The Virtues and Vices of Old People in the Late Middle Ages

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Abstract
The medieval perception of old age was based on the classical theory of the four humors, which balanced the vices of senescence with its virtues. The introduction of Aristotle to the West in the thirteenth century, combined with the translation of Arabic medical works, encouraged scientific discussion of the aging process. The Christian tradition stressed the opportunities for spiritual perfection which aging brings. As a result, a broader portrait of aging emerged, embodying both physical and emotional factors.