Quality of life vs quantity of life

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Joe Fischer
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Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by Joe Fischer »

Greetings, I'm new to the forum. I have a thought rolling around in my head and I need feedback. As I begin to age the question of how much effort to put into living. That is a simplified version of my thoughts. What I am debating is at what point are we no longer trying to preserve the life we "lived" and are only clinging on to existing and how much more time we can survive.
evolution
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by evolution »

Joe Fischer wrote: December 3rd, 2020, 5:51 pm Greetings, I'm new to the forum. I have a thought rolling around in my head and I need feedback. As I begin to age the question of how much effort to put into living. That is a simplified version of my thoughts. What I am debating is at what point are we no longer trying to preserve the life we "lived" and are only clinging on to existing and how much more time we can survive.
Are you talking individually or collectively?
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LuckyR
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by LuckyR »

Joe Fischer wrote: December 3rd, 2020, 5:51 pm Greetings, I'm new to the forum. I have a thought rolling around in my head and I need feedback. As I begin to age the question of how much effort to put into living. That is a simplified version of my thoughts. What I am debating is at what point are we no longer trying to preserve the life we "lived" and are only clinging on to existing and how much more time we can survive.
You seem to be referring to the reality that as we age and can no longer physically do various fun things and therefore contract our circle of activities, that that is a process of shifting from "living" to "existing", right?

If so, I would comment that long before we are infirm, we all shift what we choose to do, based on shifting viewpoints. That is, what 20 somethings find fun is different that what the average 9 year old does. So the trick to avoiding merely "existing" is to find truly interesting things to occupy oneself in an elderly state.
"As usual... it depends."
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Jack D Ripper
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

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Joe Fischer wrote: December 3rd, 2020, 5:51 pm Greetings, I'm new to the forum. I have a thought rolling around in my head and I need feedback. As I begin to age the question of how much effort to put into living. That is a simplified version of my thoughts. What I am debating is at what point are we no longer trying to preserve the life we "lived" and are only clinging on to existing and how much more time we can survive.

I would say the question you are asking is something best left to individuals to decide for themselves. Of course, many people wish to impose their values on others, and this is often codified into law. We see that in, for example, the United States, where I reside.

Many people do not regard your life as your own, to do with as you please.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence." - David Hume
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Joe Fischer
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by Joe Fischer »

evolution wrote: December 4th, 2020, 6:02 am
Joe Fischer wrote: December 3rd, 2020, 5:51 pm Greetings, I'm new to the forum. I have a thought rolling around in my head and I need feedback. As I begin to age the question of how much effort to put into living. That is a simplified version of my thoughts. What I am debating is at what point are we no longer trying to preserve the life we "lived" and are only clinging on to existing and how much more time we can survive.
Are you talking individually or collectively?
It is an individual question, but does cover a broader scope. With thousands of people in old age homes taking medication, not to keep them active but alive.
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Joe Fischer
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by Joe Fischer »

LuckyR wrote: December 4th, 2020, 1:45 pm
Joe Fischer wrote: December 3rd, 2020, 5:51 pm Greetings, I'm new to the forum. I have a thought rolling around in my head and I need feedback. As I begin to age the question of how much effort to put into living. That is a simplified version of my thoughts. What I am debating is at what point are we no longer trying to preserve the life we "lived" and are only clinging on to existing and how much more time we can survive.
You seem to be referring to the reality that as we age and can no longer physically do various fun things and therefore contract our circle of activities, that that is a process of shifting from "living" to "existing", right?

If so, I would comment that long before we are infirm, we all shift what we choose to do, based on shifting viewpoints. That is, what 20 somethings find fun is different that what the average 9 year old does. So the trick to avoiding merely "existing" is to find truly interesting things to occupy oneself in an elderly state.
That was the exact statement my wife made to me. The whole idea I question, for example, medications...At first we start with supplements to strengthen our bodies, them move onto pain medications to ease into aches and pains, then onto mild prescriptions to aid in daily functions the body is not performing. After a while the medications become stronger and necessary to live. All the while the things we enjoyed pass by. Yes I get our interests change as we get older, but when do our interests change to just trying to live is the goal.
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Jack D Ripper
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by Jack D Ripper »

Joe Fischer wrote: December 4th, 2020, 5:52 pm ... The whole idea I question, for example, medications...At first we start with supplements to strengthen our bodies, them move onto pain medications to ease into aches and pains, then onto mild prescriptions to aid in daily functions the body is not performing. After a while the medications become stronger and necessary to live. All the while the things we enjoyed pass by. Yes I get our interests change as we get older, but when do our interests change to just trying to live is the goal.

I don't think that everyone is accurately described that way. I certainly hope that I never will have just a goal of continuing to live. Certainly, that is not how I feel about the matter now, and do not plan to continue living just to live. I would rather die. It is not as if one can avoid dying regardless, so there is no point in living if all one is doing is staying alive and there is no benefit from it.

If others choose to prolong a pointless existence, that is up to them.

If I get old and feeble, I may decide to have "do not resuscitate" tattooed on my chest.


As Socrates said:

"not life, but a good life, is to be chiefly valued"

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/crito.html

I do not plan on living beyond my ability to have a good life. I hope things go according to plan.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence." - David Hume
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LuckyR
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Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by LuckyR »

Joe Fischer wrote: December 4th, 2020, 5:52 pm
LuckyR wrote: December 4th, 2020, 1:45 pm

You seem to be referring to the reality that as we age and can no longer physically do various fun things and therefore contract our circle of activities, that that is a process of shifting from "living" to "existing", right?

If so, I would comment that long before we are infirm, we all shift what we choose to do, based on shifting viewpoints. That is, what 20 somethings find fun is different that what the average 9 year old does. So the trick to avoiding merely "existing" is to find truly interesting things to occupy oneself in an elderly state.
That was the exact statement my wife made to me. The whole idea I question, for example, medications...At first we start with supplements to strengthen our bodies, them move onto pain medications to ease into aches and pains, then onto mild prescriptions to aid in daily functions the body is not performing. After a while the medications become stronger and necessary to live. All the while the things we enjoyed pass by. Yes I get our interests change as we get older, but when do our interests change to just trying to live is the goal.
Well the answer is: it doesn't have to. Many do, but it isn't required.
"As usual... it depends."
evolution
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Joined: April 19th, 2020, 6:20 am

Re: Quality of life vs quantity of life

Post by evolution »

Joe Fischer wrote: December 4th, 2020, 5:52 pm
LuckyR wrote: December 4th, 2020, 1:45 pm

You seem to be referring to the reality that as we age and can no longer physically do various fun things and therefore contract our circle of activities, that that is a process of shifting from "living" to "existing", right?

If so, I would comment that long before we are infirm, we all shift what we choose to do, based on shifting viewpoints. That is, what 20 somethings find fun is different that what the average 9 year old does. So the trick to avoiding merely "existing" is to find truly interesting things to occupy oneself in an elderly state.
That was the exact statement my wife made to me. The whole idea I question, for example, medications...At first we start with supplements to strengthen our bodies, them move onto pain medications to ease into aches and pains, then onto mild prescriptions to aid in daily functions the body is not performing. After a while the medications become stronger and necessary to live. All the while the things we enjoyed pass by. Yes I get our interests change as we get older, but when do our interests change to just trying to live is the goal.
If, as you propose, this is an 'individual question', then you could get as many different answers and responses as there are individuals.

For example, some individuals never even start to use medications/supplements to, so call, "strengthen their bodies", let alone move onto "pain medications to ease into aches and pains". So, obviously, their answers/responses to your questions will be EXTREMELY different to your own answer/response.
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