On Death: Perspectives on Endings and Eternities

Death is the basic condition of man, the fixed point of our fears and the prerequisite for our aspirations. Ideas about death characterize all cultures and have given rise to both world religions and local myths. In secular environments, however, the existence of death is more obscure. Life-prolonging measures have replaced the idea of death as meaningful in itself or a passage into the unknown. This volume covers the full spectrum of the forms of death with a global span and historical depth; from some of the earliest recorded poetic texts via religious source writings and shamanistic practices to prevailing philosophical and scientific perspectives. In twenty-four essays, Swedish and international experts explore different ways of approaching death. Contributions include Egyptian and Sumerian realms, the ethics of major religions, ancient and modern theories of the soul and consciousness, and artistic and literary representations. At the centre of this richly illustrated anthology is the question of what history can teach us about our own dealings with death and the dead. The book is also available in a Swedish edition.