Philosophy of Death: Platonic vs Epicurean

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Questions and Answers

What are the two traditional strains of philosophy of death?

The Platonic and the Epicurean.

The Platonic strain of the philosophy of death is characterized by a rejection of an afterlife and a desire to diminish death's relevance in life.

False (B)

How does Plato connect philosophy and death in the Phaedo?

Plato claims that philosophers are "nearly dead", who seek to live a life that is more aligned with a state of pure knowledge and understanding, which is only possible when the soul is separated from the body.

What are the key differences between the Stoics and the Epicureans on the subject of death?

<p>While the Stoics believe that the universe is actively involved in human affairs, the Epicureans believe that the gods are largely indifferent to human beings. In addition, the Stoics believe in the divine spark that animates all life, while the Epicureans believe that the soul is composed of tiny particles called atoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objection to the Epicurean view on death, regarding its effect on the living?

<p>Even if death is nothing to the dead, it seems like death should still matter to those who are alive, as death is something that we all face. An Epicurean denial of death, however, seems to make death completely irrelevant, which seems to go against our lived experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument advanced by Epicurus to combat the fear of death?

<p>Epicurus argues, &quot;death is nothing to us&quot;, because when a person is alive, death is not yet present, and when death is present, the person is no longer alive. Death then, is nothing that can be experienced or feared.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Montaigne apply the Stoic and Epicurean attitudes toward death to his own life?

<p>Montaigne embraced a Stoic indifference to life and death, and used the Epicurean practice of meditation on death to help him overcome the fear of death and detach himself from the cares and anxieties of worldly life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between the Christian view on death and the Epicurean view?

<p>The Christian view on death emphasizes the significance of death in relation to an afterlife, and it is important to prepare oneself for this transition. The Epicurean view denies the possibility of an afterlife and attempts to diminish the relevance of death for the living. The main difference is that the Christian view sees death as a crucial turning point that separates this life from the next, while the Epicurean view sees death as the end of existence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Spinoza, following a Stoic view on God and the universe, apply this idea to his thoughts on death?

<p>Spinoza believed that the universe is governed by a deterministic force, and that humans should strive to understand and align themselves with this force. Death is an inevitable part of this order, which should not be feared.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Leibniz’s view on the nature of the soul, and how does it relate to his views on the afterlife?

<p>Leibniz believes that the soul is indivisible and indestructible, just like the monads, the smallest and fundamental units of reality, that make up the universe. Therefore, death does not involve the complete cessation of existence, but rather a shift in the soul's perceptions and relationships, although Leibniz denies both transmigration of souls and a perfect death. This view suggests that death does not necessarily mean an end to personal existence, but rather a change in its form.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Platonic strain

A type of philosophy that attempts to overcome fear of death by arguing that death is simply the separation of the soul from the body. This separation allows for a prolonged existence of the soul in a state of higher knowledge.

Epicurean strain

A type of philosophy that argues that death is the end of subjective experience. According to this strain, death should not be feared because once one is dead there is no longer a subject to experience any harm or evil.

Platonic metaphysics

The argument that a human is made up of both body and soul, where the soul exists separate from the body in a pre-birth state of higher knowledge.

Soul's existence

The idea that the soul is a separate entity from the body that exists prior to birth and continues to exist after death.

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Death as release

The argument that death should not be feared because the soul will return to a state of pure knowledge seperate from the body after death.

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Philosophizing as dying

A specific type of philosophical practice that involves distancing oneself from worldly concerns and focusing on the soul's quest for knowledge.

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Dying to the world

A Christian doctrine espoused by the Apostle Paul, referring to the figurative death of the pre-Christian self. This death allows one to be reborn into the life of faith in Jesus Christ.

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Christian rejection of worldliness

The idea that the body and all its worldly desires, including the act of reasoning, must be rejected in favor of faith and dependence on God's grace.

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Original sin

The Christian doctrine that claims humanity is born in a state of sin, corrupted by Adam and Eve's fall from grace.

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Monasticism

A specific Christian practice of living in a secluded environment, dedicated to spiritual cultivation and separation from the world.

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Scholasticism

A philosophical movement that emphasizes the use of reason to explain and understand Christian doctrine, often incorporating philosophy from the Greek tradition.

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Augustinian Reformation

A rejection of the excesses of Scholastic influence on Christian doctrine, advocating a return to earlier Christian principles.

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Lutheranism

A specific Christian doctrine emphasizing the importance of faith in Jesus Christ, often seen as an alternative to reliance on reason.

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Luther's focus on Christ's death

The practice of substituting thoughts on Jesus Christ's death for reflections on one's own mortality, leading to a focus on Christ's sacrifice.

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Suffering as Christian virtue

The belief that the sign of true Christianity is the presence of suffering and persecution, emphasizing the importance of embracing hardship.

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Jansenism

A Christian movement critiquing the influence of reason on Christian beliefs and practices, emphasizing a return to a more direct relationship with God.

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Pascalian view of reason

The belief that reason can only go so far in understanding Christian beliefs, highlighting the importance of non-rational spiritual experiences.

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Death as nonexistence

The belief that death is the end of a particular individual's subjective experience, thus eliminating the fear of what happens after death.

