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Bringing together theology, philosophy, biology, anthropology, literature, psychology, and sociology, these lectures are a brilliant compendium of how human beings have struggled to come to terms with death. You'll encounter everything from ancient burial practices and traditional views of the afterlife to near-death experiences and 21st-century theories about transcending death.

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1. Death's Place in Our Lives

32m

Start your exploration of this profound topic with a helpful overview of how we, as human beings, think about death. What place does it occupy in our lives? How have our attitudes about it changed over time? What symbols and euphemisms do we use to talk about it?

2. Defining Death

29m

To truly understand the subject of death, you have to be able to define it. Here, discover how the definition of death exists on multiple levels and how each of these levels - the religious, biological, philosophical, cultural, legal, and political - determines when a living being becomes a dead one.

3. Death, Illusion, and Meaning

30m

Explore how it's possible for us to find meaning in life - even when confronted with the finality of it. Drawing on the work of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker, discover how forms of death denial serve to allay fears about our insignificance, and how we can cultivate meaning in the face of mortality.

4. Is It Rational to Fear Death?

29m

Should death be considered "bad"? Should we even bother fearing it? As you reflect on philosophical arguments by the ancient Epicurus (who thought death wasn't bad for the dead) and the modern Thomas Nagel (who believes we should fear death), you'll consider the possibility that both sides are right.

5. Understanding and Coping with Grief

30m

In this lecture on what Professor Berkson calls "an inescapable part of the human condition," unpack the feelings and behaviors of the grieving process. Topics include the evolutionary benefits of grief, the five stages of grief laid out by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, and the three categories of grieving identified by psychologist George Bonanno.

6. Death Rituals and the Corpse

30m

Since the dawn of humanity, corpses have held lasting significance for us. In this lecture, probe the various ways human civilizations have "disposed" of corpses - from burial (the oldest method for which evidence still exists) and mummification to cremation and natural exposure (known as "excarnation").

7. American Death Rituals

30m

In America, death rituals display a remarkable diversity and range from the minimalist to the extravagant. Chart the evolution of American funerals by looking at three major periods: the traditional (exemplified by Puritan burial rites), the modern (characterized by professionalization), and the post-modern (where loved ones play a more active role).

8. Approaches to Dying Well

31m

None of us can avoid dying. But some believe we can learn how to die well. Professor Berkson introduces you to ways that others have faced death (with regret, dignity, even rage) and also considers some of the practical ways we can make the best of our deaths when our time comes.

9. Judaism on Death and the Afterlife

31m

In the first of several lectures on how major world faiths approach death, the focus is on Judaism. From the importance of mourning and burial rites to the recent resurgence in American Jewish belief in an afterlife, go inside the evolving views on death and the afterlife in Jewish history.

Extended Details

SeriesDeath, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great CoursesDirector

The Great CoursesProducer

Mark BerksonActor

Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures

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