Chances, Limitations and Challenges of the Development of the Elderly: Perspective of Personalistic Philosophy and Pedagogy

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present the perspective of human development in aging, its chances, limitations and challenges, including individual and contemporary social context. The assumed interpretative standpoint is personalistic philosophy and pedagogy that enables to derive the thesis about the possibility of lifelong human development, including the old age, and the need to support the person in it. The foundation for the development in aging is ontological and axiological structure of a person. The way of its accomplishment is indicated by subjective actions and its specificity is described by the developmental antinomy between spiritual and physical dimension of the elderly person's life. Old age is full of brightness and shadows resulting from psychophysical changes, existential situations and social attitudes that condition the developmental possibilities. The basis of their fulfillment is a conscious acceptance of the aging process – old age regains its sense and meaning when it is recognized, affirmed and valued on individual and social level. However, the human development in aging is highly individualized and depends on inner openness for changes and readiness to resolve crises specific for that period of life. Critical analysis presented in the article reflects an interdisciplinary approach based on hermeneutic interpretation of scientific and popular texts from the field of philosophy, pedagogy, psychology and other social sciences that undertake the problem of aging and human development.

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