"Lucid, sensible, and insightful throughout. The criticisms of alternative approaches are particularly
penetrating, and the positive suggestions are thoughtful....I have considerable admiration for this fine book.
Feldman talks sense about difficult, murky, and perplexing matters."
--J.M. Fischer, Philosophical Review
"Exceptionally lucid and closely reasoned discussions of the nature of death, from a materialist point of
view, and the (dis)value of death, from a consequentialist perspective."
--Robert Frazier, Philosophical Books
"This book is nearly ideal for engaging students in philosophy. It addresses important and interesting topics,
and it is a model of clear thinking. Feldman demonstrates in a way accessible to nonspecialists how to evaluate
reasons for a position by casting them in the form of an uncomplicated argument and how to undermine those reasons
by constructing a counterexample to a clearly identified premise. The books frequent summaries make it easy for
an undergraduate to follow, and the choice of examples ranges beyond the standard science-fiction cases."
--Edward Wierenga, Teaching Philosophy
"Confrontations contains useful and provocative contributions to the growing literature on the metaphysics
and value of death. The extraordinary clarity of Feldman's style is also one of the book's virtues....Feldman has,
through clear discussion and illuminating examples, enriched the framework in which philosophers may continue to
examine important moral questions concerning death."
--Stephen E. Rosenbaum, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
"Replete with imaginative examples, systematic arguments, and some off-beat humour."
--Times Literary Supplement
Oxford University Press Web Site, May, 2000
Summary
What is death? Do people survive death? What do we mean when we say that someone is "dying"? Presenting
a clear and engaging discussion of the classic philosophical questions surrounding death, this book studies the
great metaphysical and moral problems of death. In the first part, Feldman shows that a definition of life is necessary
before death can be defined. After exploring several of the most plausible accounts of the nature of life and demonstrating
their failure, he goes on to propose his own conceptual scheme for death and related concepts. In the second part,
Feldman turns to ethical and value-theoretical questions about death. Addressing the ancient Epicurean ethical
problem about the evil of death, he argues that death can be a great evil for those who die, even if they do not
exist after death, because it may deprive them of the goods they would have enjoyed if they had continued to live.
Confrontations with the Reaper concludes with a novel consequentialist theory about the morality of killing, applying
it to such thorny practical issues as abortion, suicide, and euthanasia.
