Evermore Incorporation's[1] Perpetual Longevity Product: Ethical SWOT Analysis

 Evermore Incorporation's[1] Perpetual Longevity Product:  Ethical SWOT Analysis

Evermore Incorporation stands proud among its competitors as a lionhearted biotechnology venture blazing exciting trails into new and fresh domains. We are well on our way to finalizing the development of a breakthrough prolongevity product that can extend vibrant, high quality human life for hundreds of years, perhaps even a millennia, at a price affordable to most income levels. All phase II trials have have shown valid cellular regenerative efficacy and we are now set to begin phase III trials in early April of next year. Before we embark on this last trial stage it is important that we do our best to limit potential risk for the company on release of successful phase III results. To accomplish this we must not only understand the mindset of our target customers, but also comprehend the overarching attitudes of the general populace, including the thoughts and attitudes for and against extending life beyond the current limits touted by governmental policy makers, entrenched academics, statisticians, and other assorted power brokers. In this manner we will have the knowledge we need to drive a smooth stage IV process.

Some questions worthy of consideration when thinking about our product might include the following.

• Why would anyone not want to live forever if it was presented as an option for everyone? What would stop them?

• Do people believe everyone should have an equal chance at obtaining a lengthy lifespan?

• Would unrest unfold when archaic concepts such as inheritance are thrown aside as relics left over from bygone days of greed and patriarchal oppression?

• How would this breakthrough affect birthing, would vanity issues prevail?

• If everyone living could live forever if they chose, would they be more willing to solve world problems like global warming, war, famine?

• How much legal and social reform would be necessary and to what extent?

• Can free will and choice be maintained, especially as it applies to an individual's continued existence?

• How would or how should the population of the world be replenished in the case of accidents and remaining unmanageable diseases?

• Would people take the time to strive for harmony and peaceful coexistence knowing that life has been extended far into the future?

These are just some of the questions, among others, that we should consider seriously to ensure a successful roll-out of this company's greatest endeavor so far.

SWOT Analysis

The following SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis has been created to assess the ethics and market conditions for the launch of our upcoming longevity product. You will note that this analysis is broken into four parts that evaluate our product's position in respect to ethical questions and market position - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Some issues could occur in multiple sections, for instance a weakness could possibly entail a potential threat and a strength could be leveraged as an opportunity. At the end of this analysis a summary will synthesize and convey our product's overall stance in the marketplace.

Strengths

Since the beginning of recorded history man has expressed the desire to live a longer life and even to this day that desire is just as strong. This high demand comes predominantly from those of our elderly population who, faced with a nearing decline in quality living, desire longer, quality life (Gordon J. S., 2018). Recent history has produced a good number of ageing experts who argue that death is not necessarily absolute and that decline in physical stature is linked to genetic or epigenetic causes (Fishman et al., 2008; McConnel & Turner, 2005; Sinclair &d LaPlante, 2019). A few well known examples (but certainly not an exhaustive list) of organizations that are focused on increasing healthy lifespan include: The Sinclair Lab (2023) at Harvard Medical School, the SENS Research Foundation (2020), The Buck Institute (2023), the Academy for Healty and Lifespan Research (n.d.), and the Methuselah Foundation (2020). Lifespan has been increasing, albeit slowly over the course of history until near the turn of the 20th century (McConnel & Turner, 2005). In addition, in the last 60 years scientific advancements and breakthroughs in genetics and biotechnology have been occurring at an ever accelerating pace (Fishman et al., 2008; Mauron, 2005; Sierra, 2016). This has in part been driven by the public's desire to advance research into longevity as is evidenced by relatively recent establishments of organizations that support and fund research into prolonged, quality, life. This strengthening drive of the populace to solve ageing disease positions our company on solid ground for the release of our paradigm shifting solution.

Weaknesses

Sharp increases in the maximum lifespan over the last century and a half are causing a breakdown in the United States of America and its world counterparts' current models of social and health care. Outdated policies have not kept up with the quickening shift in lifespan length experienced by their constituents (Gordon J. S., 2018; McConnel & Turner, 2005). Retirements and pension funds are suffering the burden as well, and are quickly reaching the point of insolvency (Gordon J. S., 2018). These systems are already crumbling and will soon reach their breaking point, however the stark increase in longevity caused by our product will result in an immediate collapse of these safety nets. This weakness would need to be addressed immediately even without the affects of our product roll out. The commonwealth that participates in our product will need to understand their role is to help support these systems into the future without reducing their available funds. This means people will need to continue to work and likely need renewed education and training. There will be an absolute need for new social and legal frameworks that strengthen free will decisions to participate or not participate (Partridge et al., 2009) Failure to do so may promote social discord leading to potential social upheaval or even partial collapse. We will need to educate the public to the fact that our product will be affordable to all individuals who wish it in order to stem any belief that only the rich will be able to afford the product (McConnel & Turner, 2005). Society will also need to quickly address how to maintain a sustainable population level so that we do not overrun our resources. Given that persons will be able to live far longer it must be rationalized that the trade off is the need for population stability. There will initially be a large loss of multi-layer social contacts due to those who opt not to participate in the product (Gordon J. S., 2018). This will trail off after some time and become a minimal encumbrance due to relationship building of those who chose to remain. There has not been a lot of discussion regarding moral and social issues resulting from a successful life extension product - only naysayers grounded in past rhetoric (McConnel & Turner, 2005) therefore we must stay diligent in promoting proper rational to worldwide news sources.

