OLD AGE як онтологічний феномен у філософських концепціях

Abstract

У статті досліджено онтогенез поняття «старість» та проаналізовано різні концепції старіння у філософії з часів античних мислителів і до сучасних розвідок. Обґрунтовано, що осмислення сутності людини у похилому віці з позицій філософського знання сприяє формуванню базових теоретичних положень та закладає когнітивну основу для формування лінгвістичної концепції OLD AGE. Ключові слова: концепт OLD AGE, старіння, геронтологія, геронтофобія, ейджизм.

It is common knowledge that age is the existential human propert combining not only biological but also social, philosophical, psychological and other aspects of living. Many attempts have been made to analyze and interpret ageing in various academic studies, from the perspective of medicine, psychology, sociology, philosophy, anthropology and gerontology. This predetermines the topicality of the research and the need for the cross-disciplinary approach when this concept is viewed as the fragment of the general scientific world image. Critical analysis of old age and ageing notions as well as the attitude towards them in society not only from the perspective of gerontology but also philosophy, will result in establishing the theoretical foundation and cognitive basis for the linguistic concept of OLD AGE. The philosophical-diachronic approach, adopted in this work, gives insight into the problems related to the notion of OLD AGE as viewed by different philosophers and helps to trace the changes in its understanding in different time periods. The present research attempts to describe the ontogenesis of the notion OLD AGE suggesting a brief review of different concepts of ageing in philosophy from the the ancient times and till now. Although ancient philosophers believed that old age should be considered as the age of wisdom and experience, many of them despised the elderly and treated them with disrespect. In such works old age was understood as the time of decline and irreversible body changes. The Middle Ages brought about a new theological interpretation of old age. At that time advancing in years was not primarily associated with the declining body but mainly, with the immortal soul, creative and mature, adding transcendental qualities to old age. The modern epoch began with a rational pragmatic attitude towards the elderly. Moreover, in recent years there have appeared a number of negative stereotypes which usually cause gerontophobia and ageism. To conclude, OLD AGE presents a complex area for its study. Accordingly, critical analysis of this concept involves the contribution from many fields of science. Key words: the concept OLD AGE, ageing, gerontology, gerontophobia, ageism.