Methods for Successful Aging: An Aesthetics-Oriented Perspective Derived from Richard Shusterman’s Somaesthetics

Abstract

This study explored Richard Shusterman’s somaesthetics to understand the rationale for his view on enhancing the body experience of older adults and increasing their participation in art; it also examined methods or successful aging to enhance the theoretical foundation for educational gerontology. Accordingly, the research objectives were to (1) analyze the definition of successful aging; (2) clarify the role of body experience and participation in art in promoting successful aging among older adults; (3) explore and discuss Shusterman’s somaesthetics; and (4) explore methods for successful aging derived from Shusterman’s somaesthetics. This study mainly explored educational philosophy by collecting, reading, analyzing, logically reviewing, and interpreting the literature on this topic. During this exploration, methods for successful aging were reviewed. The findings are as follows: (1) shifting focus of successful aging to the bodies of older adults; (2) cultivating the body consciousness of older adults enables them to understand themselves and pursue virtue, happiness, and justice; (3) popular art can be integrated to promote the aesthetic ability of older adults and encourage their physical participation in the aesthetic process; (4) older adult education should cultivate the somaesthetic sensitivity of older adults; (5) older adult education should incorporate the physical training of older adults to help them enhance their self-cultivation and care for their body, cultivate virtue, and live a better life; and (6) older adult education should integrate the body and mind of older adults.