The Palgrave Handbook of the Afterlife / edited by Yujin Nagasawa, Benjamin Matheson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Nagasawa, Yujin., Editor.

Matheson, Benjamin., Editor.

Series:

Palgrave Frontiers in Philosophy of Religion, 2634-6184

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion--Philosophy.

Religion.

Metaphysics.

Philosophy--History.

Philosophy.

Philosophy of mind.

Self.

Knowledge, Theory of.

Philosophy of Religion.

History of Philosophy.

Philosophy of the Self.

Epistemology.

Local Subjects:

Philosophy of Religion.

Metaphysics.

History of Philosophy.

Philosophy of the Self.

Epistemology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XIII, 458 p. 1 illus.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2017.

Place of Publication:

London : Palgrave Macmillan UK : Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.

Summary:

This unique Handbook provides a sophisticated, scholarly overview of the most advanced thought regarding the idea of life after death. Its comprehensive coverage encompasses historical, religious, philosophical and scientific thinking. Starting with an overview of ancient thought on the topic, The Palgrave Handbook of the Afterlife examines in detail the philosophical coherence of the main traditional notions of the nature of the afterlife including heaven, hell, purgatory and rebirth. In addition (and breaking with traditional conceptions) it also explores the most recent exciting advance – digital models. Later sections include analysis of various possible metaphysical accounts that might make sense of the afterlife (including substance dualism, emergent dualism and materialism) and the science of near death experiences as well as the links between human psychology and our attitude to the afterlife. Key features: • Grounded in the most advanced philosophical, theological and scientific thinking • Contributions by eminent scholars from the world’s top universities • Balanced treatment of fundamental issues that are relevant to everyone • Diverse approaches ranging from the religious to the scientific, from the optimistic to the pessimistic • A major section on the meaning of the afterlife which includes chapters on fear, purpose, evil, and issues regarding identity The Palgrave Handbook of the Afterlife is essential reading for scholars, researchers and advanced students researching attitudes to and effects of beliefs about death and life after death from philosophical, historical, religious, psychological and scientific perspectives.

Contents:

1. Introduction; Benjamin Matheson

Part I. The History of the Afterlife

2. The afterlife in early civilizations; Gregory Shushan

3. Classical Mediterranean Conceptions of the Afterlife; Stephen R. L. Clark

Part II. The Afterlife in World Religions

4. Hinduism; Ankur Barua

5. Buddhism; Peter Harvey

6. Judaism; Tyron Goldschmidt and Aaron Segal

7. Christianity; Joshua Farris

8. Islam; Amir Dastmalchian

Part III. Models of the Afterlife

9. Heaven; Luke Henderson

10. Divine Love and Hell; Andrei Buckareff and Allen Plug

11. Purgatory; David Hershenov and Rose Hershenov

12. Rebirth; Mikel Burley

13. Digital Afterlives; Eric Steinhart

Part IV. The Metaphysics of the Afterlife

14. Substance Dualism; Uwe Meixner

15. Emergent Dualism; William Hasker

16. Resurrecting Material Persons; Lynne Rudder Baker

Part V. The Meaning of the Afterlife

17. The Fear of Death; John Bishop.-18. Meaning in Life; Thaddeus Metz

19. The Problem of Evil; Stephen T. Davis. 20. Practical Identity; Benjamin Matheson

Part VI. The Science of the Afterlife

21. Do Near Death Experiences Provide Evidence of an Afterlife?; Mark Fox

22. How Psychological Dispositions Influence the Theology of the Afterlife; Helen de Cruz and Johan de Smedt. .

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

ISBN:

9781137486097

1137486090