Evolution

I'm enjoying the fact that when I first read this book, I only scratched it on the surface and thought I had it all figured out, but upon further discussion, I realized I wasn't even close. 

"To live longer than forty years is bad manners, is vulgar, immoral." I didn't think much of this line but relating it to Darwin's Evolutionary Theory actually makes perfect sense. Although it sounds harsh, it is true that those who live to become old and incapable of serving a purpose to society, do essentially become a burden (although I doubt that the marking point would be age 40). We discussed in class about how in animals, the weakest link in a pack gets killed off because they are the least capable to survive, and if you look at human society logically, it would make sense that spending so much money on life support and medicine for those who can't even contribute is a waist of time. However, you can't look at human society the same as you would animals; there are other factors. Humans are obviously more sentimental and emotional than animals so having your mother, father, brother, sister, in a hospital bed wouldn't make you the happiest person in the world. Due to our own selfishness (which some people will never admit that saving someone else is for their own benefit) we keep them alive and drain money for keeping a vegetables heart beating. Even when it is you yourself who are dying, and you know, deep down in your heart that you are becoming a burden to those around you, you won't be able to just walk off into the distance until you die. You find yourself to be too important.