Aging Well in 21st Century America: Towards a Theological Ethics of Aging

As Third Agers transition into life after work they are faced with a renewed challenge, living the good life. The normative images emanating from the social and cultural landscape allow Third Agers to either envision and live their new life, or adopt a course set out for them. These new lives require a re-discovery and re-defining of the self, a reinterpretation of one\u27s role in society, and relationship to others. As with other phases of life, individuals need guidance when confronted with images of living well that are contradictory or perhaps antithetical to what they imagined for themselves. Various social and cultural practices and beliefs limit acceptable modes of self-expression for the retired person. Thus, the dissertation analyzes and responds to these social and cultural imageries and proposes a social ethical framework to be used moving forward when considering the good life in the Third Age