PHL 522 -
Philosophy and Death (Spring 2020)
Death and human mortality have been central philosophical topics since ancient times. This course deals with philosophical reflections about the nature of death and our knowledge of it. Questions to be considered will include: What is death? Are there reasons for thinking we have immortal souls? Would immortality be desirable? Is death a bad thing for the person who dies? Is it rational to fear death?
The philosopher Elizabeth Anderson says the best philosophical reflection begins by considering any given problem “as it emerges in practice, in the experiences of the people who confront it.” Death confronts us all, but in different ways. For this reason, throughout the course we will consider the reflections from those who experience mortality in a variety of ways—such as the terminally ill, among many others.