Opportunities

Fear of death, infirmity, and loss of youthful appearance currently drive the desire to maintain youthfulness (McConnel & Turner, 2005). The aging market is a multi-trillion dollar marketplace (McConnel & Turner, 2005). These motivators and catalysts will most certainly assist in the transition from the desire for youth to the desire for long, quality life that our product provides. On release of our product we will need to immediately begin to leverage our existing government and lobbying contacts to promote changes that will need to be addressed. This includes any necessary policy revision (Gordon J. S., 2018). Although government typically prefers to stick to the status quo because it is safer and easier, it is imperative that the weaknesses mentioned in the previous section be brought to the front and center to officials' agendas. Our company's goodwill can be broadly enhanced by offering discount coupons for low income persons. The cost can be offset by loss deductions. Because four out of five elders have some kind of chronic condition our product is perfectly positioned to alleviate many of these conditions, thus providing significant health and wealth gains for nations. 43% of US health care spending in the mid 2010 decade, about a trillion dollars, could easily be recaptured and it has been calculated that this recapture could be increased to near double digit multi-trillion dollar gains simply by increasing healthy lifespan by 2.2 years. (Sierra, 2016). Given that our product by far exceeds this baseline, wealth and social gains will be immeasurable. Conditions due to ageing disease that we will be able to alleviate include, but are certainly not limited to, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, diabetes,immobility, vision loss, immunity loss, and dementia (Jaul & Barron, 2017).

Threats

Societal destabilization due to aging population puts pressure on social systems and health care (Gordon J. S., 2018) -- too large of a population will cause resource scarcity (Gordon J. S., 2018; Mauron, 2005). As mentioned previously these issues will need to be addressed promptly. False beliefs will be one of the primary threats to successful roll out of our product. These unfounded beliefs include: the belief that life has a set limit of less than 100 years (McConnel & Turner, 2005); the unfounded concept that human physiology as too complex to successfully extend lifespan; belief in analysis rhetoric portrayed by past experts entrenched in the status quo (Fishman et al., 2008; McConnel & Turner, 2005); assumptions that the cost is too prohibitive and thus will cause inequitable results across economic layers (McConnel & Turner, 2005; Partridge et al., 2009); the perception that the field is scientifically bereft of rigor and scientific innovation (Fishman et al., 2008; McConnel & Turner, 2005); the false perception that anti-aging is a “forbidden science” ethically and scientifically (Fishman et al., 2008; Mauron, 2005); the belief that the prolongation of life is neither possible nor desirable (Fishman et al., 2008); unprovable faith based religious concepts and fervor (Partridge et al., 2009; Mauron, 2005); the false belief that it is "natural" to die at a certain age -- only because that is all people have ever seen (Partridge et al., 2009; Mauron, 2005); the mistaken belief that our product somehow sidesteps evolution (Mauron, 2005); and false claims and mistaken beliefs that life extension is somehow tied to eugenics (Mauron, 2005). In addition, it can be expected that those who will experience monetary or power loss will also push back, including: insurance and medical industries (Mauron, 2005; McConnel & Turner, 2005); governmental intervention (Fishman et al., 2008); religious leaders feeling threatened due to the shakeup of the foundation of religions and hubris of religious leaders and proponents as can be seen by the phrase "playing god" (Mauron, 2005).

Summary

Arthur C. Clarke is said to have stated,"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” (Foglia, 2018). We are positioned in time and circumstance to deliver a life saving solution to humanity. In doing so we must stay attentive to addressing false narratives and squelch all that try to turn this lasting chance into some charlatan circus. This will be best done by providing equal access to our product, educating the public and governments as to the benefits, and providing previously unparalleled support to all stakeholders and constituents. Our longevity product will cause massive change that will necessitate a combined "social, political, and cultural endeavor" (Fishman et al., 2008, p. 297). People who opt in will either need sufficient income or be willing to contribute to the workforce during their continued lifespan. This opportunity is not a free ride, rather, it is a chance for everyone to grow markedly in skill and expertise to help humanity achieve even greater accomplishments than it has ever seen before.

1. Evermore Incorporation is an entirely fictitious company created solely to conform to this paper's discussion of extremely near future prolongevity solutions. No identification with an actual company (existing or past) or its products is intended or should be inferred.

References

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