Life after death

1. Life after death Part 1 Mind and body

2. What is death? • A definition: • ‘Complete and permanent cessation of all vital functions in a living creature, the end of life’ • All agree on the first part many disagree with the idea of it being the ‘end of life’

3. How could life continue? • Through our genes in our children and descendants • We live on in our life’s work • We live on in the memory of others • Immortality of the soul • Resurrection of the body • Reincarnation

4. Materialism or Dualism? • Two main theories of human nature • Materialists believe that the mind and body of a human are inseparable • Dualists believe that humans consist of a body and a soul

5. Materialism • There is no soul • Most materialists believe that at death the whole person ceases to exist • Gilbert Ryle • The Concept of the Mind (1949) • Ghost in the machine • A category mistake

6. Materialism

7. Materialism • There is no scientific evidence for the soul • The soul cannot be located in the body • The body is matter only • Therefore there is no soul

8. Materialist argument against an afterlife • Life depends on a functioning brain, nervous system and physical body • Death involves the destruction of the brain, the nervous system and physical body • Therefore a person’s life ends at death as without a physical form, life cannot be supported

9. Dualism • Mind determines personality • Body is a shell for the real self • Body is contingent and will end • The mind is immortal and considers higher realities • Truth, goodness, justice

10. Plato • A dualist • Body and soul are two separate substances that interact • Soul is immortal and contains the real identity • Plato developed idea of forms • Body belongs to the physical contingent world • Soul wants to go to the world of ideas and stay there for eternity

11. Aristotle • Soul is part of the body • It is what turns the physical form into a living thing of a particular type • Soul and body are inseparable • Soul develops character but cannot survive death • But is Aristotle a materialist? He did believe that the body and the soul were different

12. René Descartes • A Dualist • Mind includes feelings and sensations that cannot be located physically • Concluded ‘I think therefore I am’ • Mind and body are different • Each have own special characteristics • Mind is a substance that is to ‘think’ • Body is a material that is to ‘take up space’

13. René Descartes • Concluded • Identity comes from thinking and reasoning • Conceivable that we could survive our body and remain same person • Believed body not needed to live intellectually • We can make drastic changes to our bodies but remain the same person • Believed that after death our soul can life on with God

14. St Thomas Aquinas • Agreed with Aristotle • Soul animates the body – gives it life • Soul operates independently of body • Only things that are divisible decay • Soul is not divisible • Therefore soul can survive death • But link between body and soul • So soul can retain individual identity

15. Putting it all together • Answer the following exam question in groups • ‘The soul is just a part of the body’. Discuss.

16. How to answer • Start with the problem – Why are we even discussing this? • Explain Materialism and Dualism • Explain the views of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Aquinas. • What do you think and why? • Conclusion

17. Life after death Part 2 Replication

18. Christian View • Most Christians believe in the resurrection of the body • Most Christians believe in the immortality of the soul • The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being. Genesis 2.7 • But disagree on whether resurrection is physical or spiritual

19. Heaven and Hell • There are different Christian views on what happens to the soul • The soul may remain close to earth, ascend to Heaven, descend into Hell or participate in a general resurrection • For many Christians Heaven and Hell provide an understanding of evil and suffering • A physical body will be needed to experience torment • Liberal Christians place little emphasis on a place

20. Personal identity • If resurrection is physical then people can be recognised • But if spiritual how will recognition take place? • What is the ‘I’ ? • Memories • Personality • Physical looks • Personal Identity is a problem for any form of afterlife • Just how can we be sure it is actually the same person?

21. John Hick • Hick is a materialist • But he believes that people can live after death • This is possible through the creation of a replica • God is all-powerful • Therefore he can create a replica

22. Replica Theory • John Smith lived in America • One day he vanishes in front of his friends • At precisely the same time a replica of Smith appears in India • Hick argues it is the same person • Smith dies in America and a replica appears in India • Smith dies in America and a replica appears in a parallel universe

23. Replica Theory • Is it the same person? • What should we look for to identify the replica as being the same person? • Hick argues that if the replica looks like the original, has the same memories and personality, we would assume it to be the same person

24. Objections to the Replica Theory • A replica is not the same as the original • Art collectors would not pay £1000s for a replica picture because it is not the original • If God can create one replica why not many? Then which would be the real person? • Hick’s theory relies on God actually existing, but many philosophers do not accept the existence of God and therefore his theory fails

