Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Aging

This 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 to confront topics such as the experience and existential character 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 offers innovative and cutting-edge research that will help to determine the parameters of the philosophy of aging for years to come.§§Key Features§§Structured in four parts to address the meaning, experience, ethics and future of aging§Confronts topics including the age of retirement, 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 §§· Chapters on religious perspectives, classical philosophy, existentialism, phenomenology, dignity and identity§§The Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Aging is an essential resource for scholars, researchers and advanced students in moral and political philosophy, bioethics, phenomenology, narrative studies and philosophy of economics. It is also an important tool for researchers and professionals in gerontology, health care, psychology, sociology and population studies.§§