Old Age and Other Essays

This book by one of Italy's oldest and wisest intellectuals is a philosophical and personal meditation on ageing. The question of old age has preoccupied writers from Cicero to Am ry, but in this volume Norberto Bobbio produces an account that is specific to our times. Born in 1909, Bobbio has lived through the major events of the past century, and his experiences of Fascism, Communism and the Cold War lend his reflections a melancholy that distinguishes them from earlier eulogies on old age and death. Bobbio's conclusions are often sobering, yet his investigation into memory and mortality is written with both humour and emotion. In the opening chapter, Bobbio reassesses the notion of progress from the perspective of an old man. Arguing for an understanding of historical change as the transfer between generations, Bobbio explains how the elderly are increasingly marginalized in contemporary society. Referring to the traditional idea of old age as the 'age of wisdom', Bobbio argues that our ever-accelerating technological progress has dramatically shifted the power of knowledge from old to young. This discussion of old age as a social problem is accompanied by a reflection on old age as a personal predicament. In his elegant and lucid prose, Bobbio confronts the facts of decrepitude and death. In taking stock of his life, he argues once again for the importance of democracy and human rights. This is a beautifully written book that will be of great interest to the academic and general reader alike. Its intellectual content renders it of particular value to students in the fields of philosophy, politics and the social sciences.

This book by one of Italy's oldest and wisest intellectuals is aphilosophical and personal meditation on ageing. The question ofold age has preoccupied writers from Cicero to Améry, but inthis volume Norberto Bobbio produces an account that is specific toour times. Born in 1909, Bobbio has lived through the major eventsof the past century, and his experiences of Fascism, Communism andthe Cold War lend his reflections a melancholy that distinguishesthem from earlier eulogies on old age and death. Bobbio'sconclusions are often sobering, yet his investigation into memoryand mortality is written with both humour and emotion.In the opening chapter, Bobbio reassesses the notion of progressfrom the perspective of an old man. Arguing for an understanding ofhistorical change as the transfer between generations, Bobbioexplains how the elderly are increasingly marginalized incontemporary society. Referring to the traditional idea of old ageas the 'age of wisdom', Bobbio argues that our ever-acceleratingtechnological progress has dramatically shifted the power ofknowledge from old to young. This discussion of old age as a socialproblem is accompanied by a reflection on old age as a personalpredicament. In his elegant and lucid prose, Bobbio confronts thefacts of decrepitude and death. In taking stock of his life, heargues once again for the importance of democracy and humanrights.This is a beautifully written book that will be of greatinterest to the academic and general reader alike. Its intellectualcontent renders it of particular value to students in the fields ofphilosophy, politics and the social sciences.

Publisher's Note.Old Age.Part I.Disgruntled Old Age.Where is All This Supposed Wisdom?.Rhetoric and Anti-Rhetoric.The World of Memory.Part II.I am Still Here.After Death.Slow Motion.Lost Opportunities.Other Essays.To Myself.Intellectual Autobiography.Reflections of an Octogenarian.Reply to My Critics.Power and the Law.Taking Stock.The Politics of Culture.Appendix.Notes on the Text.Notes.Index.