25. St Paul’s view • Hick provides a possible way in which resurrection could take place • But he does not suggest the resurrection of the original body • Rather it is the re-creation of the person who died • Hick’s view is compatible with Christian idea of resurrection • St Paul wrote to the Corinthians • The body is buried mortal, when raised, it will be immortal… …when buried it is a physical body, when raised it will be a spiritual body

26. Richard Dawkins • Writer of many books • Atheist • An empiricist • Focuses on evolution • Belief in a soul is a failure to accept that evil and suffering have no purpose • Another replication theory

27. Richard Dawkins • Humans are nothing more than their DNA • The only thing that can be said to survive a person’s death is their DNA • provided they have children • If people learnt to reason as scientists they would be better humans • Science answers questions about origin, whereas religion depends on faith

28. Richard Dawkins • Dawkins explains our consciousness in terms of memes • Genes are the physical replicators • Memes are human culture replicators • Memes enable cultural survival • But also evolve

29. Richard Dawkins • Writer of many books • Atheist • An empiricist • Focuses on evolution • Belief in a soul is a failure to accept that evil and suffering have no purpose

30. Putting it all together • Answer the following exam question in groups • ‘The resurrection of the body is not possible’. Discuss.

31. How to answer • Start with an explanation of what we mean by resurrection • Explain why it is a problem • Refer to the biblical idea of resurrection • Mention St Paul • Explain the problems with personal identity • Discuss Hick’s replica theory • Explain the problems of the theory • What do you think and why? • Conclusion

32. Life and death Part 3 Reincarnation Evidence for existence of a soul

33. Reincarnation • Could be referred to as Rebirth • At death the soul moves from the dead body into a new body • The new body is totally different from the old • Usually there are no memories of the previous life • Therefore personal identity cannot be retained

34. Buddhism • There is an interconnection between each life that does not involve a soul • Connection made through karma • Karma means ‘action’ • Relationship between what a person does and what happens to them • ‘I’ is not the person living a single life but the union of all lived lives.

35. Hinduism • Atman = soul and is eternal • Individuals develop through cycle of life, death and rebirth • Aim is to work to be reunited with Brahman • Living right (dharma) gives good karma • Usually no memories of a previous life

36. Near Death Experience • Advances in medical research mean that more people declared as clinically dead are being resuscitated • Dr Raymond Moody saw similarity in the experiences of people who were resuscitated • His investigations revealed…

37. At moment of death many have a feeling of floating above their body • They can observe what is happening around them • Movement unrestricted – can move through walls • Sense of bliss, ecstasy and peace • Rapid movement down a tunnel with bight light at the end • Dead friends and relatives are waiting at the end • At end of tunnel there is a beautiful place with a sense of the divine • Panoramic view of their entire life • Made aware of how their actions have effect their life and others • Told it is not yet their time to die and they return

38. Near Death Experience • No two NDE’s identical • Longer person is dead the more in depth their experience • Not all people resuscitated have such experiences

39. Regression to Past Lives • If we have past lives some believe we should have memories • Some people do claim to have memories of a past life • Children sometimes make comments that suggest they are remembering a past life • People under hypnosis have given accounts of past lives • Research can confirm the accuracy of their claim

40. Regression to Past Lives • Reasons why their claims might be false • Could be recalling information already gained in this life • Maybe a cultural gene that passes information down • Memories could be suppressed events of this life

41. Sightings • Dr Deepak Chopra • Bodies are effectively energy • Appear solid but actually are an impulse of energy • When someone dies the energy field remains • Made be seen by others • Perceived as a ghost • Unlikely to be hallucinations as often seen by more than one person

42. Sightings • Alternative explanations • Hoax or elaborate trick • ‘stone tape’ theory. Like a magnetic tape. Event is played back in right conditions • Mistaken identity • Power of suggestion

43. Spiritualism • Communication between dead and living • Messages give comfort to the bereaved • Some mediums have been shown to be frauds • Others appear genuine • Could be real communication with spirits • Could be telepathic communication with the living

44. Putting it all together • Answer the following exam question in groups • Shakespeare described death as ‘the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns.’ There are those who would argue that people have returned from ‘the undiscovered country’. Discuss the evidence put forward as proof that there is life after death, and the form that life after death might take.

45. How to answer • Consider ideas that provide evidence of life after death • NDE’s, Regression, Sightings, Spiritualism • You do not have time to write too much so you have to deal with them briefly but clearly • Give a critical analysis of the ideas • Explain the two main theories of possible forms of after life • Resurrection • Reincarnation • Give a critical analysis of both • What do you think and why? • Conclusion