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

By Fred Feldman

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195089286
• ISBN13: 9780195089288
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Most useful contemporary work on this topic.

Feldman's analysis is cogent and creative, a hard combination to achieve. Worth reading and re-reading -- and invaluable to students.

This is a great introduction to philosophical thinking.

_Confrontations with the Reaper_ is a good introduction to philosophical thinking. It is very well written and full of life. Many classroom discussions will pour from its pages.The philosophy club at my college is using this text for a discussion along with Camus, Woody Allen, and _The Bagavad Gita_.The only problem with it is that it is so analytic that it seems to suggest materialism as an idea human state to be in, but that's just my personal problem with the book.If you're studying the philosophy of death or are in a college philosophy club this one's a great pick.