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The Use of Inflection Points

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Toward Post Ageing

Part of the book series: Healthy Ageing and Longevity ((HAL,volume 1))

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Abstract

In brief, inflection point [1.0]—representing the Philosophy of Ageing as a technique for coping with the shortness of life, or the finiteness of time—has been superseded by several new inflection points, with [5.0]—representing Post Ageing, or ageing as an artifact, with an array of bio-technological advancements and interventions in the ageing process as our current temporal setting. Between these two diametrical poles, one quite philosophical and one quite technological, there have been three other inflection points ([2.0], [3.0], and [4.0]). Each inflection point represents a change in direction in the flow of purpose and praxis for what constitutes a dominant theme in conducting inquiry relating to ageing. Many readers will find the heuristic of inflection points to be closely related to other terms that have been used in the history and philosophy of science, such as paradigms, conjectures, exemplars, disciplinary matrix, and the cognitive apparatus of a given scientific community (Conant and Haugeland 2000; Kuhn 1970, 1977; Popper 1963; Suppe 1977). Similarly related has been the use of terms like research programme, research tradition, representational spaces, critical transitions and threshold of epistemologization (Agamben 2009; Hung 2001; Lakatos 1970; Laudan 1984; Scheffer 2009).

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  1. Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program, College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Katarina Friberg Felsted & Scott D. Wright

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  1. Katarina Friberg Felsted
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Correspondence to Katarina Friberg Felsted .

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Felsted, K.F., Wright, S.D. (2014). The Use of Inflection Points. In: Toward Post Ageing. Healthy Ageing and Longevity, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09051-1_1

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