Longevity

With a new study on exercise which takes a moderate tone, I suppose we should be grateful for a more common-sense response to the fitness fanaticism of the 1980s (Part A, Nov. 3). It strikes me as odd, however, that no one seems to have noticed a paradox created by our obsession with longevity.

Many Americans pride themselves on their concern for the environment, and many would agree that world overpopulation is a major problem. But what if more people started living longer? It seems to me that few have considered the possibility that greater longevity may mean an even larger population increase over time.

Death is a part of the processes of nature. It is indeed hypocritical to pay lip service to environmental concerns while at the same time pursuing the philosophy of death as a disease which we can cure or at least postpone. We are a part of nature, even though historically we have tried to separate ourselves from it. Our current preoccupation with longevity betrays a typically exaggerated sense of self-importance. Those who are truly concerned about the environment need to be aware of how our distorted concept of and obsession with “health” undermines that concern.

STEPHEN JOHNSON

Los Angeles