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Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Ancient Western philosophy to c 500
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Facing Death - Epicurus and his Critics (Paperback, New ed)
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Facing Death - Epicurus and his Critics (Paperback, New ed)
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The ancient philosophical school of Epicureanism tried to argue
that death is 'nothing to us'. Were they right? James Warren
provides a comprehensive study and articulation of the interlocking
arguments against the fear of death found not only in the writings
of Epicurus himself, but also in Lucretius' poem De rerum natura
and in Philodemus' work De morte. These arguments are central to
the Epicurean project of providing ataraxia (freedom from anxiety)
and therefore central to an understanding of Epicureanism as a
whole. They also offer significant resources for modern discussions
of the value of death - one which stands at the intersection of
metaphysics and ethics. If death is the end of the subject, and the
subject can not be benefited nor harmed after death, is it
reasonable nevertheless to fear the ceasing-to-be? If the
Epicureans are not right to claim that the dead can neither be
benefited nor harmed, what alternative models might be offered for
understanding the harm done by death and do these alternatives
suffer from any further difficulties? The discussion involves
consideration of both ethical and metaphysical topics since it
requires analysis not only of the nature of a good life but also
the nature of personal identity and time. A number of modern
philosophers have offered criticisms or defences of the Epicureans'
views. Warren explores and evaluates these in the light of a
systematic and detailed study of the precise form and intention of
the Epicureans' original arguments. Warren argues that the
Epicureans also were interested in showing that mortality is not to
be regretted and that premature death is not to be feared. Their
arguments for these conclusions are to be found in their positive
conception of the nature of a good and complete life, which divorce
the completeness of a life as far as possible from considerations
of its duration. Later chapters investigate the nature of a life
lived without the fear of death and pose serious problems for the
Epicureans being able to allow any concern for the post mortem
future and being able to offer a positive reason for prolonging a
life which is already complete in their terms.
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