<b>Life hope and lifelong education in old age</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascihumansoc.v34i1.16191

Abstract

In this work we attempt to demonstrate the distance that exists between the concepts of life expectancy and life hope, which are taken as synonyms by IBGE, the media and gerontology researchers. The conceptual delimitation is based on the book The Principle of Hope by philosopher Ernst Bloch and on the pedagogical thinking of Paulo Freire. In Bloch, hope gives life a projective direction which is guided by anticipatory conscience. The latter is made of the alliance of dream and reality, without losing oneself in the oneiric realm but also without allowing reality to set its limits. Freire brings us the pedagogy of hope, which can be a valuable tool in intensional and systematic educational action towards elderly people in higher learning institutions. The progressive educator has the challenge of provoking in their students the desire of change, of transformation of the social and political conditions that are imposed by a system which offends human dignity. The change will require the continuous learning of scientific contents that enlarge and deepen comprehension of the world. The incompleteness of human beings makes them ever search new knowledge that will help them advance beyond common sense, which is constructed from day-to-day experiences. Old age, when fueled by life hope, brings the energy that is necessary to the effort required in engaging the transformation of the world.