Death (ARTS20003)

Everything that lives will one day die. Throughout history and around the world, this immutable truth has generated a rich array of responses, as people work to make senses of, and manage, their own and others’ mortality. This subject introduces students to the fascinating and challenging task of thinking through death and dying. 

We begin by examining how diverse philosophical and religious traditions conceptualise and ritualise the passage from life to death, and perhaps, a world beyond. In particular, we will engage with Buddhist teachings on suffering and death, as well as comparative religious frameworks from Christianity and the Ancient World. Students will then critically examine Australia’s contemporary deathcare system, including end-of-life care, funerals, the handling of human remains, and memorialisation. Finally, this subject explores the future of death, including the promise of technological triumph and the quest for immortality.  

Death is a subject matter of universal concern, and this subject brings together insights from scholars of diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including philosophy, medical humanities, psychology, science and technology studies, and anthropology.