Ancient Philosophers' Perspectives on Human Lifespan and Aging

This essay delves into the perspectives of ancient philosophers on the concept of longevity. It examines the contrasting views of Greek physicians like Galen, who framed aging as a natural process that could be managed through diet and preventive measures, and the historical context of long lifespans reported during those times. The essay then explores the values of Seneca, who emphasized the importance of living a meaningful life and not wasting time, contrasting with Stoic ideologies. Furthermore, it discusses Pliny the Elder's census data, providing insights into Roman life expectancy, and touches upon St. Augustine's Christian perspective on longevity and miraculous cures. The essay offers a comprehensive overview of how different ancient thinkers and cultures approached and understood the concept of a long and healthy life, and the historical context surrounding it.

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Ancient philosophers on longevity
In ancient times, old age was often seen as a disease rather than a normal part of the human
cycle. However, many Greek physicians such as Galen, have contradicting views. In his treatise,
Hygiene, he framed the aging process to be a natural process. He even suggested that this natural
process can be delayed and eased through various preventive measures like diet (Zhang et al.).
His work, De Sanitate Tienda or “On the preservation of health” can be considered as the ancient
form of modern elderly healthcare. However, there is evidence that the Greeks lived a long life,
it is reported that Gorgias the orator lived for 105 years and more (Zhang et al.). These ancient
people often suggested that even though old age is people, it is the time a human holds on to his
life.
Values of Seneca
In the present day of swelling life expectancy among human beings, one of the concerning issues
is the idea of lulling oneself into busyness and passivity in the name of productivity. The best
treatment of this idea can be found in the old treatise of the Roman philosopher Seneca, “On the
Shortness of Life” (Ferreira). In this 2000-year-old treatise, he mentions that people do not have
a short time to live but they waste a lot of it. People pursue heedless luxury, doing no good
activity and thus wasting the ample amount of time they have for the highest achievements.

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Contradicting the willingness towards the death of Stoic ideologists, he refuses to accept death
before having a qualitative day, leading a fruitful life.
Pliny
One of the fascinating documents about life expectancy in Roman history can be the census
listed by Pliny, the Elder. According to the paragraph written in 74AD, three people in Parma
and one in Brescello lived up to the age of 120 years. Two were above the age of 125 years in
Parma, a man and a woman at Piacenza and Faenza were 130 during the last census (Winther et
al.). He listed more people in this paragraph which described the time of the last four months of
that year. It is considered that the census was done in good faith, even though, the Empire had an
average life expectancy of twenty to thirty years. The list was made by linking numerals and
recording citizens under oath.
St. Augustine
Alike other religious beliefs, Christianity too has some undercurrents on longevity. St. Augustine
was one of the Church Fathers who believed in “miraculous cures”. In the City of God, St.
Augustine speaks of “miracles which were wrought that the world might believe in Christ, and
which have not ceased since the world believed” (Collinge). “In the Resurrection,” he writes
(Collinge) “the substance of our bodies, however, disintegrated, shall be entirely reunited,” “the
flesh shall then be spiritual, and subject to the spirit, but still flesh, not spirit.”

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References
Collinge, William J. "The Greatness Of Humility: St. Augustine On Moral Excellence. By
Joseph J. Mcinerney. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2016. Xvi + 197 Pages. $26.00
(Paper).". Horizons, vol 43, no. 2, 2016, pp. 425-426. Cambridge University Press (CUP).
Ferreira, Paulo Sérgio Margarido. "Seneca And The Liberal Arts". Cadmo - Revista De História
Antiga, no. 26, 2017, pp. 161-194. Coimbra University Press.
Winther, Kaj et al. "The Effectiveness Of A Standardized Rose Hip Powder, Containing Seeds
And Shells Of Rosa Canina,&Nbsp; On Cell Longevity, Skin Wrinkles, Moisture, And
Elasticity". Clinical Interventions In Aging, 2015, p. 1849. Dove Medical Press Ltd.
Zhang, Feng-Ping et al. "Floral Mass Per Area And Water Maintenance Traits Are Correlated
With Floral Longevity In Paphiopedilum (Orchidaceae)". Frontiers In Plant Science, vol 08,
2017. Frontiers Media SA.