Longevity and learning from the biographical perspective. Two Case Studies - Locally Rooted and Globally Oriented

Abstract

In the general imagination, old age and increased longevity do not correspond to learning. The fact that older adults are learning needs to be proven constantly. Longevity is considered to be more than passing time - it has advantages for learning. I agree that longevity is a challenge and I argue that it is also a time of learning. Consequently, my research interest in this paper is longevity and learning. I present two case studies (locally rooted and globally oriented) from a biographical perspective. The paper consists of two parts, a theoretical and an empirical one. In the first, theoretical section, I discuss longevity in the context of the body while considering the local and global worlds as places of living and presenting biography theory as a frame for the research. In the second, empirical section, I present the research background, as well as the research findings from Sweden and Poland.