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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Aging as becoming oneself
— a philosophical ethics of late life | | Author(s) | Thomas Rentsch |
| Journal title | Journal of Aging Studies, vol 11, no 4, Winter 1997 |
| Pages | pp 263-271 |
| Keywords | Ageing process ; Social ethics ; Self esteem ; Philosophy. |
| Annotation | This article looks at human ageing from a philosophical point of view. The objective is to arrive at a rational understanding of those concepts which can be used to describe man's condition in the light of ageing, so that a meaningful, practical, and ethical understanding of late life can be articulated. Enlightenment and modernity have forgotten old age in constructing an abstract ethics of reason, addressing a general rational subject. By contrast, the ancient ethics of happiness asked what a good life might be for people in specific life stages, such as the aged. It is nowadays important to regain this tradition: What does it mean for a finite being to age, but still lead a good life? During the process of ageing, a radicalisation of our vulnerable corporality and finitude takes place. This 'becoming oneself in ageing' can be understood not only in its ethical meaning, but also implies a correction of our modern understanding of man. |
| Accession Number | CPA-970303007 A |
| Classmark | BG: TQ: DPA: 4DP |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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