Dewey on Play and Seriousness

 

The 21st century could use more thinkers like John Dewey.  This passage above, from his 1910 book How We Think, inspires my current research project. 

Cheers 

Colin

Lecture video series for my new book

 

This morning I released the last in the series of video lectures for my new book Aging and the Ethics of Longevity Science.  That book is also now officially published, so I hope the videos are a helpful aid to those inclined to read about the public health challenges of healthy longevity.  I am taking a break from the videos to focus on some new research projects.  I will continue to post occasional videos in the future, just not at the pace I have this past summer (i.e. 40 over 4 months) which was very taxing.

Cheers, 

Colin 

GBD 2023 (2026)

Medical science's aspiration to merely "save lives" versus also "improve the quality of life" has expanded the morbidity gap (which is about 10 years) in nearly all regions of the globe.  From the latest Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 in Lancet Public Health: 

The expansion of the morbidity gap across nearly all locations indicates that improvements in survival have consistently outpaced reductions in non-fatal health loss across geographies, SDI levels, and sexes, with most populations now spending a decade or more of life in poor health across the lifespan. Progress towards healthy ageing should therefore be assessed not only by reduced mortality, but also by declines in years lived in poor health, with emphasis placed on extending healthspan.

Cheers, 

Colin

Podcast Interview

I had a fun 1 hour interview with Jason Chen talking about themes from my new book (on his channel The Ethical Frontier).

Cheers,

Colin

New Book Now Available!

The product of the last decade of my research on the ethics of longevity science is now available to download for free as an open access book on the OUP website.  

Cheers, 

Colin

The Intellectual Terrain of My Work Environment.... Visual Image of the Past 27 Years

 

Cheers, 

Colin

Advance Reviews of My New Book

The OUP webpage for my forthcoming book Aging and the Ethics of Longevity Science now has feedback from 3 generous reviewers.  A sample:

"Congratulations to Farrelly for this important new book in the field of aging. This is a must read for anyone interested in their own aging and longevity, and how science is moving humanity in the direction of dealing with the longevous world we've created so far, and the one that lays before us on the horizon. Farrelly provides the most comprehensive treatment of thinking about human aging and longevity I've read to date and his tale of the journey through the Ocean of Longevity is perhaps the best translation of the rationale behind aging science I've ever seen. Farrelly draws on the popular literature to explain these ideas while remaining grounded in a realistic view of what aging science tells us. Getting these complicated concepts in the field right is no easy task, it's a byproduct of hard work." -- Jay Olshansky, University of Illinois at Chicago

"This book is a pragmatic evidence-based ethical argument for slowing aging to help reduce the gap between lifespan and healthspan, reap the economic dividend of healthy aging, combat health disparities, improve women's health and be better prepared for climate change. It is insightful, lively and unravels some of the most challenging issues of our time." -- Julian Savulescu, National University of Singapore

"Older adults are living longer than ever before, creating urgent questions about how families, societies and governments will care for them. Translational gerontology plays a critical role in generating evidence-based approaches to extending human lives, but at what cost? In this provocative and engaging book, philosopher Colin Farrelly cautions against the 'Frankensteinification' of longevity science, calling for an ethical approach that emphasizes humanity, wisdom, and meaning rather than simply longer lives. An important contribution to gerontology and geriatrics that challenges and advances the very models that guide our work." -- Deborah Carr, Author, Aging in America (California), Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for Innovation in Social Science, Boston University

Cheers, 

Colin