In a well-organized, thesis-driven essay, you will focus on the idea of human beings manipulating or accepting their natural life span.

Fattima Abedalamir 1

Fattima Abeda Lamir

Brandon White

ENGL-1302

4/18/2021

The Idea of Human Beings Manipulating or Accepting Their Natural Life Span

The idea of living longer is not old but the idea of decreasing the aging process is still

considered absurd. Many scientists have published many research and are carrying out

experiments in which it is proven that the aging process and the diseases that occur with age can

be slowed down. It is a matter of fact that laboratories that perform experiments on animals often

work on increasing the longevity of life in those animals (Shermer et al 2). In a similar way or

another, the process of aging and degeneration of cells of a human body can be slowed down by

bringing changes in the genetic structure of their DNA.

Along with the introduction of many new technologies that were beyond human

perception, life-extending theories and technologies are not far away. The concern about life

extension is not how will it be achieved but the common concern among scientists and critics is

what outcomes will it have on their lifestyles and overall health.

It is basic human nature that he desires to live long or slow down his aging process

despite the outcomes. Many well-established businessmen are spending billions of dollars to

carry out research and experiments that are based on the path of increasing life expectancy. The

co-founder of the most used search engine, Google, has spent a huge lump sum of money for the

establishment of a biotechnology laboratory that works solely on ways to extend human life span

(Shermer and Shermer 4). The motive behind Larry Page’s launch of Calico is that he considers

Commented [BW1]:

Commented [BW2]: Here are two significant things that need to be changed. The first: From the essay’s instructions:

•Two quotes per article minimum Remember, quoting and paraphrasing are not the same thing. Also, for all quotes and paraphrased passages—

•Add a signal phrase.

•Doing so helps eliminate potential plagiarism

•Doing so also let’s the reader know which words are yours versus the source’s.

•I have highlighted all of the passages that need signal phrases in yellow.

•To meet the essay’s requirements, you replace some of the paraphrased passages with quotes from the sources.

The second:

•Do not let the sources argue for you. You have to interpret each quote or paraphrased passage.

•Connect them to their respective topic setnences.

•Doing so will help keep your argument at the forefront of the essay.

Commented [BW3]: Combine these paragraphs.

Commented [BW4]: Such as?

Commented [BW5]: Who is he? What is the company known for?

Fattima Abedalamir 1

this technology will be a profit for him in the long run as it will be the highly approached

technology by consumers in the upcoming future. Co-founder of PayPal has also spent around

three and a half million dollars on the establishment of Break out Labs that also work on the

ways of achieving eternal life span (Shermer et al 5).

For the last two decades, scientists have worked on extending the human lifespan and

have been proved to be quite successful. Numerous research of shown that human now tends to

around forty years longer as compared to people who lived 2 decades ago (Andersen 2). This has

been possible due to remarkable interventions that have been made in the medical and health

fields. The ratio of death was higher two decades ago as compared to recent times because of the

outbreaks of various harmful untreatable diseases (Andersen 5). Due to extreme advancement in

the field of medicine, scientists have launched vaccines and treatments for diseases that were not

possible to treat twenty years ago (Andersen 3). However, it this also not deniable that medical

interventions that are directly working on the genetic makeup of homo sapiens have produced

hazards to human life. Bringing mutational changes in human DNA can bring irreversible

pathologies and abnormalities as this is against the biological law of evolution and natural

selection (Andersen 4).

About two centuries ago, people used to live their lives till the age of fifty and the

average age which people used to die in the nineteenth century was forty-seven years (Liu 4).

This was predominantly because the field of science and medicine was not that advance, and

people used to die of common diseases due to lack of adequate and appropriate medicines. In the

current century, humans live longer, and the average age of death now is seventy to eighty years

old and is well-developed countries numerous research have proved that the life expectancy

increases up to one year every six years (Liu 5).

Commented [BW6]: You are reporting. You should be arguing. What does this mean for the reader? How is this connected to your thesis? Make the connection for your audience.

Commented [BW7]: Same thing— You are reporting. You should be arguing. Same questions— What does this mean for the reader? How is this connected to your thesis? Make the connection for your audience.

Commented [BW8]: Start with a topic sentence—

•Introduce the idea you are going to discuss in the

paragraph.

•Give the reader context.

