Where to find a free course about Philosophy of Death ?

Free online coursePhilosophy of Death

Duration of the online course: 20 hours and 45 minutes

New course

Explore the Philosophy of Death in this free online course by Yale. Dive into topics like the soul's existence, personal identity, the nature of death, and the morality of suicide.

Course Description

The "Philosophy of Death" course delves into one of life's most profound subjects—death, and the philosophical inquiries that surround it. With a total duration of 20 hours and 45 minutes, this course provides an in-depth exploration of various perspectives on death, the nature of the soul, personal identity, and the ethical and existential implications of mortality. Despite its extensive and comprehensive content, the course is currently without any reviews. It is categorized under Basic Studies, with a specific focus on Philosophy, making it accessible to those new to these profound contemplations.

The journey begins with a thorough course introduction, outlining the key topics and questions that will be addressed. Participants are invited to scrutinize fundamental philosophical concepts such as the nature of persons, engaging in the debate between dualism and physicalism. This segment sets the groundwork for understanding differing viewpoints regarding the essence of humanity and our existential presence.

As the course progresses, arguments advocating the existence of the soul are methodically examined. This includes an introduction to classical philosophical texts like Plato's "Phaedo," which offers timeless insights into the soul's immortality. The exploration of the soul is extended through discussions on free will and near-death experiences, presenting diverse angles from which the concept can be approached.

The course features intensive analyses of Plato’s arguments for the soul's immortality, dissecting his thoughts through multiple sessions to ensure a well-rounded understanding. Learners are encouraged to engage critically with these ideas, evaluating their coherence and enduring relevance.

Personal identity forms another crucial pillar of the course. This section examines identity over space and time, comparing theories such as the soul theory, body theory, and personality theory. The discourse further explores objections to these theories and ponders what truly matters in the context of personal identity.

The nature of death itself is addressed in subsequent lessons, where the course delves into the confrontation with our mortality. Topics such as dying alone, the perceived badness of death, and the deprivation account are explored in depth, allowing participants to confront and make sense of their fears and beliefs about death.

In addressing the concept of immortality, the course considers its implications for the value of life, weighing life's worth in the face of its inevitable end. Other bad aspects of death are also discussed, alongside potential fears and how such fears influence our living experience.

Finally, the course touches on practical and controversial topics such as the fear of death, how to live knowing death is certain, and the complex issue of suicide. The discussion on suicide spans rationality, decision-making under uncertainty, and the morality of taking one's own life, providing a comprehensive philosophical viewpoint on this delicate subject.

The "Philosophy of Death" course thus offers a rich and thought-provoking exploration of death and its broader implications for life, identity, and morality. Through meticulous analysis and philosophical discourse, it encourages learners to engage deeply with the profound questions that death invariably raises.

Conteúdo do Curso

Video class: 1. Course introduction

0h46m
Exercise: In the context of a philosophy course on the nature of death, which of the following topics would be considered as part of metaphysics?
Video class: 2. The nature of persons: dualism vs. physicalism

0h41m
Exercise: According to the philosophical discussion on personal identity and the possibility of surviving death, which concept must we understand to address the question of life after death?
Video class: 3. Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part I

0h45m
Exercise: According to the physicalist view discussed in the lecture, what is the mind considered to be?
Video class: 4. Introduction to Plato's Phaedo; Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part II

0h49m
Exercise: According to the lecture, what is one argument suggesting the existence of a soul due to consciousness?
Video class: 5. Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part III: Free will and near-death experiences

0h48m
Exercise: According to compatibilism in the philosophy of free will, how can free will coexist with determinism?
Video class: 6. Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part IV; Plato, Part I

0h35m
Exercise: What is the core idea of Descartes' argument as discussed in the lecture?
Video class: 7. Plato, Part II: Arguments for the immortality of the soul

0h46m
Exercise: According to Plato's metaphysical views presented in 'Phaedo', how are the Platonic forms characterized in relation to the physical world?
Video class: 8. Plato, Part III: Arguments for the immortality of the soul (cont.)

0h49m
Exercise: According to the discussion in the text, what is a fundamental criticism of Plato's argument about the immortality of the soul?
Video class: 9. Plato, Part IV: Arguments for the immortality of the soul (cont.)

0h50m
Exercise: According to the arguments discussed by the professor, what is a major critique of Plato's argument for the immortality of the soul?
Video class: 10. Personal identity, Part I: Identity across space and time and the soul theory

0h49m
Exercise: According to physicalism, how is the concept of personal identity over time explained without relying on the existence of a soul?
Video class: 11. Personal identity, Part II: The body theory and the personality theory

0h50m
Exercise: Which theory of personal identity suggests that the continuity of a person's physical form is the key to their identity?
Video class: 12. Personal identity, Part III: Objections to the personality theory

0h51m
Exercise: What is the personality theory of personal identity primarily concerned with?
Video class: 13. Personal identity, Part IV; What matters?

0h48m
Exercise: According to the discussion on personal identity, what is one major criticism against the personality theory when considering cases of duplication?
Video class: 14. What matters (cont.); The nature of death, Part I

0h47m
Exercise: In the lecture on the philosophy of death, the distinction between mere survival and what truly matters for an individual was explored. According to the lecture, what might be a possible outcome in a situation where a person's soul continues to exist but undergoes complete irreversible amnesia?
Video class: 15. The nature of death (cont.); Believing you will die

0h44m
Exercise: In the discussion of the philosophy of death, what does Professor Kagan suggest about the concept of 'P-functioning' in relation to being alive or dead?
Video class: 16. Dying alone; The badness of death, Part I

0h49m
Exercise: According to the philosophical discussion of death, what argument is suggested to explain why many people spend most of their lives focused on material success rather than on relationships and personal fulfillment?
Video class: 17. The badness of death, Part II: The deprivation account

0h51m
Exercise: According to the deprivation account of the badness of death discussed in the lecture, what is the primary reason why death is considered bad?
Video class: 18. The badness of death, Part III; Immortality, Part I

0h50m
Exercise: According to the deprivation account of death, what is considered to be bad about death?
Video class: 19. Immortality Part II; The value of life, Part I

0h49m
Exercise: What is the main argument against the desirability of immortality, as discussed in the text?
Video class: 20. The value of life, Part II; Other bad aspects of death, Part I

0h50m
Exercise: What is the main philosophical issue discussed in the description related to the 'experience machine'?

This free course includes:

20 hours and 45 minutes of online video course

Exercises to train your knowledge

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