Life, Death, & Meaning: Key Philosophical Readings on the Big Questions
- ISBN-10
- 1442201703
- ISBN-13
- 9781442201705
- Category
- Death
- Pages
- 464
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2010
- Publisher
- Rowman & Littlefield
- Author
- David Benatar
Description
Do our lives have meaning? Should we create more people? Is death bad? Should we commit suicide? Would it be better to be immortal? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic? Since Life, Death, and Meaning: Key Philosophical Readings on the Big Questions first appeared, David Benatar's distinctive anthology designed to introduce students to the key existential questions of philosophy has won a devoted following among users in a variety of upper-level and even introductory courses. While many philosophers in the 'continental tradition'_those known as 'existentialists'_have engaged these issues at length and often with great popular appeal, English-speaking philosophers have had relatively little to say on these important questions. Yet, the methodology they bring to philosophical questions can, and occasionally has, been applied usefully to 'existential' questions. This volume draws together a representative sample of primarily English-speaking philosophers' reflections on life's big questions, divided into six sections, covering (1) the meaning of life, (2) creating people, (3) death, (4) suicide, (5) immortality, and (6) optimism and pessimism. These key readings are supplemented with helpful introductions, study questions, and suggestions for further reading, making the material accessible and interesting for students. In short, the book provides a singular introduction to the way that philosophy has dealt with the big questions of life that we are all tempted to ask.
Get the book
Similar books
-
Changing of the Guard
By Karen ThomasAfter the death of her beloved grandfather, sixteen-year-old Caroline resists change, spending her time with an elderly grandmother or alone, until a flamboyant new girl at school draws her reluctantly...
-
Dark Homecoming
By William PattersonMrs. Hoffman was waiting for her. “Mrs. Huntington just came down these stairs and she did not look happy,” the housekeeper said, her eyes practically vibrating in her unmoving face. “What has been going on?” Variola came into view over ...
-
The Death of Meriwether Lewis: A Historic Crime Scene Investigation
By James E. Starrs, Kira Gale(16) Thomas Jefferson to Paul Allen These three excerpts are taken from a biographical essay of Meriwether Lewis which Thomas Jefferson was asked to provide for the publication of the Lewis and Clark Journals in 1814. Paul Allen was the ...
-
The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying
By Lynne Ann DeSpelder, Albert Lee StricklandJim Nichols , a computer software salesman from Greenville , S.C. , buried his younger brother Chris in Ramsey Creek after the 28 - year - old died of cancer in May . “ Chris was what you might call a hippie , and he was very conscious ...
-
Selected Readings in Child Development: Chapter 19. Death, dying and bereavement
By Laura E. Berk, BerkSelected Readings in Child Development: Chapter 19. Death, dying and bereavement
-
Death and the Meaning of Life: Selected Writings of Leo Tolstoy
By graf Leo TolstoyPresents materials that reveal the essence of Tolstoy's beliefs on immortality, death, God, and the meaning of life.
-
Jezebel's Daughter
By Wilkie CollinsThis tautly suspenseful tale full of betrayal and unexpected plot twists is a worthy diversion.
-
Her Last Appearance
By Mary Elizabeth BraddonOur narrator tells the sad tale of her marriage, marred by a husband who breaks her heart spending their money in disreputable establishments, while she, Barbara, slowly withers away.
-
Don't Look Back
By Audrey P. Johnson“ Chocolate chip . My favorite kind . " Marsha poured the iced tea . " I've been meaning to ask you . Is Gabe short for Gabriel ? ” " No , it's even worse . I was named Galbraith Allen . Galbraith was my mother's maiden name . ” 67.
-
Laura
By SakiThis is the story of Laura, Amanda and a she-otter, executed in Saki's characteristic witty and caustic style.