Title
Better days: aging and athletic attitude
Abstract
Plato famously characterized philosophy as practice for dying and death; contemporary philosophers in bioethics have produced a vast literature on the quest for a good death. Yet there is a relative lack of counsel about how best to confront the inevitable physical decline that accompanies aging, a phenomenon of special interest to sporting participants. I begin with a review of what philosophers have told us about aging, particularly as may be applied to sport, distinguishing aging from similar physical impairment. I employ a common view of the grieving process to discuss the notion that aging may be psychologically painful because it threatens a loss of identity. Finally, I examine potential positive alternatives to conceding defeat to the unavoidable effects of time.
Department(s)
Philosophy
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2020.1715228
Keywords
Aging, athletic attitude, grief, identity, resilience
Publication Date
1-2-2020
Recommended Citation
Sailors, Pam R., "Better days: aging and athletic attitude" (2020). Articles by College of Humanities and Public Affairs Faculty. 585.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/articles-chpa/585
Journal Title
Journal of the Philosophy of Sport