Why Peter Pan is the model of our Infantile Age

2015-05-13

We are a culture obsessed with youth. We are told that youth is wasted on the young, but we do everything in our power to stay young.Growing up is seen as giving up. We are told that with each passing year, doors close behind and head of us. In short, youth is and has been the foundational cultural idea of the West for almost half a century. From the 60’s mantra of “never trust anyone over 30,” to to today when boomers are being pushed out by millennials.Given the negative light cast on maturi...

We are a culture obsessed with youth. We are told that youth is wasted on the young, but we do everything in our power to stay young.

Growing up is seen as giving up. We are told that with each passing year, doors close behind and head of us.

In short, youth is and has been the foundational cultural idea of the West for almost half a century. From the 60’s mantra of “never trust anyone over 30,” to to today when boomers are being pushed out by millennials.

Given the negative light cast on maturity, why would anyone every want to to defy Peter Pan, and ever grow up. These are some of the questions that philosopher Susan Neiman asks in Why Grow Up?: Subversive Thoughts for an Infantile Age

My conversation with Susan Neiman:

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