Determinism, Death, and Meaning

£41.99

Determinism, Death, and Meaning

Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology Ethics and moral philosophy Philosophy of religion

Author: Stephen Maitzen

Dinosaur mascot

Collection: Routledge Studies in Metaphysics

Language: English

Published by: Routledge

Published on: 29th November 2021

Format: LCP-protected ePub

Size: 1 Mb

ISBN: 9781000507966


This book offers new arguments for determinism. It draws novel and surprising consequences from determinism for our attitudes toward such things as death, regret, grief, and the meaning of life.

The book argues that rationalism is the right attitude to take toward reality. It then shows that rationalism implies determinism and that determinism has surprising and far-reaching consequences. The author contends that the existence of all of humanity almost certainly depends on the precise time and manner of your death and mine; that purely retrospective regret, relief, gratitude, and grief are irrational for all but those who hold extreme values; and that everyone’s life has an unending impact on the future and thereby achieves the strongest kind of meaning that it makes sense to desire.

Written in a direct and accessible style, Determinism, Death, and Meaning will be of interest to researchers and advanced students working in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and value theory, as well as general readers with a serious interest in these topics.

Show moreShow less