Radical No More: Societal Perceptions of Life Extension – Past, Present, and Future Directions

AbstractHumanity’s relationship with mortality has long defined its values, myths, and ambitions. Across cultures, the quest to transcend aging has been reflected in stories that both explore the desire for life extension and warn against its pursuit. However, as the science of longevity advances, these inherited narratives, once serving to reconcile people with inevitable death, now distort public understanding and policy by linking life extension with moral corruption, inequality, or futility. This tension reflects a psychological coping pattern that evolved in response to perceived impossibility, not genuine opposition to longer life itself. Analysis of mythological motifs, cultural history, social media data, and contemporary polling reveals that broad public support exists for increased healthspan and even radical lifespan gains, provided they are equitable and grounded in credible science. These findings challenge the assumption that advocacy must downplay longevity goals for wider acceptance. Recognizing and updating these cultural scripts opens new pathways for public engagement, research funding, and ethical frameworks that align emerging biotechnologies with our enduring human aspiration, to live longer, healthier, and more meaningful lives.This is a preprint of the following chapter: Keith Comito, Radical No More: Societal Perceptions of Life Extension – Past, Present, and Future Directions, to be published in an upcoming volume, edited by David Barzilai, Max Rangeley, Regina R. Monaco, and David Wood, published by Springer Nature. It is the version of the author’s manuscript prior to acceptance for publication and has not undergone editorial and/or peer review.