If I Should Die

Edited by Leroy S. Rouner

Boston University Studies in Philosophy and Religion

What does “death” really mean? Is there life after death? Is that idea even intelligible?

Despite our constant confrontation with death there has been little serious philosophical reflection on the meaning of death and even less on the classical question of immorality. Popular books on “death and dying” abound, but they are largely manuals for dying with composure, or individual “near death” experiences of light at the end of the tunnel.

This lively conversation includes various views on these matters, from John Lachs gentle but firm insistence that the notion of immorality is philosophically unintelligible, to Jürgen Moltmann’s brave and careful examination of various arguments for what happens to us when we die. David Roochnik searches the Platonic dialogues for a metaphorical immorality which might satisfy the human longing for some meaning which does not die with us. Aaron Garrett traces the naturalization of the idea of immorality from Scotus to Locke in the history of Western philosophy, and David Schmidtz offers autobiographical reflections in shaping his philosophy of life’s meaning. David Eckel takes us through a synopsis of Buddhist ideas on these issues. Rita Rouner uses the poems she wrote after the death of her son to chronicle a survivor’s struggle with life and death. Peter Gomes casts a critical eye on our death rituals, and defends a classical Christian view of death and immortality, while Wendy Doniger examines the literature on those who were offered immorality by the gods and chose instead to remain mortal.

Leroy S. Rouner is Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Philosophical Theology and Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Religion at Boston University.