Death

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the relationship between life and death according to Sigmund Freud's death drive and then discusses Martin Heidegger's concept of being-towards-death. It outlines some of the salient points and issue that relate to each thinker and then discusses the philosophies' similarities and differences in relation to the subject of death.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
A Brief Comparison Of The Freudian And Heideggerian Approaches To The Meaning Of Death.
Heidegger's Being-towards-death
Conclusion: The Implication Of Freud And Heidegger's Thinking

From the Paper:

"If Being-towards-death is recognized in an authentic existential sense as an inescapable human situating, then the possibilities of Being opens up for Dasein. This is a complex and often convoluted area of discourse and can only be briefly hinted at here. What Heidegger is in effect suggesting is that in order for a human being to live authentically he must be fully aware of the ontological and existential implications of his death in the way that it impacts on his life. Therefore death should not be evaded in daily discourse in a "fugitive manner". (Heidegger 297) As Heidegger states in Being and Time " Dying is levelled off to an occurrence which reaches Dasein, to be sure, but belongs to nobody in particular." (Heidegger 297) He also refers to the inauthentic nature of the constant "tranquillizalion about death". (Heidegger 297)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blitz, Mark. "Understanding Heidegger." Public Interest Fall 2001: 106. Questia. 16 May 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000881201>.
• Cheng, Chung-Ying. "Confucius, Heidegger, and the Philosophy of the I Ching: a Comparative Inquiry into the Truth of Human Being." Philosophy East & West 37.1 (1987): 51-70. Questia. 14 May 2006 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98677394
• Guy T. M. Freud's Theory of Culture: Eros, Loss, and Politics. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology; 3/22/2004.
• Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time. Trans. John Macquarrie and Edward Robinson. San Francisco: Harper, 1962. Questia. 16 May 2006
• Heidegger: Death and Resoluteness. May 14, 2006. <http://pressurecooker.phil.cmu.edu/80-253/guides/heidegger-1.html>

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