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Meaningful Aging: Humanist Perspectives

The main objective of this project is to add new interdisciplinary insights and research results to the current academic debate on ageing from a humanist perspective.

Description

The international UvH research project Aging Well was set up by (now emeritus) professor Peter Derkx and continued by his successors Joachim Duyndam and Anja Machielse.

The main objective of this project was to add new interdisciplinary insights to the current academic debate on ageing from a humanistic perspective. The humanistic perspective on old age, in which meaning is central, complements the predominantly biomedical and sociological debates in the research field and ideals such as “healthy”, “active” and “successful” ageing. Researchers in this project developed a nuanced and differentiated ideal for ageing well in the second half of life from a humanistic perspective, focusing on existential issues and meaning in life and the ability to respond autonomously to the challenges of ageing.

The research project has resulted in numerous scientific and popular books, articles and contributions to symposia and conferences.

Results

The project was completed with the publication of two books by the prestigious American publisher Palgrave Macmillan (part of Springer Nature).

The first book, Meaningful Aging from a Humanist Perspective, develops a theory of meaning in seven dimensions by Peter Derkx and is commented on by Anthony Pinn, professor of humanities at Rice University.

The second book, Meaning and Aging: Humanist Perspectives, discusses issues surrounding meaningful ageing by renowned international scholars such as Carol Ryff, Ricca Edmondson, Kate de Medeiros and (former) UvH researchers Joachim Duyndam, Anja Machielse, Wander van der Vaart & Pien Bos, Hanne Laceulle & Joep Dohmen.

Researchers

Partners