Life dictates that as one grows old, they may progressively lose the capacity to aid themselves with things that seemed relatively straightforward in their youth. It is crucial to note this does not mean the elderly are helpless; instead, they need extra help to conduct various activities. Some people neglect their elderly kin as they seem like a burden. Some of these people have difficulty navigating life alone, requiring exceptional help from others in society. Human beings need compassion and a sense of camaraderie to prevent issues such as depression from setting in. When the young and elderly practice doxa, they determine that solitude is a relative issue, dependent on one’s capacity to accept their situation. Many elderly folks can manage well independently, while others need help to conduct essential duties. Nonetheless, helping either of these people constitutes a service to humanity as one does not expect payment but shows mercy and compassion to others in their time of need.
Relativism involves the fluid nature of situations and how people interpret issues based on different angles. It relates to concerns that determine when involved in abstraction, some issues exhibit various properties and are not simpliciter, exhibiting these traits based on a particular assessment framework. Such assessment is based on individual standards and cultural norms. In this way, the truth posited by claims illustrating some of these factors dictates that relevant assessment frameworks are supplied or specified. Proponents of relativism claim that if an item is relatively inclined in a particular manner, it cannot posit a framework independent of a vantage point where the issue can be questioned in terms of its establishment (Hautamäki & Mamane 37). In this instance, relativism deals with the advancement of age and whether one must help those reaching a certain age with typical societal issues.
My grandmother is far from being deemed helpless; she lives by herself and does not indicate any form of mental deterioration. She has continually exhibited a healthy lifestyle that has seen her progress through life with relative ease for her age. However, time catches up with us all. She has recently exhibited various issues, such as fatigue and breathlessness, after conducting minor duties. it is crucial to note she is fiery and insists she can conduct various duties independently. However, saying it does not make it accurate, a factor that has reinforced my belief that she needs help and should not live alone but in a community to help her during this period (Stenmark, Fuller, & Zackariasson 84). I believe this would help her connect with other people and give her family a chance to visit more often, and give her company to alleviate the solitude.
Individuals that live in solitude develop various issues, such as anxiety and depression. People are not meant to live alone, a factor that is evident in our family orientation and capacity to seek out others that exhibit similar traits (Storr 123). It is essential to note this applies to every person and does not exclude those who state they are better off alone. My grandma has been living by herself for a long time and needs to reconnect with others to improve her living standards. She requires other people to function normally despite the belief that she can stay by herself. I believe she needs to stay with her family and let them take care of her as she gets old to ensure she lives longer and can pass on her knowledge about the family to future generations.
It is vital to note that people living in solitude have a sense of doxa that does not exhibit positive traits that others in society would consider accurate. They accept their condition as a normal part of life, though this is not the case since people are social beings (Poulakos & Depew 49). Human beings have achieved many things because social networks and significant shifts in ideology or other aspects of life are predicated on a capacity to work together. Thinking about one’s position in life enables a person to intricately assess their life and determine what they need to do to ensure they are working for the community’s good. In this instance, helping my grandmother integrate herself into society appears as the best option to reduce isolation and its effects. She should have other people to communicate with and share her thoughts and feelings to lead a happy life connected to others around her.
St. Francis of Assisi claims there are two angles to consider solitude, running towards an aspect and running away from something. In the first instance, some people look for solitude as relief from a frenetic and busy lifestyle in an increasingly connected world, using solitude to deal with a hectic social life (Storr 124). In this way, they deem solitude a necessity, utilizing places and time to rest and rejuvenate their bodies and mind. These individuals perceive solitude as an end in itself. In contrast, some individuals perceive solitude as a way to escape some aspect of life. In this case, they do not consider solitude as an end but rather a means to avoid a circumstance. My grandma’s isolation from the family falls into the second category as it is not an end to any scenario. Nonetheless, reconnecting her with the family is a vital task that would enable her to reconnect with others and lead a better life with those who value her. It is crucial to claim that looking after an older adult is hard. Nonetheless, it is essential to conduct such duties as we were once considered relatively helpless and given aid in infancy.
Developing a good rapport with isolated relatives makes them feel appreciated and increases their connection with others. They do not regard the relative nature of relationships with others in the family but consider how they can live with those that help them avoid a solitary life. Human beings are meant to live together and exhibit depression and anxiety if they are isolated from others (Quinodoz & Slotkin). Family units help people navigate life, where the elderly face more problems conducting activities than their younger counterparts. Helping these people navigate life makes them feel appreciated, and Doxa boosts their image in the community. Developing a sense of community and connection is imperative to boost empathy and avoid resentment (Quinodoz & Slotkin). While people may refrain from communicating for some time, they should not avoid it altogether as it posits giving up on others and relationships. Isolation is a negative aspect that is increasingly evident in modern life. People talk more using mobile devices but fail to communicate about their well-being, leading to solitude and relative separation.
Works Cited
Hautamäki Antti, and Michelle Mamane. Viewpoint Relativism, a New Approach to Epistemological Relativism, Based on the Concept of Points of View. Springer, 2021.
Quinodoz, Jean-Michel, and Philip Slotkin. The Taming of Solitude: Separation Anxiety in Psychoanalysis. Routledge, 2005.
Poulakos, Takis, and David Depew. Isocrates and Civic Education. University of Texas Press, 2004.
Stenmark, Mikael, et al. Relativism and Post-Truth in Contemporary Society: Possibilities and Challenges. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
Storr, Anthony. Solitude: A Return to the Self. Free Press, 2005.