Death: A Philosophical Inquiry

Reviews / Votes

"This is a remarkable, very well informed and concise overview of the phenomenon of death. Fairfield puts his vast knowledge at the service of a lucid approach that combines a third-person perspective - analyzing the phenomenon of death - with a first-person perspective - an existentialist account of what it means to experience death." - Pol Vandevelde, Marquette University, USA

"This is a fantastic discussion of the role death plays in the quest for meaning in the modern world. Along the way, Fairfield interacts productively with a variety of significant figures and issues connected to philosophy, sociology, and psychology. The treatment of suicide and the value of life is particularly compelling, as Fairfield explores nuances that often go unconsidered. This is a great place to start for anyone interested in existentialism or the philosophy of death." - Adam Buben, Leiden University, The Netherlands

"This study treats various philosophical issues concerning death, among them death and anxiety, death in a secular age, and the ethics of suicide. ... The author takes an existentialist stance on death, resting on Heidegger's concept of "being-toward-death," with the argument largely following a philosophical tradition deriving from Socrates's arguments in the Phaedo. ... Summing Up: Recommended." - F. Wilson, CHOICE