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Epicureanism

A specific philosophy that emphasizes the importance of tranquility, pleasure, and avoiding unnecessary suffering in life.

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Epicurean view of gods

The concept that the gods are unconcerned with human beings and their actions, promoting indifference to divine retribution.

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Epicurean atomism

The Epicurean metaphysical doctrine that claims everything is composed of tiny particles that come together and disperse based on natural laws.

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Stoicism

A philosophy that emphasizes the unity of the universe and the divine, asserting that death is simply a return of the individual's spark to this divine fire.

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Stoic indifference to death

A philosophy that advocates achieving tranquility through indifference to worldly events and accepting death as a natural part of life.

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Stoicism and suicide

The Stoic doctrine that suggests suicide is an acceptable option for those who find their lives to have outlived their usefulness.

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Stoicism and determinism

The philosophical belief that the universe is driven by a deterministic order, minimizing the importance of human will and individual choice.

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Spinoza's view of death

A philosophy that emphasizes the importance of reason and understanding the natural order of the universe, advocating acceptance of death as part of this order.

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Leibniz's monadology

Leibniz's view that everything is composed of indivisible and indestructible entities, emphasizing the persistence of these entities even after death.

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Hegelian philosophy of death

A philosophy that takes a stance against the Platonic strain of the philosophy of death, espousing the idea that death is not a significant event but can be understood in terms of the natural order of the universe.

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Nietzsche's critique of Christianity

A rejection of the Platonic and Christian emphasis on dying to the world, advocating for a more active and engaged approach to life.

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Study Notes

Introduction

  • Death is a central topic in Western philosophy, with diverse perspectives.
  • Two traditional approaches exist: Platonic (soul's continued existence) and Epicurean (soul's annihilation).
  • A third approach, existential, arises in response to these.
  • Kierkegaard and Heidegger, though influenced by Christianity, develop an existential philosophy of death that bridges Platonic and Epicurean insights.
  • The book explores the origins and tensions in these philosophical traditions surrounding death.

The Platonic Strain

  • Plato's Phaedo portrays death as a transition into a superior existence separated from the body.
  • The soul, existing prior to birth, possesses higher knowledge than the embodied soul.
  • Death is not feared because it leads to a complete separation and a more perfect afterlife.
  • Philosophy is likened to dying, focusing on the soul's qualities.
  • Early Christian thought echoes this with the concept of life in death—dying to the world for a renewed life after death.

Early Christian Appropriation

  • Paul's writings portray Christianity as requiring a dying to the sinful world and rebirth in Christ.
  • This dying can be understood as a physical transition or as a metaphorical separation from worldly concerns.
  • Augustine's work emphasizes the corrupt state of humans due to the Fall, requiring divine grace for redemption.
  • This understanding emphasizes a spiritual dying to the world as necessary for Christianity.

From Neoplatonism to Medieval Christianity

  • Neoplatonism influenced Augustine's view of the fall from grace, leading to a need for a spiritual transformation to regain a perfect state.
  • Monasticism, though aiming to isolate from the world, was criticized as not fully embodying the essence of dying to the world.
  • Scholasticism, epitomized by Aquinas, emphasized a more integrated role for reason in faith, offering a framework for the reconciliation of reason and faith.

An Augustinian Reformation

  • Luther sought a return to a more Augustinian interpretation of Christian death.
  • He emphasized a focus on Christ's death over individual death.
  • Luther saw suffering and persecution as inherent in Christianity and not incompatible with living in the world.
  • Pascal questioned the excessive reliance on reason in Christianity, advocating for a role for faith and the heart.
  • This included dying to reason as part of accepting the mysteries of Christian belief.

The Epicurean Strain

  • Epicurus argued that death is the end of personal existence, eliminating any threat of post-mortem harm.
  • Epicurus rejected the notion of the gods as involved in human judgment or penalties after death.
  • Epicurus's atomistic theory explained this complete annihilation of the soul at death.
  • Stoicism shared some common ground with Epicureans, denying the afterlife and emphasising detachment from bodily desires.
  • This indifference to death and worldly material desires, though similar to Christianity, lacks a desire for the same moral/spiritual transformations.

The Stoics

  • Stoicism's views on death often challenged the notion of fearing death.
  • The emphasis on aligning with the natural order, including accepting death as part of this order, was vital.
  • The Stoics' acceptance of suicide in certain circumstances differentiates them, though suicide was acceptable in extreme cases for Epicureans as well.

Early Modern Appropriation

  • Modern thinkers like Montaigne, Spinoza, and Leibniz embraced aspects of Hellenistic philosophy.
  • Montaigne challenged the significance of individuals in a larger universe and advocated a detachment from death anxieties.
  • Spinoza emphasized the eternal nature of the mind, yet still detached himself from death-related concerns.
  • Leibniz's metaphysics of monads also denied personal annihilation, yet with continued existence not quite an afterlife.
  • Hume, while expressing similarly Stoic tendencies, advocated detachment from death concerns and embraced earthly values.

The Nineteenth-Century Germans

  • Hegel's concept of lordship/bondage, while complex, suggested aspects of individuals engaging the world and accepting death.
  • Schopenhauer expressed pessimistic views that align with the Epicurean strain and detachment from death, while Nietzsche criticized Christianity's denial of the world.

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