The Life Extension Project in the Context of Luhmann’s Sociocybernetics

Abstract

The paper examines the life extension project from the perspective of Luhmann's sociocybernetics. The issue of extending the lifespan of humans has remained largely unexamined by Luhmann in his wide scope of work. Therefore, the first part of the paper offers relevant theoretical background of this issue, which is increasingly present in biology, medical and, more recently, sociological literature. The paper points to specific contributions of systems theory approach to the life extension project, compared with other theoretical approaches to this issue. By elaborating upon the relation between society and biological systems in uncommunicable social environment, the emphasis is placed on Luhmann's understanding of technology, which is key to understanding the biotechnology of life-extension. The second part of the paper examines the anti-aging industry, which has grown to become very profitable, especially its use of scientific terminology and data in marketing. Additionally, from the point of view of Luhmann's sociocybernetics, the paper discusses some of the mechanisms in contemporary society that enable and promote the sale of anti-aging products despite their ineffectiveness in rejuvenation or slowing down aging. One of the main reasons why the anti-aging industry is growing in past few decades is that aging is socially and communicatively constructed as a pathological condition (illness) or a controllable process. Thus, the anti-aging industry creates a universal consumer as every human being on earth inevitably grows old.