Aging and the relevance of the body for the construction of the self

The article is concerned with the question to what extent does the body - the body itself as an object (Korper; body) and body that we live in and experience (Leib; self) - have an self-promoting influence on the process of aging. To solve this question(,) four physical categories are presented that are generally of substantial importance for the development and support of one's personal identity: physical biography, physical image, physical limiting experience and physical control. These categories are consequently discussed with their relationship to aging. Thereby, the extent and the diversity of physical alterations during the course of the life of an individual appears to make alterations with one's inner self mandatory.