b Death Death What’s So Bad About Death? Dr. Clea F. Rees [email protected] Centre for Lifelong Learning Cardiff University Yr Haf/Summer 2014
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
b
Death
DeathWhat’s So Bad About Death?
Dr. Clea F. Rees
Centre for Lifelong LearningCardiff University
Yr Haf/Summer 2014
b
DeathOutline
OutlineThree Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
The Problem of Non-Experienced HarmsThe Identification ProblemThe Asymmetry Problem
Terminology
The Garden of Epicurus
Epicurean Metaphysics
Epicurus on Death
Evaluation
The Epicurean Virtues
b
DeathThree Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
Three Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
I In general, we fear our own deaths.I We typically think this fear is justified by the fact that death
is a harm.i.e. We think that death is a bad thing for us.
I We take this attitude towards our own deaths — not just thedeaths of others.
I This is especially so if we believe that death ends consciousexperience.i.e. We don’t believe in an afterlife.
b
DeathThree Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
Three Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
Nagel sets out three puzzles about this attitude (1970, 75–76).1. The problem of non-experienced harms:
I How can something harm us if we are not even aware of it and,indeed, don’t even exist?
2. The identification problem:I Who exactly is harmed? When is the harm done?
3. The asymmetry problem:I If nonexistence is such a bad thing, why don’t we think not
being born earlier is equally harmful?
b
DeathThree Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
The Problem of Non-Experienced Harms
Three Puzzles About Our Attitude to DeathThe Problem of Non-Experienced Harms
. . . all good and evil consists in sensation, but death isdeprivation of sensation (Epicurus 1926).
It may be doubted that there are any evils. . . which donot depend on someone’s minding that deprivation(original emphasis Nagel 1970, 75–76).
b
DeathThree Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
The Identification Problem
Three Puzzles About Our Attitude to DeathThe Identification Problem
Credit: Ahlefeldt, http://hikingartist.com/
There seems to be no time at which both the victim of the harmand the harm exist.
I While alive, I am not harmed by my death as it has not yetoccurred.
I Once dead, I no longer exist to be harmed.
b
DeathThree Puzzles About Our Attitude to Death
The Asymmetry Problem
Three Puzzles About Our Attitude to DeathThe Asymmetry Problem
Time
conception birth life dying death
If non-existence after death is a harm, so must non-existence priorto birth be as there is perfect symmetry here. . .c.f. Lucretius (1997)
b
DeathTerminology
Terminology
Question 2:
b
DeathThe Garden of Epicurus
The Garden of Epicurus
How should we live?I Epicureans argue that
happiness is the fundamentalgood for human beings.
I We should therefore seekhappiness.
I What is happiness?Pleasure + Absence of Pain
I Physical healthI Mental tranquillityI Freedom from desire
Source: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/23800/23855/
b
DeathEpicurean Metaphysics
Epicurean MetaphysicsHow many kinds of stuff in the universe?
One
Monism
What sort of stuff?
Physical
Physicalism
Mental
Idealism
Two
Dualism
What sorts of stuff?
Cartesian Bodies & Souls
Cartesian Dualism
The Epicureans
b
DeathEpicurean Metaphysics
Epicurean Metaphysics
Human Being Physical Body Physical Soul
= +
Physical StuffMore Physical Stuff
b
DeathEpicurus on Death
Epicurus on Death
Human Being Bodily Death Soul Dispersal
Death
Conscious
Bodydecomposes
Not Conscious
Souldecomposes
b
DeathEpicurus on Death
Epicurus on Death
Questions 1 & 3:
b
DeathEpicurus on Death
Epicurus on Death1. We should fear something, S, only if such fear is justified.2. Fear of S is justified only if either S is itself harmful or we are
justifiably distressed by our expectation of S.3. Our expectation of S justifies distress only if S itself is harmful.
——4. Fear of S is justified only if S itself is harmful. (2,3)5. We are either alive or dead.6. While we are alive, we do not experience (our own) death.7. When we are dead, we do not experience anything.8. Only things which we experience can be harmful in themselves.
——9. (Our own) death is not itself harmful. (5-8)
——10. We should not fear (our own) death. (1,4,9)
b
DeathEpicurus on Death
Epicurus on Death
How does this address the three puzzles articulated by Nagel?1. The problem of non-experienced harms:
I No problem since death is not a harm.2. The identification problem:
I No problem since no harm is done to anybody at any time.3. The asymmetry problem:
I No problem since death is no more harmful than not beingborn earlier.
b
DeathEvaluation
Evaluation
Question 4:
b
DeathThe Epicurean Virtues
The Epicurean Virtues
Questions 7:
b
DeathThe Epicurean Virtues
The Epicurean VirtuesVirtue
Prudence
Honour
Justice
etc.
Use of reason
Rational attitudes
Right understanding
Psychological insight/Self-knowledge
Happiness
Healthy body
Easily-satisfied desires
Small pleasures
Contentment
Psychological tranquillity
Lack of pain/distress
etc.
Right attitudetowards death
b
DeathThe Epicurean Virtues
The Epicurean VirtuesVirtue
Prudence
Honour
Justice
etc.
Use of reason
Rational attitudes
Right understanding
Psychological insight/Self-knowledge
Happiness
Healthy body
Easily-satisfied desires
Small pleasures
Contentment
Psychological tranquillity
Lack of pain/distress
etc.
Right attitudetowards death
Related Documents
