When we point out that our current life hygiene practices may be unhealthy, people tend to respond that "we live longer than ever".
Yes.
But then you have security: you are much less likely to get killed by a thief today, or a rapist.
Then you have the comfort: we have running water, electricity, much easier work load, holidays, transportation and we eat everyday.
well, if you take the rich, famous or protected people from many years ago, they already lived quite long because they had security and comfort.
So basically, yes it's good to be able to eat everyday. Yes we live longer because of it. No that doesn't mean it's ok to avoid the debate about pesticides or nanoparticles.
Yes, it's good that vaccines eliminate the most terrible disease on earth. Yes we live longer because of it. No that doesn't mean it's ok to avoid the debate about a new vaccine or vaccine policy.
Yes it's good that we have less very hard physical work. Yes we live longer because of it. No that doesn't mean it's ok to avoid the debate about the stress or lack of meaning we created in our society.
It actually may not be wealth and power that make the difference here, although that would be the simple answer. Those men were also not laborers who stopped working when their physical bodies slowed down. Imagine being a farmer or blacksmith who has turned 40 years old. You probably can't read, or contribute much to society anymore. Retirement is an indicator for mortality even today, so the effect was likely just as strong back then, possibly enhanced by the inability to make alternative contributions to society.
Being rich and/or powerful has always been a benefit to your lifespan.
Unless you were Japanese nobility centuries ago. Then your noble diet of polished white rice caused thiamine deficiency, leading to the development of kakke and an early death.
- Plato died at 80.
- Confucius at 72.
- Michelangelo at 88.
- Sun Tzu at 75.
- Etc.
When we point out that our current life hygiene practices may be unhealthy, people tend to respond that "we live longer than ever".
Yes.
But then you have security: you are much less likely to get killed by a thief today, or a rapist.
Then you have the comfort: we have running water, electricity, much easier work load, holidays, transportation and we eat everyday.
well, if you take the rich, famous or protected people from many years ago, they already lived quite long because they had security and comfort.
So basically, yes it's good to be able to eat everyday. Yes we live longer because of it. No that doesn't mean it's ok to avoid the debate about pesticides or nanoparticles.
Yes, it's good that vaccines eliminate the most terrible disease on earth. Yes we live longer because of it. No that doesn't mean it's ok to avoid the debate about a new vaccine or vaccine policy.
Yes it's good that we have less very hard physical work. Yes we live longer because of it. No that doesn't mean it's ok to avoid the debate about the stress or lack of meaning we created in our society.