The Stoic Contemplation of Death
Free Mini-Course on the Stoic Contemplation of Death
This is a free mini-course about the Stoic Contemplation of Death. It's the text of a book chapter divided across several screens, with the ability for your to add comments on each section and discuss with others. Beginners will be able to follow this but it's probably also suitable to more experienced students of Stoicism because it focuses on a specific subject and draws on a wide variety of sources.
This chapter was originally intended for my Teach Yourself book Stoicism and the Art of Happiness (2014). However, the publisher didn't include it in the original edition because of space limitations. It was planned to add it as a bonus chapter to the e-book edition but it was left out by mistake. So I've made it available online for free. (It's now in the revised second edition of the book, though.)
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Your Instructor
Donald is a trainer and writer, with decades of experience. He’s a specialist in teaching evidence-based psychological skills, and known as an expert on the relationship between modern cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. He was born in Scotland but worked as a psychotherapist for many years in London, England, where he ran a training school for therapists, before emigrating to Canada to focus on his writing and developing eLearning courses. He now lives part-time in Athens, Greece.
Donald is the author of several books on philosophy and psychotherapy, as well as having contributed chapters to four other books and published many articles in journals and magazines. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius was #1 best seller in philosophy. He's also the author of Verissimus, a graphic novel about Marcus Aurelius, as well as a forthcoming prose biography of him from Yale University Press. He's edited and written the introduction to Capstone Classics' new edition of The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. You can contact him via his website.
Course Curriculum
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PreviewWelcome to the Contemplation of Death
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StartThe Contemplation of Death
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StartSelf-assessment: Stoic attitudes toward death
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StartWhy is contemplating your death important?
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StartCase study: The death of Socrates
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StartKey idea: Life and death are indifferent
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StartRemember this: your death is certain
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StartKey idea: Remembering death is certain (memento mori)
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StartTry it now: Contemplate the "good death" of a wise man
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StartKey idea: "The good death"
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StartTry it now: Picture your own death
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StartRemember this: The Stoic view of suicide or euthanasia
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StartDeath is no evil
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StartRemember this: Fear of death is worse than death itself
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StartDeath is ordained by Nature
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StartTry it now: Contemplate the transience of life
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StartRemember this: Death is neither "good" nor "evil"
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PreviewBonus: Death Quiz
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StartFocus Points (Summary)
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PreviewWhat was it Worth?