Category Archives: Meaning of Life – Death

Summary of Tolstoy’s, The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Leo Tolstoy’s short novel, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, provides a great introduction to connection between death and the meaning of life. It tells the story of a forty-five year old lawyer who is self-interested, opportunistic, and busy with mundane affairs. He has never considered his own death until disease strikes. Continue reading Summary of Tolstoy’s, The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Summary of Kai Nielsen’s “Death and the Meaning of Life”

Kai Nielsen (1926 – ) is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Calgary. Before moving to Canada, Nielsen taught for many years at New York University. He is a prolific author and a well-known contemporary philosopher. Continue reading Summary of Kai Nielsen’s “Death and the Meaning of Life”