Philosophy
Shelly Kagan
The Philosophy of Death
The lecturer behind “Death,” one of Ivy League’s most famed classes and America's leading contemporary philosopher
Lesson Plan
- Lesson Length : 16 Lessons ㆍ 1 hours 40 miutes
- Language : 한국어, English
Discussing the meaning and value of life through death.
Everyone dies. No one may escape the inevitability of death. Often, our fear of death prevents us from openly talking about the subject. However, Shelly Kagan, the famed desktop philosopher and the professor of “Death,” one of Ivy League’s most celebrated classes at Yale University, encourages viewers to actively engage with this topic through a series of thought-provoking questions. Is it more wrong to kill an animal than it is to kill a person? Why is it wrong to kill? Why is death bad? Can suicide be morally justified?
Kagan sits atop his desk as he dissects the heavy subject with his characteristic wit and invites viewers to contemplate death with him. His relentless questions lead us to question familiar assumptions and, in turn, think about how to live and what to do with our lives, for death cannot be explained without life. As you follow along with Kagan's philosophical arguments, articulated in accessible language, you will find yourself gaining a new perspective on life and death.
Full Bio
Shelly Kagan
- Professor of Philosophy at Yale University
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS)
- Recipient of the 2012 PROSE Award in Philosophy
- Author of "The Geometry of Desert," "Death," "How to Count Animals, more or less," and more
Shelley Kagan is a distinguished professor of philosophy at Yale University, standing out as one of America's leading contemporary philosophers. Since 1995, he has been teaching his liberal arts philosophy course, "Death," at Yale, garnering recognition as one of the top three most popular courses across the Ivy League. Famous for delivering his lectures sitting cross-legged on his desk, Kagan challenges his students with relentless questions about death, encouraging them to reexamine and rethink their preconceived notions and familiar ideas.
His books, "The Limits of Morality" and "Normative Ethics," have found their place as essential textbooks in universities worldwide. In 2012, his book "The Geometry of Desert" was honored with the Association of American Publishers’ PROSE Prize in Philosophy. He is also the author of the bestsellers "Death" and "How to Count Animals, more or less." His election in 2016 as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) underscores his commitment to delving into critical issues related to life and death, animal rights, and human values, all from the lens of moral philosophy and normative ethics. He continues to engage with the public, fostering a deeper understanding of these complex issues.
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