---

This comprehensive handbook presents the major philosophical perspectives on the nature, prospects, problems and social context of age and aging in an era of dramatically increasing life-expectancy. Drawing on the latest research in gerontology, medicine and the social sciences, its twenty-seven chapters examine our intuitions and common sense beliefs about the meaning of aging and explore topics such as the existential experience of old age, aging in different philosophical and religious traditions, the place of the elderly in contemporary society and the moral rights and responsibilities of the old. This book provides innovative and leading-edge research that will help to determine the parameters of the philosophy of aging for years to come.

Key Features

- Structured in four parts addressing the meaning, experience, ethics and future of aging
- Comprehensive ethical coverage including of the retirement age, health-care for the elderly and the transhumanist life-extending project
- Focused treatment of the dementia ´epidemic´ and the philosophy of the mind and self

The Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Aging is an essential resource for scholars, researchers and advanced students in the philosophy of the self, moral and political philosophy, bioethics, phenomenology, narrative studies and philosophy of economics. It is also an ideal volume for researchers, advanced students and professionals in gerontology, health care, psychology, sociology and population studies.

---

Introduction

Geoffrey Scarre

Part 1 The Meaning of Aging

1. How old is old? Changing conceptions of old age

Christine Overall

2. Gerontology versus geriatrics: different ways of understanding aging and old age

Chris Gilleard and Paul Higgs

3. The physiology and psychology of aging: should aging be successful or authentic?

Julian C. Hughes

4. Concepts of time in age and aging

Jan Baars

5. The aging of people and of things

Geoffrey Scarre

6. Aging in religious perspective

Charles Taliaferro and Meredith Varie

7. Aging in classical philosophy

Audrey L. Anton

8. Old age in existentialist perspective

Kristana Arp

9. Aging and modern Jewish writing and thought

Michael Mack

Part 2 The Experience of Aging

10. The stories of our lives: aging and narrative

David Carr

11. Coming to terms with old age - and death

Christopher Cowley

12. Feeling one´s age: a phenomenology of aging

Michael Bavidge

13. Aging and the maintenance of dignity
Russell Woodruff

14. Wisdom and aging

Charles Taliaferro and Meredith Varie

15. Does self-identity persist into old age?

Helen Sm
all

16. Dementia and the nature of mind

Julian C. Hughes

17. ´This damnable, disgusting old age: aging and (being) one´s body

Christopher Hamilton

Part 3 The Ethics of Aging

18. Aging, getting older and the good life

Diane Jeske

19. Aging as becoming oneself: a philosophical ethics of later life

Thomas Rentsch

20. Filial duties

Diane Jeske

21. What do the old owe the young?

S›ren Holm

22. Benefits or burdens? The social role of the old

Andreas Kruse

23. Virtue, aging and failing

Mary Margaret McCabe

24. Ethical issues in dementia care

Chris Gilleard and Paul Higgs

Part 4 The Future of Aging

25. Health care for old age: rights, duties and expectations

Anita Silvers and Mary V. Rorty

26. How long should people work?

Audrey L. Anton

27. The transhumanist prospect: developing technology to extend the human lifespan

Christopher Wareham

Index

---

"The Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Aging is well executed and remedies a fault in the literature. I recommend it for scholars in aging studies, regardless of whether they are psychologists, sociologists, geriatricians, or other. Among its uses are as a general text for philosophy of aging courses and as a reference for persons who work in research or a profession associated with aging." (Lauren S. Seifert, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (26), June, 2017)

---