X-Message-Number: 12886
From: Daniel Ust <>
Subject: Facing Death
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 09:42:32 -0500 

Thought this might be of interest.

Cheers!

Daniel Ust
http://mars.superlink.net/neptune/ <http://mars.superlink.net/neptune/> 

On Sent:  Monday, November 29, 1999 2:46 PM From:  Greg Johnson

<mailto:[SMTP:]>  wrote:

Dear Lover of Wisdom, 

Here are the philosophical events planned by the Atlanta Philosophical
Society and the Invisible College from now until the new year.
I.	Saturday, December 4th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: "FACING DEATH:
Philosophical Preparations" (A One-Day Philosophical "Workshop")

	We all die. Our only choice in the matter is to die well or badly.
But why not put off thinking about death until later? First of all, we may
die at any time. Second, even if we knew that death were far off in the
future, the quality of our lives in the present can be improved by
philosophically reflecting on the nature of death. Such reflections bring
into sharp relief the nature of value, the nature of happiness, the nature
of freedom and responsibility, and the nature of our own individual
characters. This is why Socrates describes philosophy as "preparation for
death" in Plato's PHAEDO, which portrays the death of Socrates and his final
conversations with his friends.
	THE FORMAT: There will be four 90 minute sessions, separated by two
15 minute breaks and by a lunch break of one-and-a-half hours. Each session
will begin with a brief lecture setting forth the background of the reading.
Then the rest of the session will be devoted to working-through and
discussing the readings.
	THE TOPICS: In session #1, we will look at passages about the death
of Socrates from Plato's APOLOGY and PHAEDO. In session #2, "Carpe Diem," we
will discuss the ancient Epicurean meditations on death and the contingency
of life, the aim of which was to lead us to live with greater pleasure,
intensity, and authenticity in the present. We will look at passages from
the poetry of Lucretius and Horace. In session #3, we will reflect on the
connections between death, freedom, and servility as revealed in Hegel's
so-called "master-slave dialectic." Our reading will be passages from THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. Finally, in session #4, we will explore
the connections between death, freedom, responsibility, and happiness
through the Stoic meditations on suicide. Our reading will be Walker Percy's
brief essay, "Suicide: The Only Cure for Depression."  
	JOIN US FOR A LIVELY AND STIMULATING DISCUSSION.
	WHEN: Saturday, December 4th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
	WHERE: 3060 Pharr Court North, Suite 22. (Contact instructor for
directions.) THE COST: $80, including readings, "Continental Breakfast" and
refeshments, including plenty of good coffee.
	ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO TEN. FIVE SEATS REMAIN.
	THE INSTRUCTOR: Gregory R. Johnson is a philosopher in "private
practice" in Atlanta. He is the co-founder and President of the Atlanta
Philosophical Society.
	TO ENROLL: Call Greg Johnson at 404.378.5132 or e-mail
 <mailto:> .  
	For more information on The Atlanta Philosophical Society and its
programs, call 404.378.5132 or write 
<mailto:> .
	PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO ANYONE YOU THINK
INTERESTED.

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