PHL 318 Philosophy of Death

3 Credit(s)

The fact of our mortality is something with which we all must grapple. This course will reflect on the nature and value of death from a philosophical perspective. Making use of ancient and contemporary texts, the course aims to address questions such as (but not limited to): What is death? Is it possible for a person to survive death? Would that be desirable? Is the fear of death irrational? Is death bad for the person who dies? How should we deal with our own impending death? What meaning does death confer on life? Or, does the inevitability of death make life meaningless? Moral questions surrounding the ethics of killing, euthanasia and suicide may also be discussed. Three lecture hours per week.