Más allá de la distinción entre extensión de la vida débil y fuerte: «No añadir años de vida si no se puede añadir vida a esos años»

Pablo  García-Barranquero

doi:10.3989/arbor.2022.805002

Autores/as

Pablo García-Barranquero Universidad de Málaga https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6472-5703

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2022.805002

Palabras clave:

Envejecimiento, longevidad, extensión de la vida fuerte, extensión de la vida débil

Resumen

El debate filosófico y científico sobre la extensión de la vida está polarizado entre dos visiones: una forma de prolongación débil y otra fuerte. Ambas se distinguen en función de la proximidad a la edad de Jeanne Calment o, lo que es lo mismo, a la máxima duración de la vida en la especie humana. En este artículo, evaluaré esta distinción y propondré otra alternativa para pensar en las posibilidades de prolongación de la vida. Para ello, primero revisaré cinco conceptos clave en la literatura científica, ya que algunos de ellos son interpretados erróneamente por los autores que defienden esta distinción. Una distinción que adolece además de una falla importante: la incapacidad de reconocer que la duración máxima de la vida no es un número fijo de años y que no existen argumentos sólidos para garantizar que ese sea el límite de la longevidad humana. También indicaré que estos autores no captan adecuadamente el aspecto principal que nos interesa cuando tratamos de mejorar la calidad de vida a lo largo de nuestra existencia.

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