Abstract

In this article the authors define the key features and approaches to the understanding the phenomenon of death from ancient philosophy to existentialism. Using modern approaches and methods of research, the key problems of the death phenomenon are defined in the context of philosophical analysis. The authors state that with the change of generations and cultural epochs the answers to the questions about this mysterious phenomenon change quite rapidly. These answers though are hypothetical and demonstrate the incompleteness. Digging into the historic and philosophical excursus regarding the development of philosophical thought, the authors pay special attention to M. Heidegger's analysis of Leo Tolstoy's novel “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”. Both Tolstoy and Heidegger claim that only at the “moment” or “sense” of death phenomenon, existence is able to expose its true appearance, as before dying the individual no longer turns to the world of things, as he turns to himself. This study sums up not only to the obvious conclusion that any human being is mortal, but also that life has no predetermined meaning and, therefore, must not be wasted.

Key words: death, ancient philosophy, existential philosophy, death phenomenon, history of philosophy, thanatology.