Sounds like some dystopian eugenics shit to be honest, get rid of those who no longer contribute to society.
I for one am working towards my old age, I'd hate to be left to just die.
I for one am working towards my old age, I'd hate to be left to just die.
Of course I'm not saying that anyone has done those tradeoffs optimally, especially considering that those relations probably are non-linear in practice.
That word doesn't work when describing people who are no longer part of the reproducing population.
Self perpetuation is fundamentally based only on the implications of the strategy. If keeping elders alive past nominal utility helps spread well then it is effectively favored. Which may or may not be known ahead of time.
That said by being smarter than it we have both the ability and responsibility for the consequences for decisions to follow or defy its nudges as we can and see fit.