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(2016) The Palgrave handbook of the philosophy of aging, Dordrecht, Springer.
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
DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-39356-2_19
Full citation:
Jeske, D. (2016)., Aging, getting older, and the good life, in G. Scarre (ed.), The Palgrave handbook of the philosophy of aging, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 327-345.
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