Death, and then Life: Existential Ethics from the Phenomenological Perspective of Death

Author: Jin Fenglin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The author endeavors to explore the issue of death from a metaphysical perspective, constructing a theoretical system of phenomenology of death. It delves into deep theoretical reflections on human consciousness of death, survival beliefs, and cultural creation, holding significant academic value. — Luo Guojie (Former President of the Chinese Society of Ethics, Vice President and Professor at Renmin University of China, Doctoral Supervisor)
Starting from the premise that "without knowing death, how can one know life," the book emphasizes overcoming the "conflict between life and death" through "cultural creation," offering profound insights into how individuals and society can transition from the "dilemma of life and death" to the "harmony of life and death." Throughout the book, the grand vision, clear reasoning, rich materials, and fluent writing reflect the author's deep expertise in life philosophy and religious ethics. — He Hua-hong (Standing Council Member of the Chinese Society of Ethics, Professor at Peking University, Doctoral Supervisor)
The longing for immortality and the certainty of death resonate to create a symphony of human destiny. By analyzing the current state of death studies both domestically and internationally, the book proposes the construction of a new metaphysical theory of death—the phenomenology of death. To this end, the author conducts in-depth philosophical analysis and exploration of the ontology, main research methods, and basic structure of the phenomenology of death. It argues that it is precisely because humans are aware of the inevitability of their own death that they construct various beliefs in truth, goodness, beauty, and holiness to overcome and transcend the physical death, as well as the nihilism and fear it brings. These survival beliefs are then externalized into diverse forms of cultural creation, allowing finite lives to manifest infinite value and meaning.