一、社会问题我们不是以哲学家而是以公民医生的身分关心衰老与长寿,因为在美国,目前中年以上的人群疾病最多,需要人们照顾。尽管多数老年人都是健康且精力充沛的,然而毕竟有不少的老年人是虚弱且健康欠佳的,他们的问题常常是营养不良,居住条件差或简单地说是因为他们贫困。老年人在精神和肉体上的损害是常见的,还伴有孤独和缺乏生动的社会与家庭的联系,使问题就更加复杂化了。一些衰弱的老人既不能自己照顾自己,又不能出门自由活动。但尽管疾病缠身且缺乏社会照顾,多数老人并不甘罢休。他们和我们 I. Social Issues We are not concerned with aging and longevity as philosophers but as citizen doctors, because in the United States, people in middle-aged and above are sick most and need people’s care. Although most elderly people are healthy and energetic, after all, many elderly people are weak and ill-healthd. Their problems are often malnutrition, poor living conditions or, simply, poverty. The mental and physical impairment of the elderly are common, accompanied by loneliness and a lack of vivid social-family connections, further complicating the issue. Some frail elderly can neither take care of themselves, nor can they go free. However, despite the sickness and lack of social care, most elderly people are not willing to give up. They and us