Aging and Shame: Mutual Transformation and the Virtues

What bearing do virtues have on how feelings of shame influence the emotional well-being, mental health, sense of purpose and social relationships of older people? That is the question that guides this chapter as it unfolds in six stages. We begin with some introductory comments about aging and shame to clarify the context. Second, the chapter’s methodology builds on MacMurray’s relational view of the human person, MacIntyre’s virtue ethics, and critical theory’s social philosophy on the role of recognition (Honneth, Butler)—all centred on the value of each person as a foundation for virtuous attitudes and action. The third section highlights representative aspects of shame peculiar to a person’s ‘diminishment’ with aging. Fourth, drawing again on philosophical and theological sources to clarify the nature of a virtue, those virtues are highlighted that have specific relevance in the aging and aged-care relationship. This discussion notes commonalities between western and eastern approaches to the relevant virtues. The fifth phase encapsulates some of the expected outcomes in this interplay of shame and virtue. This leads, finally, to a case study of an aged biblical figure (the widow Naomi in The Book of Ruth). Her self-image, aging years, and sense of meaning are enhanced through the transformation of her sense of shame. This outcome emerges from the recognition and virtuous treatment given her, especially, by her daughter-in-law (Ruth).