Commented [BW9]: Same questions— What does this mean for the reader? How is this connected to your thesis? Make the connection for your audience.

Commented [BW10]: •Link the evidence to your claim. Explain your reasoning. Make the connection for the

reader.

•Provide an example to supplement your reasoning.

•Conclude the paragraph and move on to the next

supporting paragraph.

Fattima Abedalamir 1

However, the theory of increasing life expectancy organically or inorganically has raised

miscellaneous criticism, based on the effects it will have on the human lifestyle and numerous

critics even consider it morally and religiously unethical (Liu 7). The decline in the aging process

will affect the marriage life of couples and their parenthood as it will be extended for a longer

time and this can be beneficial or treacherous both, depending on the situation. Numerous

diversified theories gave to explain the impact of high living expectancy on marriage and these

theories have explained that fewer people will tend to get married knowing the fact that they will

have to live longer being married to a person and even if they do so, there will be a very low

chance of them to have children as they will be considered as a barrier against the life

expectancy (Liu 6). This will completely deteriorate the essence of traditional family values and

ethical considerations.

The massive criticism faced by the theories of escalating life expectancy is by religious

scholars and the religious norms of the societies (Liu 48). Many religions preach the idea of

mortality to their followers and living the life with a faith in death so that they can live their lives

with complete devotion to religion. Religions are also based on the preaching to serve to true

God Who is only the immortal Entity. The interventions in life expectancy and advancing human

lives toward immortality will completely violate the religious preaching and none of the religions

will not be practiced by anyone.

Life extension will also greatly impact the nature of people at the workplace. Increasing

life expectancy will also let the rich rule for limitless time and the poor live under ill-treatment

for a longer time. The employers will continue to avail their head positions in the business and

their employees to work under them forever.

Commented [BW11]: Start with a topic sentence—

•Introduce the idea you are going to discuss in the

paragraph.

•Give the reader context.

Commented [BW12]: Same questions— What does this mean for the reader? How is this connected to your thesis? Make the connection for your audience.

Commented [BW13]: Start with a topic sentence—

•Introduce the idea you are going to discuss in the

paragraph.

•Give the reader context.

Commented [BW14]: Which religions are you referring to? One of the sources covers this in-depth.

•Introduce the source

•Quote the source

Link the source to your topic sentence.

Fattima Abedalamir 1

The greatest present of life is the fear of its end. Humans live with the fact that their life

will be ceased one day and try to make the most out of their lives and set goals to achieve their

dreams in the given period of life. Without the fear of death, people will not be motivated

enough to achieve their dreams and live their lives to the fullest (Liu 41). This will also create

pressure among people to acknowledge the new style of living that has been brought by extended

life.

With the advancement of technology, the human lifespan has greatly increased which is

considered a triumph among numerous clinicians and scientists (Olshansky 1), but the virtues of

mortal life that this advancement has taken away are also undeniable. Scientist and clinicians

have made it possible for the aging process to slow down with the aid of numerous inventions of

treatment procedures, medicines and vaccines. The theories of radical life extension have

impacted ethical morals, religious preaching, environmental balance and lifestyle of humans on

different levels and this impact is under criticism by great number of scholars who are not

fascinated by the idea of extending life expectancy.

Fattima Abedalamir 1

Work Cited

Shermer, Michael, and Michael Shermer. “Radical Life-Extension Is Not around the Corner.”

Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2016, www.scientificamerican.com/article/radical-life-extension-is-

not-around-the-corner/?error=cookies_not_supported&code=2e28dbd2-637e-4313-b8c0-

5764311da535.

Andersen, Ross. “Radical Life Extension Is Already Here, But We'Re Doing It Wrong.” The

Atlantic, 21 May 2012, www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/radical-life-extension-is-

already-here-but-were-doing-it-wrong/257383.

Liu, Joseph. “To Count Our Days: The Scientific and Ethical Dimensions of Radical Life

Extension.” Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project, 6 Aug. 2013,

www.pewforum.org/2013/08/06/to-count-our-days-the-scientific-and-ethical-dimensions-of-

radical-life-extension.

Olshansky, S. Jay. “Shifting Focus from Life Extension to ‘healthspan’ Extension: Disparities in

Longevity Should Be Addressed, Expert Urges.” ScienceDaily, University of Illinois at Chicago,

2018, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180917135948.htm