Last Lecture
Last Lectures
Coming of Age
May 19th, 2010
Wednesday May 19th 2010, Dr Bart van Heerikhuizen from the University of Amsterdam shared his insights and thoughts.
In contemporary life, to come of age seems to be paradoxical as it gives rise to both positive and negative feelings. Factors such as economic strains of an aging population and the phenomenon of euthanasia lead to the implication of society wanting to rid itself of the burdensome older generation. Having reached a ripe age of 62, van Heerikhuizen shared his personal thoughts in the spirit for which the last lecture is known.
With a humourous and light-hearted predisposition, dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen is inspirational yet deeply insightful. He revealed what it truly means to be of the older generation as not only do ‘people get up for you in the tram in Amsterdam to offer you a seat’ but one ultimately realizes as a person that one has ‘passed on to the other side of life to which one once peered at from the outside’. Dr. van Heerikhuizen also spoke of his deep admiration and personal relationship with world renown sociologist, Norbert Elias, who he not only admired for his intellectual prowess but also for his admirable daily swimming habits even just before he passed away at the ripe age of 93 years. Dr. van Heerikhuizen departed with one essential piece of advice for all who were in the presence of the lecture, and that was to make a diary throughout one’s life. For in retrospect, after reading such an account of one’s life, only then is one truly able to draw the lines through one’s journey as an individual and construct an image of the self.
For more information on dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen
The video of the discussion segment of this lecture may be viewed here. Part 1 & Part 2
