Philosophical Perspectives on Death and Immortality

What does Plato's Theory of Forms propose?

Eternal, unchanging forms exist beyond the physical world, forms are perfect and abstract.

What are examples of forms according to Plato?

'Justice' and 'beauty' are examples of forms.

Substance Dualism

Argues that the soul and body are separate. (Mind and body example)

Immortality

The soul survives death, entering a realm of pure forms and truth.

Holistic View

Life and death are inseparable from nature. Death is not feared but embraced as a natural change.

Beatitude

Aquinas describes the ultimate human goal as beatitude—eternal happiness achieved by union with God. This is a vision of God after death.

Resurrection Aquintas

He argues for a physical resurrection, where the soul is reunited with a glorified body.

Virtue and Grace Aquintas

Beatitude requires living virtuously and receiving divine grace.

Conditional vs. Categorical Desires

Categorical desires give life purpose, while conditional desires depend on fulfilling immediate needs.

Hedonism (epicureans main belief)

The goal of life is maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.

Materialism

Epicurus views the soul and body as material, thus death is the end of sensation.

Critique of Epicurus

Feldman challenges the idea that death is 'nothing to us,' suggesting it can be intrinsically bad even if not experienced and is eternally bad.

Intrinsic vs. All Things Considered Bads

Intrinsic bads are harmful by their nature (e.g., death), while 'all things considered bads' would be in other realities life would be worse

Existence as Pain (Pessimism)

Human existence is marked by relentless striving and dissatisfaction from insatiable desires.

Realism

Realism is the belief that certain things exist independently of our perceptions, beliefs, or linguistic constructs.

Nonrealism

Realities depend on perception or constructs. (Nonrealism denies the independent existence of certain entities or truths)

Folk View of Death

Only afraid because of unknowns of afterlife.

The Zhuangzi on Death

Conveys a perspective on life and death that celebrates change and transformation. Our body is transformed. Death is not the end.

The Daodejing on Life and Death

Dying truly happens when you are forgotten. When forgotten you loose place in life. Die when identity is lost.

Plato's Phaedo Classes

2 classes: visible and invisible. The body is visible or changing. The soul is invisible or unchanging.

Theory of Forms

Eternal, perfect forms exist independently; the physical world reflects imperfect versions.

Bernard Williams on Immortality

Endless life could lead to boredom and loss of meaning.

Epicureanism

Death is Nothing; life aims to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. Dont fear death.

Schopenhauer on Suffering (Pessimism)

Life is driven by suffering and unfulfilled desires. Good is lack of Evil. Evil is what exists.

Vice on Optimism

Optimists find meaning despite hardship; pessimists focus on life's difficulties.

Bernard Williams Attractivness condition

Immortality and future states of existence must appeal to present individual

Bernard Williams Identity Condition

it must be me who models imortality

Bernard Williams Categorical desire

Fulfilment or desire even if you don’t exist

Bernard Williams Conditional desire

Desire of fulfillment only with continued existence.

What is self respect according to vice

Good worth doing and confidence in self to do that good.

Schopenhauer on Happiness

Happiness is the satisfaction of pain brought to an end. Pain and dissatisfaction can only temporarily be brought to an end.

Platonist view of worlds

2 world views Ultimate reality (forms/ invisible) and the sensible world (changing entities) are separate. Ultimate reality is unchanging.

Recollection Theory

All knowledge is learned between death and life. Recollection is not gaining new knowledge just remembering old.

Plato on death

Death is the separation of the soul and body. The soul is the person body is a host.

Clausual Closure (Plato)

Physical events only have physical causes

Menta Causation

Mental events can be physical

Universals

Property possesed by many.

Determinism

Every action and event determined by free will

Atomism

All atoms come together. They can never come to be or cease to be