Abstract
James Hillman is highly critical of the widespread discrimination and neglect of older people in our culture. He argues against this deeply immoral and pervasive phenomenon, which is summed up in the term ageism. In his critique, he proposes a new perspective in which the idea of human character is central. It allows us to see a deeper dimension of our personal and social life, to see old people as extremely valuable and even necessary for the continuation of civilisation.