Comment by randcraw

Imagine that the illness in question was unremitting and excruciating (unlike a broken leg), not only for you and the your loved ones, but everyone you come into contact with. And there's no hope it will ever get any better. That's what dementia usually becomes, and that inhuman level of misery can last for years until you finally slip away.

No animal other than man would consider perpetuating that state of decline. An elephant would simply wander away to die, freeing their community from their struggle to simply keep breathing.

I agree with Kahneman, at least that we all should seriously consider the cost of allowing that level of degeneration to consume us -- and more, the pain it inevitably will inflict on our loved ones -- and plan for it while we're still compos mentis.