Death

Shelly Kagan

Published by Yale University Press 2012

Death

Shelly Kagan

In the series The Open Yale Courses Series

https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300183429

Overview
Contents

About this book

There is one thing we can be sure of: we are all going to die. But once we accept that fact, the questions begin. In this thought-provoking book, philosophy professor Shelly Kagan examines the myriad questions that arise when we confront the meaning of mortality. Do we have reason to believe in the existence of immortal souls? Should we accept an account according to which people are just material objects, nothing more? Can we make sense of the idea of surviving the death of one’s body? If I won’t exist after I die, can death truly be bad for me? Would immortality be desirable? Is fear of death appropriate? Is suicide ever justified? How should I live in the face of death?

Written in an informal and conversational style, this stimulating and provocative book challenges many widely held views about death, as it invites the reader to take a fresh look at one of the central features of the human condition—the fact that we will die.

Author / Editor information

Shelly Kagan is Clark Professor of Philosophy, Yale University. He is the author of Normative Ethics and The Limits of Morality. He lives in Hamden, CT.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
1. Thinking about Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Dualism versus Physicalism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	6
3. Arguments for the Existence of the Soul Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	24
4. Descartes’ Argument Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
5. Plato on the Immortality of the Soul Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	69
6. Personal Identity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
7. Choosing between the Theories Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	132
8. The Nature of Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	170
9. Two Surprising Claims about Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	186
10. The Badness of Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
11. Immortality Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	234
12. The Value of Life Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	247
13. Other Aspects of Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	264
14. Living in the Face of Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	282
15. Suicide Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	318
16. Conclusion An Invitation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	362
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	365
Suggestions for Further Reading Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	369
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	371

Language: English
Publisher: Yale University Press
Pages
- Main content: 416
Illustrations
- Other: 35 b-w illus.

eBook

Published: April 24, 2012
ISBN: 9780300183429