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Towards a philosophy of gerontology, version 5
1.Introduction.
2.Fundamental gerontological considerations on aging.
2.0.Definition of senescence.
2.1.On the process of senescence.
2.3.The forms of the pressure of time.
2.4. Explanatory-theoretic aspects of senescence.
3. Philosophical thoughts on the explanation of aging.
4. Towards eradication of aging: a philosophical strategy.
1.Introduction: An atempt to mediate a deeper compatibility between
Philosophy and Gerontology
What is philosophy in general, or what is the specific of philosophy? For
Aristotel, philosophy is the knowledge of the first principles and causes -
those supreme principles which explain the whole existence(Coltescu, 2002
p.160 ). For Kant, philosophy is knowledge by concepts; or the search of
the limits of our cognitive capacities. For Hegel, philosophy is the
rational knowledge of absolute. For Wittgenstein, philosophy is the
activity of eludation of thoughts. For analitical philosophers, philosophy
is the analysis of scientific language or of common language. For
Heidegger, philosophy is the existential analytics , that is investigating
of those modes of being that are proper to human existent(Dasein);
For Frankfurt school representatives (Marcuse), philosophy is the critical
theory of modern society and of forms of reification and human alienation
in the background of this society. Coltescu considered that "In its esence,
philosophy is this reflection, this meditation by which we want to
understand, to distinguish the sense of world and of our proper existence---
and by understanding, to liberate us, to conquer our spiritual
autonomy"(Coltescu 2002, p.21). Most philosophers had considered that
philosophy is a knowledge, differences appear either concerning its object(
first principles, the absolute, the universal etc.) or its method (by
concepts to Kant) or its faculty(reason, senses etc). But, is philosophy
limited just to a form of contemplative knowledge disinterested from a
practical or applicative point of view? Tudosescu considers that"...only in
limits in which it conditionate value reedifications at the level of other
forms of social conscience and, respective, modifications in the structure
of the tables of cultural values, so that these to stimulate changes whith
deep character in the structure and dynamics of civilizations, we can say
that philosophy have an applicative character"(Tudosescu 1997, p.169).
Someones had emphasized the propensity towards universality, the tendency
to cover the whole reality: philosophy is a general conception about the
world; it tries to discern the most general determinations of reality, that
is of nature, society and thinking. But, neither thought is an universal
characteristic of univers nor society. The most general determinations of
world concern either the fundamental-necessary level of reality, substance,
microphysics level, or some characteristics of the univers as a whole, like
evolution or cosmic bec |