Page 112 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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avje delovno aktivne populacije | health of the working-age population 110 philosophical tradition not only allows such new technologies, but under
certain conditions places an ethical requirement on society that these
technologies are accessible to all, not just to the rich.
Keywords: Key words: public health, life extension, philosophy
Introduction
The starting point of our paper is the thesis that, under certain conditions, life
extension medical technologies should be available to all citizens through free
public health care. Medical technologies to prolong life, or in other words lon-
gevity technologies, are understood as medical and pharmacological therapies
that work against the biological process of ageing (slowing down, stopping, re-
generating the body) and some of them can be expected in the near future. As
a result of these interventions in the body, the population could be vital longer
into old age and thus remain active for a longer period of time. Lipovšek (Li-
povšek, 2019) has already written about them in Slovenia, and on a global scale
they are presented through the works of de Gray (de Gray, 2008), Sinclair (Sin-
clair, 2019) and Otin (Lopez-Otin et al, 2013).
Our thesis at the beginning of this paper appeals to the state to set re-
quirements for the operation of free public health. The authors advocate ap-
proach of egalitarianism represented by the philosophy of John Rawls (Rawls,
2011) and an additional theoretical assumption. In short, John Rawls places his
philosophy of justice on the following foundation. The theory is based on lex-
ical priority. The first principle is “Everyone should have the same right to the
most comprehensive system of equal fundamental freedoms, compatible with
a similar system of freedoms for all” (Rawls 1971, pp. 302-3) (Kymlicka 2015, p.
94). The second principle reads: “Social and economic inequalities must be reg-
ulated in such a way that they are at the same time: a) for the greatest benefit of
those at their worst, and b) linked to public services and positions accessible to
all under conditions of fair equality of opportunities. First priority rule (prior-
ity of freedom) - the principles of justice must be classified lexically and there-
fore freedom can only be restricted in the name of freedom. Second priority
rule (priority of justice over efficiency and well-being) - The second principle of
justice is in lexical order over efficiency and before the principle of maximiz-
ing the sum of benefits; and the fairness of opportunities precedes the prin-
ciple of difference”(Rawls 1971, pp. 302-3) (Kymlicka 2015, p. 95). An addition-
al theoretical assumption that the state would distribute life extension services
rather than money cannot, unfortunately, be fully substantiated in this paper
due to limitations. In practice, it can be quickly defended - because the state
may have a greater interest in distributing services than individuals to buy life
extensions. A philosophical rationale, however, would require extensive argu-
mentation and consideration of whether it can be derived from Rawls ’philos-
ophy. To make the initial thesis from the beginning of the article clear, we will
present what we mean by the phrase “certain conditions”. Certain conditions
certain conditions places an ethical requirement on society that these
technologies are accessible to all, not just to the rich.
Keywords: Key words: public health, life extension, philosophy
Introduction
The starting point of our paper is the thesis that, under certain conditions, life
extension medical technologies should be available to all citizens through free
public health care. Medical technologies to prolong life, or in other words lon-
gevity technologies, are understood as medical and pharmacological therapies
that work against the biological process of ageing (slowing down, stopping, re-
generating the body) and some of them can be expected in the near future. As
a result of these interventions in the body, the population could be vital longer
into old age and thus remain active for a longer period of time. Lipovšek (Li-
povšek, 2019) has already written about them in Slovenia, and on a global scale
they are presented through the works of de Gray (de Gray, 2008), Sinclair (Sin-
clair, 2019) and Otin (Lopez-Otin et al, 2013).
Our thesis at the beginning of this paper appeals to the state to set re-
quirements for the operation of free public health. The authors advocate ap-
proach of egalitarianism represented by the philosophy of John Rawls (Rawls,
2011) and an additional theoretical assumption. In short, John Rawls places his
philosophy of justice on the following foundation. The theory is based on lex-
ical priority. The first principle is “Everyone should have the same right to the
most comprehensive system of equal fundamental freedoms, compatible with
a similar system of freedoms for all” (Rawls 1971, pp. 302-3) (Kymlicka 2015, p.
94). The second principle reads: “Social and economic inequalities must be reg-
ulated in such a way that they are at the same time: a) for the greatest benefit of
those at their worst, and b) linked to public services and positions accessible to
all under conditions of fair equality of opportunities. First priority rule (prior-
ity of freedom) - the principles of justice must be classified lexically and there-
fore freedom can only be restricted in the name of freedom. Second priority
rule (priority of justice over efficiency and well-being) - The second principle of
justice is in lexical order over efficiency and before the principle of maximiz-
ing the sum of benefits; and the fairness of opportunities precedes the prin-
ciple of difference”(Rawls 1971, pp. 302-3) (Kymlicka 2015, p. 95). An addition-
al theoretical assumption that the state would distribute life extension services
rather than money cannot, unfortunately, be fully substantiated in this paper
due to limitations. In practice, it can be quickly defended - because the state
may have a greater interest in distributing services than individuals to buy life
extensions. A philosophical rationale, however, would require extensive argu-
mentation and consideration of whether it can be derived from Rawls ’philos-
ophy. To make the initial thesis from the beginning of the article clear, we will
present what we mean by the phrase “certain conditions”. Certain conditions
