[Interdisciplinarity in gerontology: Theoretical problems and practical challenges]

Philosophy of science is the theoretical background of this article. Firstly, a definition of interdisciplinarity is given, integrating experiences from longitudinal studies in gerontology and arguing for rejecting the large vocable "interdisciplinarity", because of its overloaded meaning. Secondly, science-oriented, sociopsychological and practical barriers of interdisciplinary work in gerontology are presented, whereby the central statement is that interdisciplinarity is preconditionally dependent on a "culture of understanding". Thirdly, a model of interdisciplinarity in gerontology is shown. In general, this article does not focus on the question whether gerontology is a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary discipline but how the requirement of interdisciplinarity can be successfully implemented. In conclusion, interdisciplinarity is not established due to the subject (of aging) or a methodological approach but evolves based on reciprocal contact between different disciplines, which can be entitled "fair cooperation."