The Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Aging

by Geoffrey Scarre (editor)

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 andthe 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.  

851 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2017

About the author

Geoffrey Scarre is a moral philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Durham.

His most important work has been on the topics of evil and the Holocaust, and the ethics of archaeology. He has also written on Utilitarianism and John Stuart Mill.