Cornaro Living Long

Searching for ways to reverse the aging process is not a new quest, by any means (Haber, 9). Before the nineteenth century, “… this search was linked to the belief that old age was characterized by a significant decline in vital energy” (Haber, 9). Luigi Cornaro was an Italian nobleman and author of The Art of Living Long, written in 1550, who challenged this belief (Haber, 9). Cornaro’s work became known as “the bible of prolongevity advocates,” as he argued that “… individuals were not destined to die at 60 or 70, but rather, with care and a good constitution, could live much longer” (Haber, 9). Cornaro’s work depicted old age as a gift, rather than an enemy to be feared (Haber, 10). Fast-forward to the nineteenth century where “… the scientific community had come to define old age as a disease to be hated and feared” (Haber, 10). …show more content…
Countless physicians hypothesized various ways to combat the aging process, all grounded upon a “deep-seeded antagonism toward aging” (Haber, 11). Progression into the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries introduced a new group in expressing fear of growing old: society (Haber, 11). The initial fear of aging presented by physicians became internalized into the minds of western industrial societies (Haber, 11). Once the general consensus was one that viewed the aging population as incompetent, the second wave of idolization and preservation of youth began, except this time, science would be on their side (Haber,