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188933

Aging, getting older, and the good life

Diane Jeske

pp. 327-345

Abstract

I distinguish between aging as merely getting chronologically older and aging as a process involving change. I then consider some prominent theories of value (hedonism, desire-satisfaction theory, and objective state theory) and examine how each theory evaluates the value or lack thereof involved in aging in either sense. I also discuss people's subjective attitudes toward aging and show how the facts of such attitudes will play a role in each theory in determining the actual value of aging. I conclude by suggesting that everyone, young and old alike, would benefit from a cultural shift away from our current obsession with youth.

Publication details

Published in:

Scarre Geoffrey (2016) The Palgrave handbook of the philosophy of aging. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 327-345

DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-39356-2_19

Full citation:

Jeske Diane (2016) „Aging, getting older, and the good life“, In: G. Scarre (ed.), The Palgrave handbook of the philosophy of aging, Dordrecht, Springer, 327–345.