5 - Is Ageing Good?

Summary

The very question, Is ageing good?, is odd in several ways, and we do not usually ask it of other life stages. Nonetheless, raising the question is important because it presents the opportunity to counter ageist assumptions that old age is nothing but a period of loss and decline. I suggest a variety of candidate reasons for saying that ageing is good, for ageing persons themselves. These include renewable pleasures; new activities, relationships, and goals; and features distinctive of old age, such as connections with younger generations, long-lasting relationships, and an enriched outlook on life. I also acknowledge the various factors that may readily detract from the goodness of ageing, including poverty, disability, and the loss of family and friends. Hence, whether ageing is good is partially dependent on material and social circumstances. I conclude with three moral and political reasons for affirming that ageing is or can be good.