outlooks on possible long-term achievements (Kass 2003; Kass 2004; Harris 2004, Chap. 13, this volume, Buchanan 2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. Hans-Jörg Ehni
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    Correspondence to Hans-Jörg Ehni .

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    Editors and Affiliations

    1. Room AE 340, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Netherlands

      Maartje Schermer

    2. , Medical Ethics and Philsophy, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 's-Gravendijkwal 230, Rotterdam, 3015 CE, Netherlands

      Wim Pinxten

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    Ehni, HJ. (2013). A “Longevity Dividend” for All?. In: Schermer, M., Pinxten, W. (eds) Ethics, Health Policy and (Anti-) Aging: Mixed Blessings. Ethics and Health Policy, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3870-6_17

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3870-6_17

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    • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

    • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-3869-0

    • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-3870-6

    • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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