On Old Age Analysis

In Cicero’s epistolary, On Old Age, the characteristics of old age are described and explained in order to provide an idea on how old age should be experienced. The key ideas presented by Cicero in On Old Age is that the elderly should focus on their present abilities rather than their past ones, and that age does not limit an individuals engagement with life as the elderly retain the capability to be socially and intellectually active. However, not all of Cicero’s ideas presented in On Old Age are static, evolving over time as demonstrated by Mr. Loui, an elderly individual who has varying views on old age as compared to Cicero. From Cicero’s time and the present day, there were continuities in the perception of old age as demonstrated by

However, Cicero states that the elderly serves the community in a different method than when they were younger. To support this notion, the elderly are more focused around continued mental refinement through their focus on learning and philosophical reflection, inevitably benefitting the society through new ideas (Cicero). With regards to modern society, Mr. Loui states that the elderly today are more focused on entertaining themselves than pursuing further learning and personal refinement. Furthermore, Mr. Loui believes that it is the duty of young men to think and create new ideas for the betterment of all society, as the elderly have already performed the duties society has required of them through their professional lives. The idea that the elderly continues to serve the community through learning is countered by Mr. Loui’s opinion that the old have already performed their required societal

In On Old Age, Cicero states that the fear of death should be ignored as the thought of death leads to the destruction of the soul. In effect, the destruction of the soul leads to the quicker onset of death (Cicero). The idea of ignorance with regards to death is heavily contrasted in modern society, as demonstrated by Mr. Loui through his statement that ignoring death is a considerable mistake. This is supported by the idea that unplanned death often leads to a substantial financial burden on the family, in addition to the unspecified division of the deceased individual’s estate, leading to familial disharmony. Furthermore, Mr. Loui states that the ignorance of death leads to riskier behavior that could considerably reduce the lifespan of an individual. As noted, Cicero’s idea that the proximity of death should be ignored is countered by modern standards as the ignorance of death in modern society leads to financial burden, and riskier