Evolutionary pressure can result in traits being selected over others because the individuals with the un-selected traits frequently fail to pass them on. But the cause and effect isn't so much "we need to survive this, let's devise an adaptation," it's "a certain trait happened to end up providing an advantage." There isn't an intentional aspect to the randomness of genetics.

Why and how would evolution - random mutation and selection pressures - penalize the long-lived? Many past cultures actually did the opposite, and elevated and respected elders, for their roles as knowledge holders and such. So how would being longer lived cause your progeny - who at that point would already be born - to be less prolific?