Facing Death Facing Oneself

<p><em>Facing Death Facing Ourselves: An Exploration on Living</em> explores what different traditions mythologies religions and academic disciplines have to suggest about what facing death teaches us about living and ourselves. The text employs scholarly depth breadth and rigor to explore ethical and human questions as well as philosophic concepts pertaining to life death and dying. <br /><br />In Section I readers are introduced to the themes of the book and in particular to how the process of coming to honestly know oneself is critical to one’s personal attitudes toward death dying and happiness. Section II examines grief and physical death through discussion of works and theories by Tolstoy Kramer and Scarry as well as the topics of anger depression suicide and forgiveness. In Section III readers explore the concepts of faith religion and spirituality in relation to death through diverse global media. The final section utilizing the thought of Emmanuel Levinas explores how the capacity to love is essential to a rich and meaningful life. The text features real-life stories viewing guides to engaging films and an interactive grief exercise to enrich the learning experience. <br /><br /><em>Facing Death Facing Ourselves</em> is an ideal resource for courses on death and dying psychology philosophy and theology.</p><p><strong>Francis D. Degnin</strong> is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Northern Iowa where he teaches courses in biomedical ethics perspectives on death and dying and philosophy. He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in philosophy from Vanderbilt University a master’s in philosophy from Villanova University and a master’s in pastoral ministry from Seattle University. No stranger to illness or death Dr. Degnin serves as both an ethics consultant and a night chaplain for local hospitals. His research and teaching interests include medical and clinical ethics humanities death and dying continental philosophy phenomenology and social and political philosophy.</p>