Having studied social sciences and philosophy at the universities of Amsterdam, Berkeley (USA) and Bielefeld (Germany) Jan Baars has been teaching Philosophy of the Social Sciences and the Humanities at different universities since 1970. This has formed the academic background of his perspective on aging studies, which has been one of his areas of study since 1986. This has led to his appointment as Professor of Aging in a Life Course Perspective, especially Interpretive Gerontology, at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Jan is primarily interested in social or societal issues which he approaches from his twofold background in social sciences and philosophy. He is the author of many publications on aging, ranging from conceptual analysis to polemic criticism and more reflective existential perspectives.