How to Live and How to Die: Death, Dying, and the Afterlife from Confucius to Cryonics

Catalog description

Death is one of the only completely universal human experiences, yet we resist talking about it in our everyday lives. In this course, we will investigate some of the biggest questions and issues surrounding death. We will first examine the different ways that philosophical and religious traditions have conceived of death and problems that these conceptions may raise. In the second half of our course we will focus on how death affects our actions and choices in life. How does the prospect of impermanence shape the way we live? Are there causes that are worth dying for? How should we prepare for death? Should we use new technologies to extend our lives and 'cheat' death?