Bertrand Quentin: Old Age Reveals Temperaments, Not Inevitable Decline

In a philosophy column for Le Monde, Roger-Pol Droit reviews Bertrand Quentin's new book, 'Philosophy of Old Age.' The article addresses the unprecedented demographic shift toward an aging global population and the resulting complex economic, political, and societal consequences. Quentin, a philosopher and specialist in medical ethics, argues that old age is not merely an inevitable biological 'shipwreck' or a vague social construct. Instead, he posits that aging primarily serves to reveal individual temperaments. The review highlights Quentin's methodical approach to untangling the confused definitions of old age, questioning whether it is a biological reality, a social representation, or an intimate personal experience. As an associate professor at Gustave-Eiffel University and author of previous works on disability, Quentin explores these angles to show that the concept of old age is far less obvious than commonly believed. The piece underscores the growing importance of understanding this demographic mutation as the number of elderly people continues to rise significantly in the coming decades.