Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Defying the stereotype
- 2 The potential of social identity theory
- 3 On the subject of subjectivity
- 4 Personal stories
- 5 A nation in turmoil: Britain between the wars
- 6 Radicalization: coming to commitment
- 7 Political conviction and the social self
- 8 Growing into socialism
- Conclusion: aging and sustained purpose
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
1 - Defying the stereotype
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Defying the stereotype
- 2 The potential of social identity theory
- 3 On the subject of subjectivity
- 4 Personal stories
- 5 A nation in turmoil: Britain between the wars
- 6 Radicalization: coming to commitment
- 7 Political conviction and the social self
- 8 Growing into socialism
- Conclusion: aging and sustained purpose
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
There is only one solution if old age is not to be an absurd parody of our former life, and that is to go on pursuing ends that give our existence a meaning – devotion to individuals, to groups or to causes, social, political, intellectual or creative work. In spite of the moralists's opinion to the contrary, in old age we should wish still to have passions strong enough to prevent us turning in upon ourselves. One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion. When this is so, then there are still valid reasons for activity or speech.
Simone de Beauvoir (1970: 601)This book tells the story of fifteen people who, for at least half a century., have dedicated themselves to working for progressive social change. It is the story of people who are both extraordinary and ordinary. The longevity of their sustained commitment marks them as extraordinary. But they are also ordinary: most are not particularly famous, although perhaps they are well known and respected in their own circles, and, apart from the fact of their long-term political activism, there is no immediately identifiable feature which sets them in an exclusive category. Finally, this is the story of a group of people who despite, or perhaps because of, their advanced years, still feel the urgency of social justice.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Lifetimes of CommitmentAgeing, Politics, Psychology, pp. 1 - 21Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1991