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Introduction
You may be asking what on earth is this all about? Ageing and bad faith? We’ll, all the world’s a stage, according to then Bard. And on that stage, we are all players who through the seven acts of our life play many roles.
Bad faith is a concept developed by the French philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre. To put it very simply bad faith is how we deceive ourselves by playing roles.
In Sartre’s evocative phrase, we are all condemned to be free. This phrase perfectly sums up the idea that freedom, far from being a blessing, may well be a burden. The consequence of this radical Sartrean freedom is that we must make choices.
There is no choice about making choices, because even not choosing is a choice.
So, how do we avoid the crushing anxiety of radical freedom? We tell ourselves, and others – whether others listen or not – that we are not actually free. We acted as we did because we had no choice. And often this involves playing a role and denying that you are responsible for your actions.
Here’s a good example that many will relate to. The person, let’s call him Simon, who insists that “retail therapy” is what he needs to make him feel good. This is bad faith. Simon is choosing to go shopping. He is free to choose other coping mechanisms. He doesn’t have to choose shopping.
He freely chooses to shop. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But denying that he has a choice is bad faith.
Sartre’s view is a rather negative one. Erving Goffman, on the other hand, saw role playing as a normal part of social life. Rather like Shakespeare, he saw our social interactions as dramatic performances. Depending on the situation, our roles may change. We conduct ourselves differently when we are with different people.
Ageing is often seen as a time of restriction—of choices narrowing, possibilities closing off, and freedom slipping away.
Yet, as Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy reminds us, we are never without choices – we may not always like that. In fact, Sartre would argue that even in the later stages of life, we are still condemned to be free.
The concept of bad faith—how we deceive ourselves to avoid the burden of this freedom—takes on a new significance as we age. But it doesn’t have to be a negative force. Understanding bad faith and recognising its role in our lives can help you approach ageing with honesty, authenticity, and responsibility.
The Burden of Freedom: Ageing and Sartre’s Concept of Bad Faith
Sartre’s idea of bad faith revolves around the notion that we deceive ourselves into thinking we have no choice. We convince ourselves that external factors are to blame for our actions and circumstances. Yet, Sartre insists we are always free to choose—even when it feels like we aren’t.
As you age, it can be tempting to believe that your freedom has been curtailed by forces beyond your control. Health, societal expectations, financial constraints, or family obligations might seem like reasons why you no longer have the freedom you once did.
However, Sartre would argue that you are still responsible for your choices, even when they seem limited. You may not have control over everything, but you are always free to choose how to respond to your circumstances.
Think of the decisions you face as you get older: where to live, whether to retire, how to spend your time, how to maintain your health. All of these require choices. You may feel that age limits your options, but bad faith would be pretending that you have no say in the matter at all.
By recognising your freedom and taking responsibility for your choices, you can avoid falling into the trap of bad faith.
Denial and Role-Playing as Self-Deception in Ageing
Let’s go back to Simon, who swears that “retail therapy” is his only way to feel good. Simon is deceiving himself by denying that he has other options. He could choose to exercise, talk to a friend, or pursue a hobby, but he’s convinced himself that shopping is his only escape. This is classic bad faith.
As you age, it’s easy to fall into similar patterns. Many people adopt coping mechanisms that become part of their identity, convincing themselves that they have no choice.
Perhaps you’ve heard older people say, “Well, that’s just what happens when you get old,” as they sit back and let their health decline. But this too is a form of bad faith. You may not be able to stop time, but you do have control over how you treat your body, how you stay active, and how you care for your mental well-being.
Bad faith in ageing often involves playing roles to escape responsibility. You might convince yourself that your health is entirely out of your hands, or that it’s too late to make changes to your lifestyle.
You might even adopt the persona of the “grumpy old person,” using age as an excuse for withdrawing from social activities or not trying new things. But these are choices, and denying that you are making them only deepens your self-deception.
Freedom as a Burden in Later Life
One of the reasons people fall into bad faith as they age is because the freedom to choose can feel like a burden. With each passing year, the pressure to make the “right” decisions intensifies.
You might find yourself asking, “How should I spend my time? Is this the best way to use my remaining years?” This pressure can lead to anxiety and, in some cases, paralysis.
As you age, you might feel torn between staying active and engaged or retreating into a life of comfort and familiarity. The freedom to make these choices can feel overwhelming, especially when the stakes seem higher than ever.
After all, with less time ahead of you, each decision can feel more significant. But denying that you still have freedom, or making decisions based on what you think is expected of you, is just another form of bad faith.
To avoid this, it’s essential to recognise that your freedom doesn’t diminish as you age; it simply changes. Yes, some opportunities may close, but others open up. Instead of seeing ageing as a narrowing of options, try to embrace it as a new phase with its own unique choices. By doing so, you can avoid the self-deception of bad faith.
Role-Playing in Ageing: Goffman’s Social Performance
While Sartre’s view of role-playing is quite negative, the sociologist Erving Goffman offers a different perspective. He argues that role-playing is an essential part of social life.
As Shakespeare famously said, “All the world’s a stage,” and we are merely players. As you age, your roles inevitably change—parent, worker, retiree, grandparent—and this shift in roles can be a positive way to navigate the later stages of life.
Unlike Sartre, Goffman doesn’t see these roles as necessarily dishonest. You perform different roles depending on your social context, and this helps you interact with the world around you. For example, as you transition from being a full-time worker to a retiree, you take on new roles that allow you to contribute to your community, your family, or yourself in meaningful ways.
While Sartre might argue that role-playing can lead to bad faith, Goffman would suggest that it’s a necessary part of life.
The key is to be aware of the roles you play and ensure that they align with who you truly are, rather than using them to escape responsibility or deceive yourself about your freedom.
Ageing as an Opportunity for Authenticity: Beyond Bad Faith
While bad faith often leads to self-deception, ageing can also be a time for authenticity and reflection. Sartre encourages us to take responsibility for our choices, no matter how limited they might seem.
Ageing offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the roles you’ve played throughout your life and decide which ones still serve you—and which you’re ready to let go.
For many, the later stages of life can be a time of profound self-awareness. The distractions and pressures of earlier years begin to fall away, leaving space for you to consider what really matters.
This is where ageing and bad faith intersect in a positive way: by embracing the freedom that comes with age, you can live more authentically, making choices based on your true desires rather than societal expectations or roles you’ve played in the past.
Avoiding Bad Faith in the Age of Social Media and Perceptions of Ageing
Modern life adds a new layer of complexity to the issue of ageing and bad faith. Social media presents an idealised version of ageing that can make it difficult to stay authentic.
You might feel pressure to fit into the mould of the “fit and active” retiree, or the “still vibrant” older adult. These societal expectations can lead to role-playing and self-deception, as you try to live up to an image that doesn’t reflect your true experience.
The key to avoiding bad faith is to reject these external pressures and focus on what truly matters to you. You don’t need to fit into anyone else’s vision of what ageing should look like. Instead, you can define it for yourself, making choices that align with your values, desires, and needs.
Conclusion: Ageing Without Self-Deception
Ageing and bad faith are deeply intertwined, but by recognising the freedom you still have and taking responsibility for your choices, you can navigate the later stages of life with authenticity and purpose.
Whether it’s through Goffman’s social roles or Sartre’s radical freedom, the key is to embrace your agency, live honestly, and avoid the self-deception that bad faith encourages. Ageing doesn’t have to be a time of limitation—it can be an opportunity for growth, reflection, and authenticity.
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