Richard Alpert has lived on the island for a very -- some might say impossibly -- long time. He is one of The Others and serves as a sort of adviser to whomever is in place as the leader of the group at any given time. Alpert has seen quite a bit in his time and isn't too shaken or surprised by anything that happens on the island. Alpert shows up at wildly different times, making it appear as if he does not age -- perhaps by some supernatural effect of the island. Alpert is loyal, it seems, to the island but is dubious about Ben and his leadership tactics.