Confrontations with the Reaper: A Philosophical Study of the Nature and Value of Death

What is death? Do people survive death? What do we mean when we say that someone is "dying"? Presenting a clear and engaging discussion of the classic philosophical questions surrounding death, this book studies the great metaphysical and moral problems of death. In the first part, Feldman shows that a definition of life is necessary before death can be defined. After exploring several of the most plausible accounts of the nature of life and demonstrating their failure, he goes on to propose his own conceptual scheme for death and related concepts. In the second part, Feldman turns to ethical and value-theoretical questions about death. Addressing the ancient Epicurean ethical problem about the evil of death, he argues that death can be a great evil for those who die, even if they do not exist after death, because it may deprive them of the goods they would have enjoyed if they had continued to live. Confrontations with the Reaper concludes with a novel consequentialist theory
about the morality of killing, applying it to such thorny practical issues as abortion, suicide, and euthanasia.


Author: Fred Feldman
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 01/13/1994
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780195089288

About the Author

Fred Feldman is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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