Document Type

Post-Print

Publication Date

6-2013

Abstract

Can we render death harmless to us by perfecting life, as the ancient Epicureans and Stoics seemed to think? It might seem so, for after we perfect life—assuming we can—persisting would not make life any better. Dying earlier rather than later would shorten life, but a longer perfect life is no better than a shorter perfect life, so dying would take nothing of value from us. However, after sketching what perfecting life might entail, I will argue that it is not a desirable approach to invulnerability after all.

Identifier

10.1007/s10892-012-9138-2

Publisher

Springer Netherlands

Publication Information

The Journal of Ethics

Included in

Philosophy Commons

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