The Badness of Death - Dying Alone and Value Theory - Lecture 16

Explore the philosophical concept of dying alone and the badness of death in this 50-minute lecture from Yale University's Death course. Examine Tolstoy's character Ivan Ilych as a typical example of how people view mortality, and analyze the common claim that "we all die alone." Investigate near-death experiences as reminders of our mortality, deconstruct the "dying alone" statement, and consider its weaknesses as an observation of human psychology. Delve into value theory to question whether death is inherently bad, and reflect on how death affects those left behind. Gain insights into human perspectives on mortality and the philosophical implications of our finite existence.

- Chapter 1. Ilyich's Reaction to Death: Typical, but Why? .
- Chapter 2. Near-Death Experiences as Reminders of Mortality .
- Chapter 3. "Everyone Dies Alone": Common Belief, but Necessary Truth? .
- Chapter 4. Deconstructing the "Dying Alone" Statement .
- Chapter 5. Weaknesses in Interpreting "Dying Alone" as Observation of Human Psychology .
- Chapter 6. Introduction to Value Theory: Is Death Bad? .