Absolutely. Chronological age does not predict ability, wisdom or productivity any more than other characteristics whether protected by law or not. But I also think we should look beyond concepts like formal work and retirement and think more broadly about how we can use the wisdom of elders. Inter-generational contact schemes, mentoring, family mentoring etc all come to mind. And engaging partners such as social clubs, faith communities, leaders in minority communities as well because we can fight loneliness at the same time as maximising our use of experience and wisdom.

Dear Christopher J Johnson,

Thank you for raising this interesting question. In my country, mandatory retirement at the public university level takes place at the age of seventy. As I see it, mandatory retirement is, say, a double-edged sword. In other words, there are a lot professors who, at that age, are in their best to deliver lectures, to make presentations, carry out research and supervise graduate students. To deprive them of these activities because of mandatory retirement is highly outrageous and discriminatory. On the other hand, mandatory retirement when professors are no more interested if performing such activities can be a blessing either for them, their students, and the society at large. So, mandatory retirement has ro be contextualized. I am a professor Emeritus and because, of this, I cannot work anymore at a public university/college.

Flexible work and retirement options should be applied, with respect to social security organization and financing; life should not be a dead end street.

Age is a structural variable of human society, but should not be used in discriminatory terms.

I can think of at least a few nonagenarians who are still making important contributions to their fields: Sir David Attenborough, Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, HM The Queen ... I'm sure there are plenty others of lesser celebrity.

There are tenured, unproductive faculty at many universities who are at all different ages, that is why some universities practice tenure review. Actually, many outside of academia have mixed feelings about the academia tenure system itself but realize it isn't going away. In my previous University we had a number of faculty who earned tenure and after getting it became lazy and indifferent producing very little, in some cases absolutely nothing. These were not senior faculty and these younger faculty weren't even making productive efforts in teaching! I don't think any corporation on earth would practice tenure, right? Most companies don't care how old you are as long as you produce at a level that fits your salary, experience, wisdom and expertise etc. Forcing a productive elder to discontinue work based on a person's age is pure discrimination.

Furthermore, the pension age been raised in UK few times for my age group. Which isn't a bad idea, since life expectancy has been on up swing, and vitality and welll-being been statistically, improved to at a higher rate.

Though, there differentiation is must, those hard labouring people started working earlier in life, been working on hard labouring of physical tasks, and those Woking in under stress situations, they do exhaust down earlier and in need of physical mental retirement in need for rest for their mind and body.

Yes, the barriers tiers, necessity and capacity needs to looked at, reassessed, and certainly a new reformation is required on the pension / retirement Act.

Regards,

Fatema Miah.

Faming Wang.

I am afraid I disagree because you don't need one to retie for another to take on the scholarly route.

The experience expert subject special knowledgeable are highly valuable asset for the expantion of the field. People better always to co exist for advancement of the field not by challenging unnecessarily and not by envi.

I disagree. It is a period for one to give the body some rest while he/she explores others territories. and allowing the younger ones to take over.