Is ageing still undesirable? A reply to Räsänen.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Medicine

Background:

• The desirability of biological aging is a subject of ongoing debate.
• Previous work argued that biological aging is undesirable.
• A response by Räsänen proposed that aging possesses desirable aspects, challenging the initial position.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate and refute Räsänen's arguments for the desirability of biological aging.
• To address the argument from the totality of the aging process.
• To address the argument from the reduced goods of the aging process.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical argumentation and conceptual analysis.
• Deconstruction of Räsänen's two main arguments.
• Ethical and logical critique of the presented claims.

Main Results:

• Räsänen's first argument (totality of aging) is based on a flawed conception of aging and its moral implications are deemed empty.
• Räsänen's second argument (reduced goods of aging) leads to an absurd conclusion.
• Both arguments presented by Räsänen are found to be unconvincing.

Conclusions:

• The claim that biological aging is undesirable is maintained.
• Räsänen's arguments for the desirability of aging are refuted.
• Further philosophical and ethical discourse on aging is warranted.