Death and the Disinterested Spectator: An Inquiry into the Nature of Philosophy

Death and the Disinterested Spectator examines the nature of philosophy in light of philosophy’s claim to be a preparation for death. Does philosophy have any real power, or is it merely idle talk? The background against which this question is explored is a re-interpretation of Plato’s Phaedo, Augustine’s Confessions, and Descartes’ Discourse on Method.