Katrin Flikschuh: Completing One’s Life

Colloquium lecture by Katrin Flikschuh (LSE), organized by the Department of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

Is it possible for one to complete one’s life; in particular, to do so prematurely? By one’s completing one’s life I do not mean one’s determining the point at which to end it. Nor do I mean one’s having lived a fully rounded or distinctly autonomous life. Instead, I mean one’s actively bringing one’s life towards the point of one’s death, and in so doing perhaps to reconcile oneself to the fact of one’s death.

Accomplishing this task is generally thought to be easier for the elderly than for those who know they will die prematurely. However,...(continue reading...)