The Foundations of Senescence: A Historical and Biological Note

Throughout history, the phenomenon of aging has transitioned from philosophical and mystical interpretations to rigorous biological and evolutionary frameworks.

Ancient Western Philosophy: Heat and Moisture In antiquity, Aristotle posited that life was sustained by an "innate heat" centered in the heart. He used the analogy of a flame, suggesting that aging is the gradual exhaustion of the body's natural moisture—the fuel for this vital fire—while the lungs act as a cooling bellows. Galen later refined this into the concept of marasmos, describing aging as the progressive dehydration of the body's humors, resulting in the cold and dry state of old age.

The Islamic Golden Age and Medieval Alchemy The Persian physician Avicenna expanded on these ideas with hi ...