Virtuous aging and existential vulnerability.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Philosophy
• Ethics

Background:

• Contemporary gerontology often focuses on age-related vulnerabilities that can be medically treated.
• There's a need to address existential vulnerabilities inherent to the human condition, especially in later life.
• Humanistic gerontology can benefit from philosophical perspectives to explore these deeper aspects of aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce philosophical insights, specifically virtue ethics, into humanistic gerontology.
• To argue for the relevance of virtue in addressing existential vulnerabilities in later life.
• To enrich gerontological discourse with philosophical concepts.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing philosophical perspectives on virtue ethics (Aristotle, MacIntyre, Swanton).
• Examining the current use of virtue in gerontological discourse.
• Analyzing the merits of virtue-ethical discourse for aging studies.

Main Results:

• Virtue ethics provides a valuable framework for understanding existential vulnerabilities in aging.
• Philosophical concepts like virtue can enrich gerontology's conceptual tools.
• Integrating virtue ethics can help address deep existential questions in later life.

Conclusions:

• Gerontology should incorporate philosophical traditions like virtue ethics.
• This integration can lead to a more holistic understanding of aging and later life.
• Philosophical inquiry enhances our ability to cope with the unalterable aspects of the human experience in aging.