Our Toughest Enemy is Time

Abstract

This essay reflects on how human perspectives on life and time change with age. The author describes a typical course of life in which young people concentrate on education, socializing and love with little attention to passing time, adults in mid-age devote themselves mainly to their career and the future of their children, and worries about ageing usually begin only around the age of 60, often when health problems appear among those close to them. Even then, people tend to ignore their own forthcoming physical and cognitive decline, which the author suggests is most likely a built-in cognitive mechanism that evolved to avoid pessimism, depression or desperation. The essay argues that this pathway typifies humans because of their developed brain, an advantage accompanied by a cognitive burden of cumulative worries that in old age may turn toward bitterness and disappointment at the passing of time. As an example, the author cites the books of King Solomon: the Song of Songs, written in youth, Proverbs, written in mid-age, and Ecclesiastes, written in old age and reflecting disappointment and despair. The essay concludes with the message that humanity should be careful of leaders nearing the end of their career, whose decisions may involve suppressed thoughts and distorted rationale.

Abstract prepared by the editorial office from the full text of the article; the authors did not supply one.