Description
Starting from the premise that philosophers' deaths have been as interesting as their lives, the author describes the deaths of more than 190 philosophers in quirky tales that confront such larger issues as the meaning of life, the possibility of happiness, and the role of death in promoting a richer, more fulfilling life.
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In this collection of brief lives (and deaths) of nearly two hundred of the world's greatest thinkers, noted philosopher Simon Critchley creates a register of mortality that is tragic, amusing, absurd, and exemplary. From the self-mocking haikus of Zen masters on their deathbeds to the last words of Christian saints and modern-day sages, this irresistible book contains much to inspire both amusement and reflection.Informed by Critchley's acute insight, scholarly intelligence, and sprightly wit, each entry tells its own tale, but collected together they add up to a profound and moving investigation of meaning and the possibility of happiness for us all.
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