Confronting Death

FAIN: AQ-50021-09

SUNY Research Foundation, College at Brockport (Brockport, NY 14420-2997)
Austin Busch (Project Director: November 2008 to June 2012)

The development of a junior-level undergraduate course dealing with issues of death, the afterlife, mourning, suicide, and the impact of biomedical advances on understanding death.

"Confronting Mortality" encourages students to consider the implications of human mortality through an ambitious program of reading that addresses the following issues: the plausibility of life after death, public and private mourning and consolation, the ethical permissibility of suicide, and the effects of biomedical advances on our understanding of death. Readings include Greco-Roman poetic and philosophical texts; religious and philosophical writings from the Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions; pre-20th century European philosophy; 19th century Russian and British narrative and lyric; and brief forays into 20th century philosophical and ethical writings. This junior level English course will also be proposed as a Contemporary Issues course meeting General Education requirements. The course will be offered twice during the project period of July 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010.