Death and the Meaning(s) of Life

Abstract

The present paper is a sequel to an earlier pa­per entitled “Death and the Meaning of Life,” which explored the question of the possible mea­ning(s) of our own mortality. The present paper continued the exploration of the (1) possible mea­ning(s) of the mortality and the death of individuals one loves to the survivor or survivors. In relation to that question, it explores (2) some conditions un­der which the survivors’ lives would retain the mea­ning(s) their lives possessed; and (3) some ways in which the survivors may recover, perhaps even add new meaning to their lives, after a loved one’s death. In the context of these questions the rele­vant views of Epicurus, Epictetus, and Marcus Aure­lius are briefly critically discussed.